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A 57-year-old hiker in Kauai, Hawaii had to be airlifted via helicopter due to a “rapidly worsening infection” likely stemming from a spider bite. The hiker texted emergency services at 9:44 a.m. on October 29th explaining that he was experiencing fever and weakness and was unable to hike out under his own power.

The Kauai Fire Department responded and flew him to the town of Waimea on the southern part of the island where he was assessed and transferred to a local hospital. 

The hiker was on the Kalalau Trail, a 20-mile trek along the remote Na Pali Coast. AllTrails describes the hike as going through lush jungle with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains.

It’s unclear if the hiker was bitten while on the trail or before commencing. According to the Hawaii Department of Health, there are two dangerous spiders whose bites could require medical attention on the islands: the southern black widow and the brown widow. 

“The brown widow is a little smaller than the black widow and its venom is twice as potent as the black widow’s venom,” the site reads. “However, the brown widows don’t inject as much venom and are generally less aggressive in defending their webs.”

There has been no update on the condition of the rescued hiker.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Foodbank will host a food drive on Monday for families affected by the federal government shutdown, but registration has already filled up.

The foodbank said the Government Shutdown Relief Food Distribution will take place on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Waipio Soccer Complex.

The foodbank said households must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• Currently receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Experiencing loss of wages due to furlough (federal government employees only)
• Experiencing loss of employment (federal government employees only)
• Meeting income eligibility guidelines for assistance through the Emergency Food Assistance Program

The foodbank said that income eligibility requirements include:

The foodbank said that households and families larger than eight should add $18,900 for each additional person.

Advanced registration for Monday’s food distribution was required.

As of 4:20 p.m., the Hawaii Foodbank said Monday’s event at the Waipio Soccer Complex is full.

Click here for more information on other food distribution events and additional resources.

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LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hula, memories and aloha filled the Kilohana Plantation grounds Saturday as hundreds turned out to honor the life of Jonelle Marie Leināʻala Pavao-Jardin.

She died on Oct. 4 at the age of 51 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“I knew my mom was such an amazing person, but she lived such a humble, humble life, so truly I didn’t know what to expect today, how many people would be here, but it’s felt so nice,” said her daughter, Jeslie Pavao.

As kumu hula for the award-winning Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leināʻala, she touched countless lives over her nearly 30 years of teaching hula.

Generations of her dancers took the stage one last time for their kumu at her celebration of life.

“She was always kind. Even when we were dancing together with Kumu Ray, she was always funny, so much fun to be around. Just her spirit. She was always light. She was always so easy to get along with,” said Keano Kaupu, longtime friend and kumu hula of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua.

The celebration not only honored her life and rich legacy of hula, and highlighted her very strong sense of faith in that got her through so many of life’s challenges.

Daughter Jeslie said, “I went back to medical school two days after my mom passed. They asked me how I’ve done it and it’s really because of my faith in God and if I didn’t have my faith, I wouldn’t be OK and that truly comes from my mom and how she raised us to just trust Ke Akua, love him and follow his journey for us.”

Musician and longtime friend Ikaika Blackburn said, “She grew up surrounded by the warmth of her close-knit family where her parents instilled in her the values of love, kindness, generosity, and resilience that she carried with her and shared with each of us throughout her life.”

“That phrase, live like Leināʻala, so true. If you think of life like that, you going be happy,” said Kumu Keano.

As Kauai mourns the loss of her physical presence, they says her spirit will live on forever through the heart of the halau, now led by her daughter, Kumu Breeze Pavao.

Kumu Leināʻala leaves behind her husband, Sean, daughters Breeze and Jeslie, and son Napali.

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