Hawaii
Kealakehe H.S. engineering team Hawaii’s lone entrant in NASA competition – West Hawaii Today
So many high schoolers are contemplating their futures, but for those on Kealakehe High School’s student engineering team, the future is now.
They will be the only team representing Hawaii among 75 global teams in NASA’s prestigious Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC), in April 2025 in Huntsville, Ala. Those teams hail from 20 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and 16 countries — including 38 high schools, 35 colleges and universities, and two middle schools.
The competition challenges students to design and build human-powered rovers capable of navigating simulated extraterrestrial terrains. The design and build process requires all the STEM disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“This HERC is an interesting competition just because it’s so college-based,” said the team’s advisor, Justin Brown, a math teacher and the school’s Career Technical Education coordinator. “And that’s where we’re really finding the big opportunities for the kids. And now that we have the nicest shop in the state, we’re extremely fortunate. It’s like, ‘Hey, let’s go build some real stuff.’
“And so, it’s been a really good push for us to apply all those skills to some really high-level engineering and design work.”
Brown, who was named Hawaii Teacher of the Year in 2021 by the national nonprofit Association for Career Technical Education, has been successful writing grants and forging external partnerships that allow his students to rub elbows with professional mentors in the aerospace, robotics and engineering fields, and to build their models in an environment akin to what they might find in an industrial setting.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” Brown said. “We win a ton of national and international awards every single year. Our kids graduate with an associate’s degree. We’re articulated with college engineering in high school.
“We’ve just added about $5 million in state-of-the-art equipment, and have been looking at what does that mean in terms of our engineering prep program.”
HERC aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, which are used in Hawaii public schools.
Teams earn points by successful completion of design reviews, designing and assembling a rover that meets all challenge criteria and successful completion of course obstacles and/or mission tasks. The team with the highest number of points accumulated throughout the project year will be the winner in their respective division.
Students must do 100% of the work, which includes the design, construction of the vehicle and task components — including work that is supported by a professional machinist for the purpose of training or safety — written reports, presentations and preparations for the competition. Through these tasks, students gain a deeper understanding of concepts and content and enhance their communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving and flexibility skills.
“We had to present to a panel of NASA engineers and kind of, like, defend the decisions we had made,” Brown said. “And this has been a real journey for the kids. We had to turn in a 30-page write-up. It was a beast for the kids. We had to present the Monday before Thanksgiving. And the only time they could put us in was 5 a.m. our time. And we had to do the review before we start building.
“We get to do a lot of iterations, and we’ll have another big presentation for them in February.”
After the design review presentations with NASA, Kealakehe’s students will build a prototype for testing prior to competition.
Brown said that 42 students are currently working on the rover, although by April, perhaps 20 or so will make the trek to Alabama. As the fabrication lead on the project, junior Zach Smith will likely be one attending the NASA competition.
“I think the unique aspect of HERC is that it allows students to get an earlier introduction to the aspects of what NASA’s doing as far as the early stages of the lunar rover, or even how to design for the potential usage of certain components of the Mars rover when we hopefully get there,” Smith said.
Smith taken a giant leap toward his college education via distance-learning classes through the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York. He said he’s “found an interest, specifically in mechanical engineering or applied physics.”
“I’ve had a long interest in robotics, itself, ever since elementary school,” Smith said. “When Kealakehe High School started initiatives to implement robotics to the lower levels of education, I found an interest then. And when I came into high school, I started pursuing STEM as well as robotics as a freshman.”
Brown said the work being done on the lunar rover is a continuation of work done on the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s.
“All the training and the testing that those astronauts did, that happened on Maunakea and Mauna Loa,” he said. “Our kids are curious and inventive. They have all the right stuff to be the future leaders in this new aerospace industry that’s coming up. And HERC is just a great combination of all that, because they’re building cool stuff. It connects to some very real things that we want the kids to consider, like who’s space for? Who gets to make the decisions? Why aren’t students like our students in those rooms? And what do we need to do to make sure they are in the future?
