HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – After a slow start, activity is ramping up in the Eastern Pacific basin as the National Hurricane Center tracks three tropical cyclones.

Forecasters are currently tracking tropical storms Carlotta and Daniel and newly upgraded Tropical Storm Emilia, which was upgraded from a tropical depression Sunday afternoon.

According to the current forecasts, none of these systems will have a direct impact on the islands.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, the forecasters said Tropical Storm Carlotta was 1,900 miles east of Hilo. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and was moving to the west-northwest at 9 miles per hour. It is forecast to become a remnant low by Tuesday before dissipating.

Tropical Storm Daniel was centered 1,705 miles east of Hilo and was moving to the northeast at 9 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. Daniel is forecast to become a post-tropical remnant low by Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Emilia is in the far eastern North Pacific and was centered 585 miles south-southwest from the southern tip of Baja California. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and was moving toward the south-southwest at 5 miles per hour.

Emilia will be interesting to watch, as forecast models show it interacting with a larger disturbance, currently known as Invest 96E, to the east. The larger system may cause Emilia to dissipate. Another possibility is that Emilia will merge with 96E (which may be a tropical storm with the name Fabio), with the merged system moving westward as a tropical cyclone.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – This Friday, August 9, marks Singapore’s National Day, and to celebrate, Kailua business Cafe Kopi joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about their international cafe and authentic Singaporean dishes.

Co-owners Jeanne Ng and Ernest Shih, both originally from Singapore, bring a taste of their homeland to Hawaii with a special menu that includes laksa, kopi and kaya toast.

Laksa is a flavorful, spicy noodle soup with shrimp and tofu in a rich, creamy coconut base with a blend of herbs and spices, such as laksa leaf and belachan (fermented shrimp paste). It can be served with rice or wheat noodles.

This dish is a signature offering at Cafe Kopi, available only Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

They also showcased their traditional kopi, a robust coffee brewed with Robusta beans roasted with butter that’s traditionally pulled by hand and served with condensed milk, offering a rich and unique caramelized flavor.

A classic Singaporean breakfast — kaya toast — is made of kaya, a sweet and creamy jam made with coconut, eggs and pandan (a fragrant herb abundant in Southeast Asia), with freshly baked bread and salted butter.

“We use [pandan] in place of vanilla essence for a lot of our cooking,” Ng said.

“Kaya” means rich in Malay, originates from Malacca in Malaysia and is eaten throughout Southeast Asia.

Ng says Cafe Kopi is not just a place for international food but also serves as a community hub, art gallery and event space, blending Parisian and Italian traditions with Singaporean and Asian influences.

Ng says Cafe Kopi is the only bakery on the Windward side serving freshly made croissants that come in a variety of sweet and savory flavors, from Spam musubi to ube. They also have a wide range of pastries and samosas.

Located at 45 Kihapai St. in Kailua, the cafe operates daily from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with dine-in and outdoor seating.

For details, visit cafekopihawaii.com, call (808) 262-9050 or email info@cafekopihawaii.com.

They’re also on Facebook Cafe Kopi Hawaii and Instagram @cafekopihawaii.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

(The Center Square) – Seven Hawaii defendants in lawsuits related to the August 2023 Maui fires have reached a tentative $4 billion settlement that would also require state funds, according to Gov. Josh Green.

The state of Hawaii, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications are part of the agreement in principle that covers lawsuits filed by 2,200 Maui residents, according to Green’s office.

The governor did not provide details about how much each defendant would pay. Hawaiian Electric said its share is “$1.99 billion (pre-tax) and includes the $75 million previously contributed for the One Ohana Initiative.”

“Achieving this resolution will allow all parties to move forward without the added challenges and divisiveness of the litigation process. It will allow all of us to work together more cohesively and effectively to support the people of Lahaina and Maui to create the future they want to see emerge from this tragedy,” said Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric.

The One Ohana Initiative was established to assist Maui fire victims. The other six defendants in the lawsuits also contributed to the fund. The state of Hawaii contributed $65 million, Kamehameha Schools $17.5M million, Maui County $10 million and Charter/Spectrum, Hawaiian Telcom and West Maui Land Company each contributed $2.5 million.

The Hawaii State Legislature will have to approve the settlement amount from state funds, according to Green. He said the settlement would help people heal.

“My priority as governor was to expedite the agreement and to avoid protracted and painful lawsuits so as many resources as possible would go to those affected by the wildfires as quickly as possible,” Green said. “Settling a matter like this within a year is unprecedented, and it will be good that our people don’t have to wait to rebuild their lives as long as others have in many places that have suffered similar tragedies.”

The settlement is subject to a resolution on insurance claims already paid and that the defendants will make no additional payments, according to Green’s office.

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Payments from the settlement are expected to begin in mid-2025.

The Maui fires killed 102 people and displaced thousands of residents. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.