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The U.S. homeowner’s insurance industry has had three straight years of underwriting losses, according to credit rating agency AM Best. Record numbers of Americans are now insured through state-affiliated “insurers of last resort” like California’s FAIR Plan, or Louisiana or Florida’s Citizens property insurance companies. These programs were designed to insure properties where private insurance companies have refused to insure or the price for private insurance is too expensive. In Florida, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. now has 1.4 million homeowners’ policies in effect, nearly triple in five years. “It used to be homeowner's insurance was an afterthought when you are looking at buying a property.

Persons: you’re, ”, California Sen, Bill Dodd, Jeremy Porter, Fannie Mae, Todd Bevington, “ I’ve, Jen Goodlin, ‘, ’ ”, “ We’ve, ” Dodd, Dodd, Porter, Guy Carpenter, Lara Mowery, Mowery, ” Mowery, That’s, ” Bevington, Adam Beam, Janie Har Organizations: First Street Foundation, Bank of America, Treasury Department, Paradise, FAIR, Citizens Property Insurance Corp, Farm, Allstate, National Flood Insurance, Swiss, Munich Re, Hurricane Locations: California, Florida, Louisiana, Lahaina, Vermont, Maine, New York, U.S, “, Paradise, Northern California, Colorado, Munich, New Orleans, Gulf, Asheland, N.C, Sacramento, Calif, San Francisco

☆ Russell Brand can no longer make money on YouTube following sexual assault accusations from 4 women
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

British comedian Russell Brand can no longer make money on YouTube following "serious allegations." Brand was recently accused of sexual assault by four women in reports published by British media. "This decision applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by Russell Brand," the Google-owned video service said. Brand, 48, denies allegations of sexual assault made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. London's Metropolitan Police Force said that since those claims were made public, it has received a report of a separate sexual assault dating from 2003.

Persons: Russell Brand, Brand, Russell, Katy Perry, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, Ellie Tomsett, … Organizations: YouTube, Service, BBC, Google, Brand's, Football, Twitter, The Times, Sunday Times, London's Metropolitan Police Force, Birmingham City University Locations: British, Wall, Silicon, Hawaii, Los Angeles, U.K, London, Windsor

The Maui Invitational will be held in Honolulu this year because of the wildfires that devastated Lahaina, where the tournament usually is played. “We appreciate everything the Maui Invitational is doing to help Maui and its residents.”Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesTickets purchased for the tournament in Maui will be honored. Also, the Maui Invitational has launched an online auction with all proceeds going directly to relief and recovery efforts. The Maui Invitational, one of college basketball's premier events, has long been a source of pride in Lahaina, also a major tourist destination. “The Maui Invitational is a great event that celebrates all of Hawaii,” Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a statement.

Persons: Chaminade, Richard Bissen, Mike Krzyzewski, Bill Self, Tom Izzo, Josh Green, ” Organizations: Maui, Stan Sheriff Center, Kansas, Purdue, Gonzaga, Marquette . Syracuse, Chaminade, UCLA, NAIA, Virginia, Lahaina Civic Center, Maui Invitational, mauiinvitational.com, ’, Hawaii, Strong, surfboards Locations: Honolulu, Lahaina, Gonzaga , Tennessee, Marquette, Maui, Asheville , North Carolina, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Mike Krzyzewski , Kansas, Michigan, Oahu

☆ Death toll from Hawaii wildfires drops to 97
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - The death toll from last month's wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui has dropped to 97 and the number of people missing is now 31, Hawaii Governor Josh Green told CNN in an interview on Friday. Green said last week the death toll was 115 and 66 people were missing. "The death toll dropped because we have Department of Defense anthropologists who are able to do a lot more advanced genetics. Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington; editing by Dan Whitcomb and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, Eric Beech, Dan Whitcomb, Sandra Maler Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, CNN, Department of Defense, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Washington

☆ US House panel asks Hawaiian Electric CEO to testify in wildfire probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The shells of burned houses and buildings are left after wildfires driven by high winds burned across most of the town in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 11, 2023. Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc FollowSept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday asked utility company Hawaiian Electric (HE.N) CEO Shelee Kimura to testify at a hearing investigating the causes of the wildfire that killed at least 115 people and razed the historic town of Lahaina. Along with Kimura, the committee also summoned officials of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and the Hawai’i State Energy Office. Last month, the panel sent letters to Hawaiian Electric as well as state utility officials, seeking information about the wildfires. Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shelee Kimura, Kimura, Mrinalika Roy, Sourasis Bose, Pooja Desai Organizations: Hawai'i Department of Land, Natural Resources, REUTERS, Hawaiian Electric Industries, U.S . House Energy, Commerce, Electric, Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Hawai’i, Energy Office, Thomson Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Washington, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Growing fury from Maui residents over the direction of early wildfire recovery efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Alicia Victoria Lozano | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