“There’s a whole new generation who’s getting to fall in love with space exploration. But this competition harkens back to the kind of missions that were going on then. Because of the cool new toys, things that used to be done with the world’s best professional engineers can now be done with high school kids.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Hawaii
First Alert Weather Days declared for Hawaii Island, Maui County amid strong winds, elevated fire danger
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The HNN First Alert Weather team has been monitoring the strong winds and chance for elevated fire danger all week long.
Due to gusty winds, low relative humidity, and dry brush fuels present in leeward regions, Wednesday and Thursday are now FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAYS for Hawaii Island and Maui County.
Winds
The National Weather Service has issued several alerts across the state as winds continue to build in strength. Those alerts currently include:
A WIND ADVISORY for portions of Hawaii Island and Maui County. This advisory will end at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Sustained easterly winds could reach as strong as 25-35 miles per hour, gusting up to 50 mph.
A HIGH WIND WARNING for Hawaii Island’s summits. This warning will end at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Sustained easterly winds could reach as strong as 50-60 miles per hour, gusting up to 70 mph.
Cooler-than-average high temperatures for this time of year may keep relative humidity levels from reaching the 45% humidity criteria for a Red Flag Warning, but the ingredients for fire danger are still present.
Drought is still present in many leeward areas across the state. Please remain vigilant and avoid burning throughout the rest of this week.
Small Craft Advisory
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY for all offshore waters. This advisory will last until 6 p.m. Thursday. Easterly winds up to 30 knots and seas up to 12 feet are expected.
Surf
Among the strong winds, high surf is also in the forecast across the island chain.
A HIGH SURF ADVISORY is also in effect for the north and west-facing shores of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and the north-facing shores of Maui. This advisory will last until 6 AM on Wednesday.
Surf on north-facing shores could peak as high as 18-24 feet today. Wave heights are forecasted to drop to around 12-16 feet tonight.
Surf on east-facing shores is also on the rise this week due to the strong trade winds.
Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Robbins has Hawaii’s most accurate First Alert Forecast every weeknight at 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10. Get weather updates every ten minutes on HNN Sunrise, weekdays with Guy Hagi and weekends with Billy V. Meteorologist Drew Davis has your forecasts on This is Now at noon, First at Four and Hawaii News Now at 6:30. And join Ben Gutierrez weekends.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii’s hotel taxes are already notoriously among the highest in the United States, totaling nearly 18%. This staggering rate combines state and county-imposed taxes, leaving travelers footing a hefty tax bill for their stay. With a new visitor “green fee” on the table, those costs could rise even higher, sparking debates about Hawaii’s future as a travel destination.
Hawaii currently leads the nation in hotel tax rates, followed closely by other high-tax destinations such as Chicago, Houston, and Anaheim. As competition from more affordable destinations like Mexico, the Caribbean, and even French Polynesia intensifies, the potential impact of yet another fee causes concerns that ripple across the Hawaii travel industry.
Hawaii’s current accommodations tax landscape.
Visitors to Hawaii pay a 10.25% state Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), a 4.712% General Excise Tax (GET), and additional county surcharges—that adds another 3%. These combined rates mean a hotel stay costing $400 per night generates nearly $72 in taxes per night. Critics have argued that this high tax burden creates a barrier for potential visitors, particularly as alternative tropical destinations continue to position themselves as more affordable.
What the green fee proposal may entail.
Governor Josh Green has made one thing perfectly clear: a visitor impact fee, often called the “green fee,” is a top legislative priority for 2025. While Green has yet to reveal specifics, the “coconut wireless” suggests one of the most likely forms is an increase to the existing accommodation tax.
This Green Fee is designed to fund climate resilience and environmental conservation. Previous versions of the proposal included park entry fees or annual passes. Still, the latest discussions point to directly integrating the green fee into Hawaii’s hotel and vacation rental taxes.
Exactly how any fee would be implemented remains unclear. Governor Green recently hinted at having multiple options ready for the January legislative session, expressing confidence that one of them will finally gain approval. After being spurned on prior attempts, we have little doubt that he means business.
