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☆ I'm a Hawaiian Local. Here's What I Think About the Tourism Industry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Pooja Mistry | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Keani Rawlins-Fernandez grew up in Hawaii and has seen tourism increase over the years. Now a local council member, Rawlins-Fernandez says locals can feel overrun by tourists. Many economic, social, and financial issues arise with unrestricted tourism, and I don't know how Hawaii will continue to cope with these numbers. I grew up in Molokai, the only island of Hawaii where the economy is not reliant on tourism. My island in Molokai fared better because the model is to cater to local businesses and local patrons instead.

Persons: Keani Rawlins, Fernandez, Rawlins, —, Uncle Walter Ritte, We've, aren't, I've Organizations: Service, Maui County Council, Kaho'olawe, Systems, Fernandez Tourism, Department of Transportation Locations: Hawaii, Maui County, Molokai, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaiian, Maui, Zion, Utah

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Australian Laura Enever has surfed her way into the record books after stroking into a giant four-story wave in Hawaii earlier this year, the World Surf League and Guinness World Records said on Wednesday. Enever, 31, was surfing at an outer reef on Oahu's North Shore in January when she caught a huge blue wall measured at 43.6 feet (13.3m), breaking the world record for the biggest wave ever paddled into by a woman. "I came up from that wave, and there was a huge, huge wave behind that took out the whole lineup, and I just saw boards flying everywhere. When I got to the inside, I was almost laughing - I just couldn't believe I'd caught that wave but also escaped that crazy, huge wave behind mine." The biggest wave ever ridden was a 26.2m monster at Nazare, towed into by Germany's Sebastian Steudtner in 2020.

Persons: Laura Enever, Enever, I'd, Aaron Gold, Gabeira, Germany's Sebastian Steudtner, Lincoln, James Redmayne, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Surf League, Guinness World Records, Thomson Locations: Hawaii, Enever, Shore, Waimea, Maui, Nazare, Portugal, Sydney

Josh Green on Wednesday announced the creation of a $150 million fund to help those who lost family members or who were injured in Maui's wildfires. Beneficiaries will receive payments of more than $1 million as early as next year, the governor's office said in a news release. Those getting money from the fund will waive their right to file legal claims. The fund aims to enable swift and generous financial payments for losses without requiring people to go through time-consuming litigation, the release said. The fund is modeled on the September 11thVictim Compensation Fund, Green said in livestreamed address.

Persons: Josh Green, Green Organizations: —, Wednesday, Electric, Kamehameha Schools, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: HONOLULU, — Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui County

☆ How Microsoft’s AI is making a mess of the news
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Donie O'Sullivan | Allison Gordon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But the apparent role of AI in Microsoft’s recent amplification of bogus stories raises questions about the company’s public adoption of the nascent technology and for the journalism industry as a whole. The poll prompted criticism from Microsoft’s readers, “This has to be the most pathetic, disgusting poll I’ve ever seen,” one person wrote. “We had a really tight knit, super talented editorial team and we had all worked together for a long time,” Pfeuffer told CNN. “I don’t think people realize how many people use [MSN],” she told CNN. “It felt like I was standing in line at the grocery store reading a National Enquirer front page,” Kawar told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Britain’s, Lilie James, James ’, Anna Bateson, “, ” Bateson, Brad Smith, Bateson, ”, Brandon Hunter, “ Brandon Hunter, Dean Preston, Elon Musk, Pfeuffer, ” Pfeuffer, Biden, Joe Biden ”, Ferris, ” Kawar, he’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, NBA, Microsoft, Guardian, MSN, Guardian Media Group, San Francisco, Microsoft Edge, Enquirer, Microsoft Microsoft, Google Locations: OpenAI, Sydney, Australia, Santa Monica , California

HONOLULU (AP) — A wildfire that has burned forestlands in a remote mountainous area of Central Oahu has moved eastward and away from population centers, Hawaii authorities said Thursday, as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. The flames haven't threatened homes or property, and no evacuations have been ordered, but they have scorched some native koa and ohia trees. Nearly 2 square miles (5 square kilometers) have been burned so far by the blaze, which firefighters have been battling since Monday. Three Army helicopters were dropping water on the fire Thursday, and helicopters from the Honolulu Fire Department and the U.S. Political Cartoons View All 1233 ImagesHawaii's ecosystems evolved in the absence of frequent fires, and when native trees burn, they are often replaced by fire-prone invasive species.