US President Joe Biden is embraced by Hawaii Governor Josh Green (C) after delivering remarks as he visits an area devastated by wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii on August 21, 2023. Rebuilding hasn't even started after a deadly wildfire destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii, last month, but residents are already angry and frustrated with recent moves by Gov. Now, they say, that pattern could be repeated with the aid of an emergency proclamation signed by Green that could erode their hard-won rights, despite his reassurances that rebuilding would reflect the needs of Maui residents. "It is a real slap in the face when we still have to deal with the aftermath of this fire." Green reinstated the water rules last week, but residents are wary that future proclamations could jeopardize their efforts to restore Maui's streams and wetlands.

Persons: Joe Biden, Josh Green, hasn't, Green, Kekai Keahi, Makana McClellan, we've, McClellan, We're, Hōkūao Pellegrino, Nani Medeiros, I've, Medeiros, Marti Townsend, Townsend, Glenn Tremble, Manuel, Ed Wendt, David Henkin, Pellegrino Organizations: Hawaii, Gov, Maui Land Co, West Maui Land Co, American Civil Liberties Union, Sierra Club, Earthjustice Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Honolulu

☆ Recognizing the rights of climate refugees is the first step to relocating the millions of vulnerable island-nation residents who could be displaced in the next 3 decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Christine Jean-Baptiste | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

This article is part of "Journey Toward Climate Justice," a series exploring the systemic inequities of the climate crisis. By 2050, the World Bank estimates that climate change could force 216 million people to be displaced from their homes within their own countries. Climate change is thought to be one of several contributors to the wildfires — as droughts increased in the region, vegetation dried, creating dry conditions conducive to fires. Migration and the climate crisis are inextricably linked, climate experts say. "People shouldn't be forced to leave home because of climate change," Francis said.

Persons: Peace, Ama Francis, PATRICK T, FALLON, Kaniela Ing, Ing, Adelle Thomas, ProPublica, Tamir Kalifa, Francis, Thomas, Kayly Ober, Hurricane, Scott Olson, Hurricane Dorian, Trump, Mark Morgan, Donald Trump, Biden, Ike, Hanna, Gideon Mendel, Corbis, shouldn't Organizations: Bank, Service, Institute for Economics, International Refugee Assistance, University of the, New York Times, The Washington, Getty, Refugee, US Institute of Peace, Border, Assistance Locations: Caribbean, Pacific, Maui, Hawaii, University of the Bahamas, Lahaina, Bahamas, Marsh Harbour, United States, Haiti

☆ Fact Check-FEMA official was in Hawaii to attend conference ahead of August wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator mentioned by Joe Biden in a video was in Hawaii ahead of deadly wildfires on Aug. 8 to attend an annual agency conference, a FEMA official told Reuters. “Due to the fires on Maui, participants from FEMA, the Hawaii delegation and many other federal agencies left the meeting early to address statewide response efforts,” Edwards said. Fenton is currently the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 9, which includes the Hawaiian Islands (here), (here). In the clip of Biden’s Aug. 30 remarks, the president refers to his appointment of Fenton to lead the Maui response and rebuilding efforts. FEMA administrator Bob Fenton’s presence in Hawaii before the 2023 wildfires is not evidence that the disaster was planned.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Bob Fenton “, Jeremy M, Edwards, Fenton, ” Edwards, Lemanu P.S, “, Bob Fenton, ” Fenton, Bob Fenton’s, Read Organizations: Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Reuters, Social, Facebook, Biden, Partnership, Regional, White, Guam Homeland Security, Civil Defense Locations: Hawaii, Honolulu, Oahu, “, Maui, American Samoa, United States, Guam

☆ Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts third time this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lava flows on the Halema'uma'u crater floor alongside several active vent sources as the Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii, U.S. June 7, 2023. USGS/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island began to erupt on Sunday afternoon, with flows currently confined to the surrounding crater floor, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Sunday. Webcam images show fissures at the base of the volcano's crater that are generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world's most active volanoes. In 2019, a string of earthquakes and major eruption at Kilauea led to the destructions of hundreds of homes and businesses.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, Costas Pitas, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Geological Survey, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: Hawaii, U.S, Kilauea

