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Today's Big Stories

1. New integrated Emergency Call Center opens in Hilo

Hawaii County welcomes a new Emergency Call Center in Hilo with a blessing and dedication ceremony held Monday that coincides with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 13 to 19.

The 17,127-square-foot facility on Mohouli Street will operate as a unified call center housing police and fire department dispatch personnel. The center will improve emergency response capabilities and also provide room for growth for both agencies.

“After decades of planning, we now have a state-of-the-art facility where our police and fire dispatchers can work side by side,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda in a release. “This new Emergency Call Center represents a major investment in public safety and, importantly, supports the essential around-the-clock work of these dedicated professionals.”

Construction of the $31 million state-of-the-art facility began in late 2021 and was built by Hensel Phelps Construction. It houses a conference room, briefing room, training room, cafeteria, workout room, locker room, bathrooms and showers, and is designed to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. 

2. DOH: No new measles cases reported following confirmed case on Oahu

The state Department of Health said no new measles cases have been reported after it was confirmed last week that an unvaccinated child on Oahu had contracted measles and one of the child’s household members also showed symptoms of measles. 

The child has fully recovered, according to DOH. 

The state Department of Health said it identified 92 individuals who were exposed to one or both of the measles cases and successfully contacted 88 of those individuals. Most had been vaccinated against measles or had other evidence of immunity to measles. DOH instructed 10 individuals without evidence of immunity to isolate at home and they are actively being monitored. 

The state agency said it identified all the people who were exposed in public settings except those at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. 

DOH reminds the public that they may have been exposed to measles if they visited the following locations on the dates and times specified: 

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL):

  • C gates, customs and baggage claim area on March 30 between 10:50 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  • Terminal 2 departures, TSA checkpoints, and gate area for Delta flight 309 to Atlanta, Georgia, on April 4 between 1 and 7 p.m.

3. Hawaii nonprofits offer loan relief, counseling for those affected by federal layoffs, funding cuts

Hawaiian Community Assets and Hawaii Community Lending announced a joint effort to support Hawaii workers who have recently been laid off by the federal government or impacted by federal funding cuts by providing loan relief options and emergency financial counseling.

UHERO’s recent forecast estimated that more than 2,200 federal worker layoffs and an estimated 1,200 additional layoffs are expected across the state due to government downsizing and cuts to federal programs. These actions have created and will create further significant impacts for local families facing rising costs for food, housing, healthcare and education.

In support of these families and individuals, HCL is offering relief options for current borrowers who have lost their employment or income and can provide proof of financial hardship and HCA will provide emergency financial counseling to all laid-off federal workers and all those affected by federal funding cuts, including HCL borrowers.

In addition, eligible beneficiaries will get help to apply for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Emergency Financial Assistance Program that’s expected to open in April.

HCA and HCL will release a series of educational videos in the coming weeks that include tools to prevent foreclosure. These resources will be easily accessible on the HCA and HCL websites and their respective social media platforms.

Those laid off and impacted by funding cuts can look for employment opportunities with the State of Hawaii and counties:

State of Hawaii - Operation Hire Hawaii

City & County of Honolulu - Federal-to-Municipal Workforce Timeline

County of Maui - County jobs

County of Hawaii - County jobs

County of Kauai - County jobs

4. Appeals court sides with state on mosquito release

The Intermediate Court of Appeals cleared the way Monday for the state to continue the release of millions of laboratory-augmented mosquitos in East Maui to combat avian malaria. 

The ongoing release is part of an Incompatible Insect Technique initiative by which male mosquitoes are infected with Wolbachia bacteria and released in areas where mosquito-borne avian malaria is present.

In 2023, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which issued a finding of no significant impact, approved a final environmental assessment for the project. The environmental advocacy group Hawaii Unites subsequently filed a claim in Environmental Court claiming the assessment was insufficient and the board erred in its acceptance.

The Environmental Court upheld the board’s approval, ruling that the assessment and finding both satisfied statutory requirements.

The kiwikiu is on of 17 remaining species of Hawaiian honeycreepers in danger of extinction due to avian malaria. (Chris Warren/National Park Service, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project)

5. 367 firearms collected at amnesty event

Oahu residents turned in 367 firearms Saturday in exchange for nearly $38,000 in Foodland gift cards at a gun buyback event held by the state Department of Law Enforcement.

“We are working to make our community safer in many ways, including initiatives like this gun buyback program,” said DLE director Mike Lambert in a release. “These unwanted guns will never again be used. They will never again pose any type of threat to a loved one or have an opportunity to be used in a crime.”

The amnesty event was part of ongoing efforts by Gov. Josh Green to address gun violence in the state. Partnering with DLE were the state Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department and the Aloha Stadium Authority.

Individuals who turned in automatic firearms of any type, semi-automatic rifles or ghost guns were given a $200 Foodland gift card. Those who exchanged handguns, rifles, bump stocks or Glock switches received a $100 card.

Your Notes for Tomorrow

Wednesday, April 16 

  • Chinese Government publishes quarterly GDP data for the first quarter of 2025. Figures published in January said that the rate of economic growth in China was 5.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023
  • World Trade Organization publishes annual Global Trade Outlook and Statistics, analysing recent global trade developments up to the fourth quarter of 2024 and presenting WTO forecasts for world trade in 2025 and 2026
  • Lyrid meteor shower
  • Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services/ Manufacturing & Trade: Inventories & Sales/ Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization
  • 'America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2025' list announced by American Rivers. The report spotlights climate change impacts and environmental injustice with specific solutions public officials can take to safeguard rivers and communities

 

In Case You Missed It

Mixed doubles players competed at the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open at the Hawaii Convention Center on Sunday. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)
Mixed doubles players competed at the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open at the Hawaii Convention Center on Sunday. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

More than 1,000 pickleballers converge at Hawaii Convention Center for sponsored tournament

A celebration and congregation of the rising sport of pickleball took place at the Hawaii Convention Center last week as more than 1,000 people, amateur and professional, took part in the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open.

A total of 38 courts in two exhibition halls were in use for a variety of skill levels. The sound of paddles smacking yellow pickleballs was a steady hum while hundreds of others milled about to watch.

About $10,000 was paid out to pro men’s and women’s teams. Some 800 people played in the primary tournament, and 200-plus more played in the corporate challenge.

“It was great working with AIO, the owners of ESPN (Honolulu), and it was fantastic with their leadership to pull together the different organizations to host the largest ever pickleball tournament in Hawaii,” Michael Hoxie, tournament manager for Phoenix-based Pickleball is Great, told Spectrum News on Sunday.

Hoxie said a return event is in the works. Hawaii is one of 35 states for 150 local tournaments that Pickleball is Great is putting on this year.