Organizations: Honolulu Fire Department, Three Army, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Locations: HONOLULU, Central Oahu, Hawaii, Honolulu, U.S, Lahaina

☆ Mosquitoes are driving the ‘akikiki’ to extinction. With only 5 birds left in the wild, scientists are racing to save the species
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This summer, the team successfully rescued 10 eggs that were placed in a portable incubator and brought safely back to the Kauaʻi Bird Conservation Center. The goal is that as soon as the threat of avian malaria is eradicated, the birds can be released back into their native habitat. Eradicating mosquitoesThe looming challenge is how to eradicate avian malaria – which not only threatens the ‘akikiki but also other endangered forest birds. In June, the US government committed nearly $16 million as part of an initiative to prevent the imminent extinction of Hawaiian forest birds. The process could help to reduce the likelihood of forest birds being affected by avian malaria, which is only carried by female mosquitoes.

Persons: ”, Hannah Bailey, Bailey, we’ll, “ Organizations: CNN, state’s Department of Land, Resources, Conservation Program, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Department of Land, Bird Conservation, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Hawaii’s Department of Land Locations: Hawaii, Kauaʻi, Maui, San

☆ Norwegian Cruise Line cancels stops in Israel, cuts outlook for the year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The passenger cruise ship Norwegian Prima arrives at the French Mediterranean port of Marseille. The Israel conflict has also impacted broader cruises to the Middle East area beyond just its Israel stops, the company said on its earnings call. Last week, rival cruise line Royal Caribbean Group said canceled sailings to Israel will negatively impact its earnings for the year by three cents a share. The cruise company also the wildfires in Maui forced Norwegian to modify some August itineraries. The company lowered its 2023 occupancy outlook to 102.6% from 103.5%, citing the disruptions affecting fourth quarter performance.

Persons: Norwegian Prima, Gerard Bottino, Harry Sommer Organizations: Getty Images, Cruise Line Holdings, Hamas, Royal Caribbean Group Locations: Norwegian, Marseille, Israel, Maui, East

But within 12 hours, Lahaina was consumed. Robert ArconadoFROM GRASS FIRE TO INFERNOBefore the fire, a major forecast model used by the National Weather Service predicted a dire situation in Lahaina, according to data analyzed by The Times, with projected hurricane-force gusts of up to 76 miles per hour. OAHU MAUI Lahaina HAWAII OAHU MAUI Lahaina HAWAII Forecast wind gusts Aug. 8, 4 a.m. 0 76 m.p.h. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationBut rather than highlighting the risks in Lahaina, the weather service issued a broad warning for all the Hawaiian islands, and that warning never made reference to the 76 m.p.h. Instead, the initial warning to the public said gusts could be over 65 m.p.h., and that number was later lowered to around 60 m.p.h.

Persons: Robert Arconado, Cliff Organizations: National Weather Service, The Times, University of Washington Locations: Lahaina, OAHU MAUI Lahaina HAWAII OAHU MAUI Lahaina HAWAII

☆ Climate change is driving insurance rates up, forcing developers to add weather-proofing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Along East Boston's waterfront sits The Eddy, a two-building property with over 250 luxury apartments. When developers imagined The Eddy in 2014, they kept that weather exposure in mind. According to the Urban Land Institute, or ULI, the developers built The Eddy nine inches higher than the original property that was previously located on the site. The developers also constructed The Eddy with walls that can withstand up to 100 miles per hour of wind. It found that implementing mitigation measures according to modern building codes could save 600 lives and prevent 1 million nonfatal injuries.