☆ Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts for the third time this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island began to erupt on Sunday afternoon, with flows currently confined to the surrounding crater floor, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Sunday. Webcam images show fissures at the base of the volcano's crater that are generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor. Lava flows on the Halema'uma'u crater floor alongside several active vent sources as the Kilauea volcano erupts in Hawaii, U.S. June 7, 2023. Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world's most active volanoes. In 2019, a string of earthquakes and major eruption at Kilauea led to the destructions of hundreds of homes and businesses.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici, Costas Pitas, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S . Geological Survey, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: U.S, Hawaii, Kilauea

CNN —Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began erupting again after nearly three months of quiet, with glowing lava flows bursting within one of its craters Sunday, according to the US Geological Survey. The eruption started around 3:15 p.m. local time in Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kilauea’s summit caldera at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, according to USGS. Kīlauea is the youngest and most active volcano on the island, with several summit eruptions since 2020. “The eruption was preceded by a period of strong seismicity and rapid uplift of the summit,” USGS said Sunday night. Sunday’s eruption at Kilauea serves as “a solemn reminder of the sacredness ingrained in this landscape,” Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park said on social media.

Persons: Pele Organizations: CNN, Geological Survey, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, National Park Service Locations: Halemaʻumaʻu, Hawaii

“I would not expect things to slow down anytime soon.”NOAA has been tracking billion-dollar weather disasters in the United States since 1980 and adjusts damage costs for inflation. Political Cartoons View All 1152 Images“Exposure plus vulnerability plus climate change is supercharging more of these into billion-dollar disasters,” Smith said. NOAA added eight new billion-dollar disasters to the list since its last update a month ago. “This year a lot of the action has been across the center states, north central, south and southeastern states,” Smith said. Stanford University climate scientist Chris Field called the trend in billion-dollar disasters “very troubling.”“But there are things we can do to reverse the trend," Field said.

Persons: Adam Smith, ” Smith, “, Smith, ”, Craig Fugate, Katharine Jacobs, Jacobs, Chris Field, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Emergency Management Agency, El Nino, University of Arizona, Stanford University, Twitter, AP Locations: Hawaii, United States, America, California, Midwest, Minnesota, Nebraska , Missouri , Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan , Wisconsin , Ohio , Tennessee, Georgia, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Missouri , Illinois, El

☆ Number of billion-dollar weather disasters in US blows through annual record with four months left in the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

This year’s billion-dollar disasters have caused 253 direct and indirect fatalities and have resulted in $57.6 billion in damage, NOAA data shows. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Ken Kruse looks out at floodwaters surrounding his apartment complex in Tarpon Springs, Florida, on August 30. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Florida's Fort Myers Beach is seen during high tide ahead of Hurricane Idalia on August 29. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images Shelves are left empty at a Target store in Gainesville, Florida, on August 29. Sarah Salmonese sits where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday, August 11.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Idalia, Hilary, Rachel Cleetus, ” Cleetus, Cristobal Herrera, Shutterstock, Sean Rayford, Cheney Orr, Reuters Jewell Baggett, Ulashkevich, EFE, Thomas Simonetti, Jack Lemburg, Richard Burkhart, Douglas R, Clifford, Zuma Press Donnye Franklin, Joe Raedle, Rebecca Blackwell, Ron DeSantis, Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo, Ken Kruse, Hurricane Idalia, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Christian Monterrosa, Stephen M, Dowell, Reagan Ortagus, Tyler, Bob Self, NOAA Ana Iris Aguiar, Alexandre Meneghini, Marco Bello, Adrees Latif, Samson, Victor Cassano's, Chris O'Meara, Yamil Lage, Sharon Walsh, Doug Engle, Christine Willis, Andrew West, Harvey, Irma, Maria, Adam Smith, Michael, Laura, Ida, Ian, ” Smith, Deanne Criswell, Sarah Salmonese, Go Nakamura, Ken Alba, Jae C, Yuki Iwamura, Patrick T, Fallon, Bryan Anselm, Mike Blake, Matthew A, Foster, Rick Bowmer, Lauren Haley, Makalea Ahhee, Justin Sullivan, Max Whittaker, Zoltan Balogh, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Matthew Thayer, Criswell, It’s, ” Criswell, Cleetus, ” Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Idalia, NOAA, Tropical, Union of Concerned, “, Tampa Bay Times, ZUMA Press, Reuters, Press, Washington Post, Angels Episcopal Church, Savannah Morning, USA, Network Rescue, Zuma Press, AP Florida Gov, Savannah, Bloomberg, Getty, Duke, Orlando Sentinel, Florida Times, Union, AP, Reuters Pike Electric, Southwest Airlines, Tampa International Airport, Reuters Home Depot, Reuters Fort Myers, Federal Emergency Management, FEMA, Senate, Ukraine, New York Times, Staff, US Army National Guard, Maui Police, Facility, AP Volunteers, Grace Baptist, Volunteers, Los Angeles Times, Kahului Airport, Technologies, Kahului, AP Helicopters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Maui News Locations: United States, South, Midwest, California, Horseshoe Beach , Florida, Bend, Tampa, Horseshoe Beach, Perry , Florida, Keaton Beach , Florida, Madison , Florida, Steinhatchee , Florida, Samarra, St, Savannah , Georgia, Savannah, Steinhatchee, Crystal River , Florida, Perry, Crystal, Tarpon Springs , Florida, Mayo , Florida, Tarpon Springs, Myers, Hurricane, Gainesville , Florida, Sumterville , Florida, Johns County , Florida, Florida, NOAA, La Coloma, Cuba, Clearwater , Florida, Playa Majana, Suwannee , Florida, Batabanó, AFP, Guanimar, Ocala , Florida, USA, Reuters Fort Myers Beach, Gulf, Lahaina , Hawaii, Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui, Wahikuli, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Kula, Kihei, West Maui, Grace, Napili, Honokowai, Honolulu, Maalaea, Kahului, Las Vegas, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji

☆ Kilauea, Hawaii’s Most Active Volcano, Erupts Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jin Yu Young | More About Jin Yu Young | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kilauea, Hawaii’s most active volcano, erupted for the second time in three months on Sunday afternoon, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which said there was no immediate danger to residents. The observatory raised alert levels for Kilauea to a warning from a watch just under an hour before the eruption began. Livestreamed footage showed fissures at the base of the volcano’s main crater, Halemaʻumaʻu, generating lava flows on its surface floor. Kilauea, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island, last erupted in June, and the observatory had been closely monitoring it for another possible eruption since August. Increasingly frequent earthquakes, swelling of ground during the past few weeks and pools of magma flowing upward over the past 24 hours were all signs of an imminent eruption, according to the observatory.

Persons: David Phillips Organizations: United States Geological Survey Locations: Hawaii

☆ Santa Barbara is the most expensive city to be happy in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

1 most expensive city to be happy in the U.S.: Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California is the most expensive U.S. city to be happy. Santa Barbara is also within the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara region, which was named one of the happiest places in the world based on The Blue Zones Index. Honolulu, Hawaii is the second most expensive city to be happy in the U.S. M Swiet Productions | Getty Images10 most expensive cities to be happy in the U.S.Santa Barbara, Calif. Honolulu, Hawaii New York, N.Y. San Francisco, Calif. Seattle, Wash. Oakland, Calif. Anchorage, Alas. Irvine, Calif. Honolulu, Hawaii, ranks as the second most expensive city in the U.S. to be happy in. 3 most expensive city to be happy in the U.S. Bamsgirl411 / 500Px | 500Px | Getty Images

Persons: Barbara Santa, Santa Barbara Organizations: Purdue University, Economic Research Institute, Santa Barbara, Swiet, Getty Locations: U.S, Australian, Barbara Santa Barbara , California, Santa Barbara, Santa, Santa Maria, Honolulu, Hawaii, Calif, Hawaii New York, N.Y, San Francisco, Seattle, Wash . Oakland, Anchorage, Alas . Sacramento, Boston, Mass, Irvine, The Hawaii, Oahu, Pearl Harbor . New York City

☆ A Month After Deadly Maui Fire, 66 People Still Missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Only 60 of those victims had been identified as of Thursday, according to the Maui Police Department. Tim Laborte's stepfather, Joseph Lara, was killed in the fire, his body found a short drive from Lara's house in his native Lahaina. Hawaii's Department of Health, which issues death certificates in the state, did not respond to questions about how officials are certifying the fire's victims. "The people of Maui must have as much time as they need to heal and recover and will begin to rebuild only when they are ready," Green said. "I want to emphasize this again: The land in the Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild."

