Hawaii
Teen rescued after spending hours clinging to kayak off Hawaii
Coast Guard Sector Honolulu said it received a report on Wednesday evening of a missing 17-year-old kayaker off Waikiki. Rescuers said the teenager became separated from his high school paddling team and was not wearing a life jacket.
HONOLULU – The Coast Guard says it, along with several agencies, helped rescue a missing 17-year-old kayaker who spent hours treading water off the coast of Waikiki.
The agency said it was originally alerted on Wednesday evening about the missing high schooler, who was not wearing a life jacket, and immediately deployed several crews.
Less than 12 hours later, a crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules plane spotted the kayak with the teenager clinging to it and deployed a flare to mark the position offshore near the War Memorial Natatorium.
The Coast Guard said an off-duty lifeguard with the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department was able to reach the boy first and pull him from the water.
The 17-year-old was then reportedly brought back to shore, where he was treated for injuries and hypothermia.
2 DROWN ALONG HAWAII BEACH AFTER LARGE WAVE SWEEPS 3 OUT TO SEA
Family members thanked the dozens of first responders involved in the operation, as well as those who donated their time and resources to the nearly 12-hour effort.
The boy was last reported to be in stable condition at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Coast Guard officials praised the collaborative efforts of the various agencies involved in the rescue, which included the Honolulu Fire Department and the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department.
WHAT IS A SNEAKER WAVE?
An expansive ridge of high pressure caused windy conditions and rough seas to develop along many of the islands.
Two beachgoers were killed Monday after a large wave swept them into the ocean off the coast of Oahu.
A third swimmer was rescued by lifeguards and taken to a local hospital in serious condition.
Conditions on the ocean aren’t expected to dramatically improve as the island chain is entering the period of its largest swells.
The combination of Pacific storm systems and the terrain typically leads to iconic waves, which will last through late winter.
Early Sunday morning, a white dot in the sky transformed into a spiral. This video was taken by the Subaru-Asahi STAR Camera at the Catwalk of Subaru Telescope, which is located on the summit area of Maunakea, Hawaii. (Courtesy: NAOJ & Asahi Shimbun)
Gov. Josh Green today issued a statement regarding a federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility requirements within the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was established to address the historic dispossession of Native Hawaiians and reflects a longstanding commitment to them by both the federal government and the state of Hawaiʻi,” said Green.
“This lawsuit threatens that commitment. I have directed the Department of the Attorney General to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program. We will fight this lawsuit with everything we have,” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by Eric Ryan, an Oʻahu resident who is not Native Hawaiian and tried to apply for a lease, but was denied due to the 50% Native Hawaiian blood quantum requirement, according to Hawaiʻi News Now and court documents published at Courthouse News Service.
The Class Action Complaint argues that the “explicitly ancestry-based requirement” establishes a “permanent government mandate for state officials to engage in outright racial discrimination, perpetuates stereotypes, and limits housing opportunities for most Hawai‘i residents. The blood-quantum requirement thus violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the complaint alleges.
Green said the administration “stands firmly with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the thousands of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who rely on this program and its promise for future generations.”
Attorney General Anne Lopez also issued a statement saying the state of Hawaiʻi has both a legal and moral obligation to uphold the commitments embodied in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
“This lawsuit seeks to dismantle a program that has provided opportunities, stability and hope to generations of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Lopez.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, who has extensive experience handling complex constitutional litigation on behalf of the state, will lead the legal team in defending the state against the challenge.
“We are prepared to vigorously defend the Hawaiian Homes program and the promises it represents,” said Lopez.
Under the Green administration, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has accelerated the delivery of homestead opportunities and expanded pathways to homeownership for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
In 2025 alone, DHHL offered more than 2,500 lease awards and continues to advance major housing projects, including Hale Mōʻiliʻili on Oʻahu, which will provide 278 affordable rental units for beneficiaries.
“These efforts reflect the administration’s commitment to reducing wait times, strengthening Native Hawaiian communities and fulfilling the promise of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,” according to the governor’s announcement.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Concrete fell from the exterior of an Ala Moana Center parking structure Monday afternoon near the Kapiolani Boulevard exit, damaging a vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Security blocked an exit lane as debris scattered across the roadway. Ala Moana Center said they are grateful no one was hurt, and the lane will remain closed while structural engineers and construction professionals assess the damage and make repairs.
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