Persons: Eddy, ULI, Lindsay Brugger Organizations: Urban Land Institute, Global, National Institute of Building Sciences Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii, Boston

HONOLULU (AP) — Maui police held a news conference on Monday to show 16 minutes of body camera footage taken the day a wildfire tore through Lahaina town in August, including video of officers rescuing 15 people from a coffee shop and taking a severely burned man to a hospital. Earlier this month, Maui County provided the AP with 911 call recordings in response to an open records request. Officers ushered out 15 people from the coffee shop as smoke swirled in the sky around them, loaded the group into police SUVs and took them to the Lahaina Civic Center. In another clip, an officer finds a badly burned man at a shopping center and put him in the back seat of his patrol car. The fast-moving wildfire on Aug. 8 killed at least 99 people and burned more than 2,000 structures.

Persons: John Pelletier Organizations: Lahaina Civic Center, Co Locations: HONOLULU, Lahaina, Maui County, Wailuku, Hawaii

☆ Southwest Airlines profit falls, expects higher deliveries from Boeing in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) reported a third-quarter profit on Thursday that fell about 30% on soaring labor and fuel costs and the budget carrier said it expects higher aircraft deliveries from Boeing (BA.N) in 2023. Last month, Southwest Airlines raised concerns about rising fuel costs and weaker leisure bookings in August, citing seasonality trends. Southwest expects fourth-quarter operating revenue per available seat mile, a proxy for pricing power, to decrease by 9% to 11% compared with last year. Southwest Airlines also forecast capacity to increase by 15% in the current quarter, once adjusted for the operational disruption faced by Southwest in December last year. Southwest Airlines reported a profit of $193 million, or $0.31 per share, in the third quarter, from $277 million, or $0.44 per share, a year earlier.

Persons: Mike Blake, workgroups, Bob Jordan, Shivansh, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Southwest Airlines, Boeing, U.S, Southwest, Boeing's, Thomson Locations: Kahului, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Hawaii Bribery Scandal Casts a Shadow Over Lahaina’s Ruins
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Blaze Lovell | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a major contracting scandal broke out in Hawaii last year, the mayor of Maui County appeared on television to express outrage and announce a sweeping audit of contracts awarded to a corrupt businessman. But no one told the county auditor, who said he only heard about the audit on the news. In the end, the audit was never completed, and the county’s flawed system for awarding contracts — a system marred by bribery and a lack of competition — remains largely the way it was. Now, as Maui recovers from the devastating wildfires that swept across parts of the island in August and killed at least 99 people, millions of dollars will be spent on rebuilding critical infrastructure using the same flawed contract-monitoring system. The bribery case involving the businessman, Milton Choy, prompted some county officials to begin phasing out the use of sole-source contracts — which are awarded without competitive bidding when officials determine that only one vendor is able to supply a particular good or service — but the practice is still in use in the county.

Persons: Milton Choy Locations: Hawaii, Maui County, Maui

☆ The climate crisis has a price — and it's $391 million a day
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Al Zulkifli | AFP | Getty ImagesDamage from the global climate crisis has amounted to $391 million per day over the past two decades, a report showed. "We find that US$143 billion per year of the costs of extreme events is attributable to climatic change. The research, however, notes that there is an underestimation of the true costs of climate change due to the difficulty of measuring indirect losses. They called for an increase in adaptation policies to minimize these climate-change attributed costs, such as the building of flood protection or improving early warning signal systems heralding extreme weather events. "The planet is far off track from meeting its climate goals," the WMO said in a September report, adding that rising global temperatures have been accompanied by more extreme weather.

Persons: Al Zulkifli, —, Nargis, Fedja Grulovic, Spyros Bakalis, Yuki Iwamura Organizations: AFP, Getty, Nature Communications, International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, Reuters, U.S . Federal Emergency Management Agency, World Meteorological Organization, WMO, Afp Locations: Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Myanmar, Europe, Russia, Somalia, Prevalje, Slovenia, Pournari, Magoula, Athens, Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) — All of West Maui except for burned-out sections of historic Lahaina will reopen to tourism on Nov. 1 following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than century, the mayor of Maui County said Monday. Mayor Richard Bissen said he made the move after talking about it with his Lahaina advisory team, the Red Cross and other partners. West Maui has about 11,000 hotel rooms, or about half of Maui's total. Josh Green last month declared West Maui would officially reopen to tourism on Oct. 8 to bring back badly needed jobs and help the economy recover. Residents who have been staying in West Maui hotels and other short-term accommodations after losing their homes in the fire won't lose their lodging, the mayor said.