Persons: Jonathan Allen, Josh Green, Tim Laborte's, Joseph Lara, Laborte, Green, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, Maui Police Department, Officials, Hawaii's Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Hawaiian, New York

☆ A month after deadly Maui fire, 66 people still missing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jonathan Allen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Only 60 of those victims had been identified as of Thursday, according to the Maui Police Department. Tim Laborte's stepfather, Joseph Lara, was killed in the fire, his body found a short drive from Lara's house in his native Lahaina. [1/3]A Combined Joint Task Force 50 (CJTF-50) search, rescue and recovery member conducts search operations of areas damaged by Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. August 15, 2023. "The people of Maui must have as much time as they need to heal and recover and will begin to rebuild only when they are ready," Green said. "I want to emphasize this again: The land in the Lahaina is reserved for its people as they return and rebuild."

Persons: Josh Green, Tim Laborte's, Joseph Lara, Laborte, Matthew A, Foster, Handout, Green, Jonathan Allen, Stephen Coates Organizations: Maui Police Department, Officials, Force, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, REUTERS, Hawaii's Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S, Hawaiian, New York

There are so many since wildfires killed 115 people in the historic town of Lahaina that Olsten is worried about a full-blown economic catastrophe. The day after the fire, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, a quasi-state agency, said visitors on “non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui” and that "non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged." People shouldn't go to Lahaina or the surrounding West Maui area — “It’s not a place to stare," Bissen said — but the rest of Maui needs tourists. The Hawaii Tourism Authority drafted and publicized a map showing Lahaina and West Maui in relation to the rest of the island, highlighting just how much was still open. It's not clear, however, when travel to West Maui will resume.

Persons: — Richie Olsten, Olsten, Mufi Hannemann, ”, Graeme Swain, Mara, Swain, Hali'imaile, —, Gemma Alvior, they’re, “ Maui’s, Richard Bissen, shouldn't, Bissen, Jason Momoa, “, Carl Bonham, It's, Bonham, ___ McAvoy Organizations: Airlines, Maui Helicopters, Air, Pilots, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, University of Hawaii, Hollywood, Hawaii Tourism Authority, ”, Revenues Locations: KAHULUI, Hawaii, Lahaina, State, Maui, South Maui, San Diego, U.S, West Maui, Hollywood, ”, Manoa, Kaanapali, Honolulu

☆ Who caused Maui’s devastating wildfire? Lawsuit adds telecom companies and landowners to the list
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The original suit claimed Hawaiian Electric was to blame for the fire, because it did not deenergize power lines that were knocked down by high winds. Shares of Hawaiian Electric have plunged 67% since the fires erupted August 8. Hawaiian Telecom is privately owned. Maui County filed a separate lawsuit late last month against Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, alleging that the utility company’s negligence caused the devastating wildfires. Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura said in a statement following Maui’s lawsuit that the company believes the complaint is factually and legally irresponsible.”

Persons: LippSmith, Graham LippSmith, “, ”, inexcusably, Shelee Kimura Organizations: CNN, Hawaiian, Lahaina, Charter Communications, Hawaiian Telecom, Hawaii Telecom, Electric, Hawaiian Electric, National Weather Service, Watch Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Kula, Olinda, Charter, West Maui, Maui County

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a transaction that would be commonplace for a corporation or a sports team, but it’s the kind of deal that is practically unheard of in the nonprofit sector. The philanthropy research organization Candid will send control of its CF Insights website and the staff that gathered information about community foundations to the Council on Foundations, the association of nearly 900 nonprofit members, on Friday. It helps them make better decisions.”Chang said CF Insights can help community foundations see how its peers handled expansion or compensation. And that information pairs well with the Council on Foundations annual surveys on compensation and benefits among community foundations. That doesn’t happen in the nonprofit sector.

Persons: —, Ann Mei Chang, ” Chang, “, Kathleen Enright, ” Enright, Chang, Enright Organizations: Foundations, ”, Hawaii Community Foundation, don’t, Candid, The Aspen Institute, Urban Institute, Internal Revenue Service, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Hawaii, Maui

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — He's most often associated with Boston, the hometown of his legendary rock band, but Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has a soft spot in his heart for the Hawaiian island of Maui. The singer, who has a home on the island, wants vacationers to return to Maui to help the island's economy — devastated by wildfires last month — recover. Near the end of the opening night of the band's farewell tour in Philadelphia Saturday, Tyler urged audience members not to be afraid to travel to the island again. Josh Green told tourists to stay away during the island's recovery. Tyler's daughter, Mia, was among those initially discouraging tourists from coming to Maui shortly after the fires.