The urgency of addressing climate change—such as fortifying coastlines and combating wildfires—is central to Green’s argument for the green fee. Any proposal’s success will depend on navigating opposition from the hospitality industry and addressing concerns from travelers wary of escalating costs.
Industry push-back and resident concerns.
The green fee proposal has drawn mixed reactions. Many residents, already frustrated with the pressures of over-tourism, see the fee as a way to make visitors contribute to environmental upkeep. A reader on Beat of Hawaii remarked, “I fully support the green fee. Our beaches and trails are overcrowded, and we need funds to maintain them.”
However, skepticism remains high. “I’m not opposed to the fee,” another reader shared, “but will the money actually go to conservation or just into the state’s general fund?” Similar sentiments have been echoed across the tourism sector, where doubts persist about whether the funds will be earmarked for environmental purposes.
While acknowledging the importance of sustainability, the hospitality industry remains wary of any fee’s potential to deter travelers. Any additional surcharge could make Hawaii less competitive, particularly for budget-conscious travelers.
Legal and logistical challenges.
Implementing a green fee in Hawaii has its own legal hurdles. Constitutional constraints likely prevent charging fees exclusively to out-of-state visitors. As a result, any new fee would likely need to apply equally to residents and visitors to avoid legal challenges. This complicates the equation further, raising questions about balancing fairness with the fee’s intended purpose of funding climate and environmental initiatives.
The green fee’s path forward.
Governor Green has promised transparency and accountability, vowing that any funds generated by a green fee will be dedicated to environmental projects. The Hawaii Legislature is expected to deliberate on the measure as soon as next month, with lawmakers likely to face debates about balancing affordability with sustainability.
The potential addition of a green fee may result in travelers reconsidering vacation budgets. For the state, it represents a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable tourism can coexist with our travel economy’s growth. If enacted, this fee could set a precedent for other destinations grappling with similar challenges.
Whatever the outcome, the green fee debate will leave a lasting mark on Hawaii’s tourism landscape for years to come.
Please chime in with your suggestions and concerns.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii’s high court will get the last word for now in a gun-rights case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The justices Monday declined to consider a challenge to Hawaii’s law brought by Christopher Wilson, who was cited for hiking with an unlicensed handgun.
Wilson fought the charge, citing a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision that broadened gun rights.
But then Hawaii’s court fought back, calling that decision “fuzzy” and “backward looking” while arguing that the law did not prevent states from having licensing rules.
While the court decided to end the back and forth, three justices said they were willing to revisit the issue later.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Windy, rainy day in store for eastern Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
Keeler: CU Buffs legend Rashaan Salaam “would love” seeing Travis Hunter win Heisman Trophy, Salaam’s mother says
Seattle Seahawks Breakdown: Sizing up the tight NFC West race
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Cal Baptist Lancers live stream, TV channel, start time, odds | December 11, 2024
Milwaukee-area restaurants open Christmas 2024 for dine-in or takeout
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Capitol Police arrest suspect after allegedly assaulting Rep Nancy Mace
Deadly Russian strike kills at least three in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia
Judge Blocks The Onion's Bid to Take Over Alex Jones' Infowars
Wisconsin mom mulls lawsuit alleging school district is pushing 'horrifying' race-based policy: 'Problematic'
Israel’s Netanyahu decries ‘absurd’ charges at corruption trial appearance
-
News1 week agoRassemblement National’s Jordan Bardella threatens to bring down French government
-
Technology1 week ago9 ways scammers can use your phone number to try to trick you
-
World1 week agoGeorgian PM praises country's protest crackdown despite US condemnation
-
World1 week ago
Freedom is permanent for Missourian described as the longest-held wrongly incarcerated woman in US
-
Technology4 days agoStruggling to hear TV dialogue? Try these simple fixes
-
Business2 days agoOpenAI's controversial Sora is finally launching today. Will it truly disrupt Hollywood?
-
World7 days agoBrussels denies knowledge of Reynders's alleged money laundering
-
Science7 days agoAll raw milk from Fresno dairy farm will be cleared from store shelves; cows have bird flu