Persons: Richard Bissen, Josh Green, Bissen, ”, ” Bissen, “ Organizations: Travelers, Hawaii Gov Locations: HONOLULU, West Maui, Lahaina, Maui County, Maui, Hawaii

Some are bouncing from hotel room to hotel room, in some cases to make way for the return of tourists who are crucial to the local economy. That’s trickier on Maui, an island of about 150,000 people that's a 30-minute plane ride from the nearest major city, Honolulu. She signed a lease on Wednesday, paying the first month's rent and a deposit using aid money and $2,000 from a cousin. Some landlords wanted as much as $8,000 to $10,000 a month, saying they could get that from tourists, Jachowski said. The agency has identified four sites — three in Lahaina and one in central Maui — near power, water and sewer infrastructure.

Persons: — Charles Nahale, Nahale, ” Nahale, Bob Fenton, ” Fenton, Gail McGovern, Josh Green, Tiffany Teruya, ”, Teruya, Matt Jachowski, Jachowski, —, Fenton, Richard Bissen, Roland Cazimero, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Red, Catholic Charities, Maui, Associated Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Maui, Honolulu, Green

☆ Why burying power lines is an effective, but very expensive way to prevent wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Katie Brigham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Five years ago, PG&E's equipment sparked the deadly Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, California, and killed 85 people. But just a year later, in the same county, PG&E's equipment started another catastrophic fire, prompting the utility to announce its extensive undergrounding plan. The utility has undergrounded 350 miles of power lines so far this year, and more than 600 miles since 2021. While Martin says moving power lines underground reduces ignition risk by 98%, it comes at a steep cost. The bill would be footed by PG&E's customers, who already face some of the highest rates in the nation.

Persons: Jamie Martin, Martin, Katy Morsony, Morsony, Daniel Kirschen, Kirschen Organizations: Pacific Gas and, undergrounding, California Public Utilities Commission, Reform, University of Washington Locations: California, Maui, Paradise , California

☆ Yes, Maui Is Open. But the Loss of Lahaina May Reshape Tourism.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In Lahaina, in the weeks and months to come, increasing tourism will coexist with ongoing relief efforts. ‘We might be in the way’In the days after the fires, tourism to Maui was in a free fall. Messaging spread on social media for tourists to avoid all of Maui and paralyzed the economy, where tourism accounts for 70 percent of every dollar generated. Last year, about three million visitors spent $5.82 billion on Maui, according to state data. State and local leaders have spent the last two months pleading for tourists to visit.

Persons: who’ve, “, it’s, Josh Green Organizations: ”, CBS Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll for the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century has increased by one, to 99, after Maui County police found additional remains. The remains were recovered on Oct. 12 in Lahaina, police spokesperson Alana Pico said in an email Friday. So far police have identified the remains of 97 people from the Aug. 8 fire that wiped out much of Lahaina, a historic town on Maui's west coast. Powerful winds related to a hurricane passing to Hawaii's south carried embers from house to house and hampered firefighting efforts. More than 2,000 buildings were destroyed, and some 8,000 people were forced to move to hotels and other temporary shelter.

Persons: Alana Pico Organizations: Associated Press Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Maui County, Lahaina, Maui's, Lahaina's, Hawaii's

☆ Hawaii travel rebounding following Maui wildfires, says Alaska Airlines' Ben Minicucci
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHawaii travel rebounding following Maui wildfires, says Alaska Airlines' Ben MinicucciCNBC's Phil Lebeau and Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines CEO, join 'The Exchange' to discuss Alaska's Q3 earnings miss, headwinds from the Maui fires and high oil prices, and the state of domestic flight demand.