Persons: Steven Tyler, Tyler, ” Tyler, ” “, it’s, ”, Josh Green, Tyler's, Mia, Wayne Parry Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, —, Wells, Gov, Twitter Locations: Boston, Maui, Philadelphia, Lahaina, Hawaii, www.twitter.com

CNN —The Hawaii Tourism Authority announced Friday it approved more than $2 million to help rebuild Hawaii’s struggling tourism industry. The agency said West Maui accounts for 15% of Hawaii’s total tourism revenue, and since the deadly wildfires, the state has lost roughly $9 million per day because of the resulting drop in travel and tourism. Josh Green declared a “tourism emergency” as visitors to the island have dropped significantly in the wake of the devastating wildfires. While the Hawaii Tourism Authority is still trying to get a count of total job losses, Gionson said anecdotally, a small sample size of a dozen businesses informed the agency of about 200 layoffs. Gionson said if people want to help, they should keep their trips, as long as they are not staying in West Maui.

Persons: Ilihia Gionson, Josh Green, Gionson, anecdotally, Richie Olsten, they’re, ” Olsten Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Gov, Maui Locations: Hawaii, Maui, United States, West Maui

☆ Who Profits After Natural Disasters Like Hurricanes and Wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Anthony Dimauro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

After Hurricane Michael struck Florida in 2018, home sales rose significantly, allowing disaster investors to reap the rewards. This venture has the potential to be even more rewarding given the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the US. But federal disaster relief is painfully slow to respond and often doesn't cover most of the costs. And while moratoriums on damaged land sales aren't a long-term, legally tenable solution, there are ways state officials might be able to deter disaster investors. As the threat of natural disasters increases, so will disaster profiteers.

Persons: Josh Green, Ian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane, Joe Raedle, Hurricane Maria, Congress —, Hurricane Sandy, it's, Anthony DiMauro Organizations: Nashville Metro Council, FEMA, Hurricane, Centers for Environmental, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Emergency Managment Agency, Small Business Administration, Urban Institute, Office, Congress, of Housing, Urban, Bloomberg, Newsweek, L.A Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii's, Tennessee, Nashville, Florida, Wilsey, New Orleans, California, Puerto Rico, Lahaina, New York

☆ Climate change turns US utilities grimly exciting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A hotter and stormier world is making life unpleasantly exciting for shareholders, as Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE.N) shows. Yet while European firms have buried power lines underground to avoid damage from storm and fires, American utilities have generally balked. The firm said a second fire began in the same area several hours later, after the utility had turned off local power lines. Separately, Hawaiian Electric Industries, the parent company of Hawaiian Electric, said on Aug. 24 it had suspended its dividend. The company said HEI had withdrawn $170 million and Hawaiian Electric had withdrawn $200 million from their existing revolving unsecured credit facilities to strengthen their balance sheets.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Josh Green, Jaime Green ,, Lady of, Kevin Lamarque, HEI, Fitch, Lawrence, Peter Thal Larsen, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Hawaii, REUTERS, Reuters, Hawaiian Electric Industries, United, Utilities, Hurricanes, Lawrence Berkeley National, Edison International, Consolidated Edison, Dow, Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Electric, Thomson Locations: Lady of Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, United States, Americas, Europe, Alaska, California, New York, Arkansas , Louisiana, Texas

☆ Biden vows enduring federal response to Idalia and Maui fires – and sends a warning to GOP
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans have criticized how Biden and the federal government responded to the Hawaii fires, though officials in the state praised the support they received from the White House. “I let each governor I spoke with know if there’s anything the states need right now, I’m ready to mobilize that support,” Biden said. Biden visited the island early last week, pledging sustained federal support for the island and its residents. Biden signed an emergency declaration Monday unlocking federal resources and said Tuesday he was in “constant contact” with authorities from Florida. The US Coast Guard is supporting search and rescue, and there are three disaster survivor assistance teams deployed in Florida.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hurricane Idalia, Biden, Deanne Criswell, Idalia, Criswell, ”, ” Biden, Ron DeSantis, Brian Kemp, Henry McMaster, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, FEMA, White, Ukraine, Florida Gov, Georgia Gov, South Carolina Gov, Florida Republican, Department of Energy, Republican, US Coast Guard, US Department of Agriculture’s Food, Nutrition Service, US Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Hawaii, Florida, Maui, United States of America, Georgia, East Coast, West Coast

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