Persons: Ben Minicucci, Phil Lebeau Organizations: Hawaii, Maui, Alaska Airlines, Alaska Airlines CEO

☆ America's electric grid is in shambles. Biden has made the largest federal investment ever to try and fix it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Matthew Daly | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Biden announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen the electric grid. This is the largest federal investment ever made in grid infrastructure, said US Energy Secretary. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota.

Persons: Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Chip Somodevilla, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, Landrieu, Jonathan Foley, Foley, Tim Walz, Steve Karnowski Organizations: US Energy, Service, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Minnesota Gov, AP, of Commerce, CPS Energy, Consumers Energy, Flint, DTE Energy, Portland General Electric Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, Minnesota, Locust Grove, Orleans, San Antonio, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Detroit

☆ How El Niño will affect the weather this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Vehicles drive on the flooded Freeway 5 after an El Niño-strengthened storm brought rain to Los Angeles on Jan. 6, 2016. Lucy Nicholson | ReutersThe El Niño weather pattern is still active heading into the winter this year and it will mean the northern and far west portions of the U.S. will have a warmer-than-usual winter. El Niño, meaning "little boy" in Spanish, and La Niña, meaning "little girl" in Spanish, are opposite weather patterns driven by a change in the trade winds in the Pacific Ocean. This is the first time in four years that El Niño has been active as winter begins, according to the NOAA. While El Niño rains will alleviate ongoing droughts in some regions, it may also drive the development of drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

Persons: El, Lucy Nicholson, El Niño, Jon Gottschalck, Brad Pugh, Pugh Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Rockies Locations: Los Angeles, El, U.S, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, New England, Gulf, Mississippi, Great Lakes, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — For people around the world, the green leaves that sprouted from a scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree in the heart of devastated Lahaina symbolized hope following Maui’s deadly wildfire this summer. Before colonialism, commercial agriculture and tourism, thousands of breadfruit trees dotted Lahaina; the fire charred all but two of the dozen or so that remained. By contrast, researchers believe breadfruit and kukui nut — now the state tree of Hawaii — were among the many edible plants Polynesian voyagers brought around 1,000 years ago. Efforts to revive the banyan and other important surviving trees have included trucking in water, applying compost extract and testing soil. But replanting breadfruit in urban areas comes with challenges, said Steve Nimz, an arborist on Oahu who has been helping restore Lahaina’s trees.

Persons: landscapers, ”, Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, King Kamehameha, ulu, ” Kekona, Lahaina’s, replanting, Steve Nimz, “, Hokuao Pellegrino, ” Pellegrino, replant, Pellegrino, he's, reintegrating breadfruit, ___ Komenda Organizations: University of Hawaii, Development Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, ulu, Maui, Manoa, U.S, India, Lele, Hilo, Lincoln, Oahu, Waikapu, West Maui, “, Tacoma , Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota. In southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO Energy Co. will increase grid reliability and resilience through substation flood mitigation and replacing aging infrastructure.

Persons: —, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, ” Landrieu, ”, Jonathan Foley, ” Foley, Isabella O'Malley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Entergy, CPS Energy, DTE Energy, PECO Energy, Portland General Electric, Associated Press Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, San Francisco, Locust Grove , Georgia, Orleans, San Antonio, Minnesota, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Detroit, Pennsylvania, New York

Oct 16 (Reuters) - Nelson Peltz's activist hedge fund Trian Fund Management has built a stake in Allstate Corp (ALL.N), one of the insurers struggling to cope with the fallout of natural disasters such as the Maui wildfire in Hawaii, people familiar with the matter said. It has blamed natural disasters that are sometimes amplified by climate change for its poor performance. Allstate has hired investment bankers to advise it on how to handle Trian, the sources said. Allstate and Trian did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trian has previously pushed for change at companies such as Procter & Gamble (PG.N), Unilever (ULVR.L) and Invesco (IVZ.N).

Persons: Nelson, Tom Wilson, Carl Icahn, Matthew, Walt Disney, Bob Iger's, Trian, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, David French, Greg Roumeliotis, Rod Nickel Organizations: Management, Allstate Corp, Allstate, Trian, Insurance, Walt, Procter, Gamble, Unilever, Svea, Thomson Locations: Hawaii, Northbrook , Illinois, New York

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