Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
Your Weather Planner
A wet pattern will persist over the next few days. Expect nightly showers near the coast and island interior afternoon and evening wet weather. Light to moderate trade winds will return over the weekend and linger into early next week. With a moist pattern in place, rain and showers will continue, even in leeward locations. A storm system looks to develop west of the islands early next week, bringing the potential for heavy rain and thunderstorms through Wednesday.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. Funding restored for local manufacturer assistance program
Hawaii’s Congressional delegation expressed collective relief Wednesday over the Trump administration’s decision to reinstate federal funding for INNOVATE Hawaii and nine other Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnerships.
MEPs like INNOVATE Hawaii subsidize advisory and consulting services for small- and medium-sized manufacturers to help enhance productivity, growth and technical performance. MEPs are situated in every state and Puerto Rico.
Last week, the administration announced it would stop funding MEPs in Hawaii, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming. The move raised fears that the remaining 41 MEPs could eventually be defunded.
The cuts were reportedly driven by the administration’s ongoing initiative to reduce federal spending and the assessment that the MEP program did not align with the administration’s priorities — despite the president’s stated goal of reinvigorating U.S. manufacturing amid the current trade war with China.
On Wednesday, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which administers the MEP program, announced that it was reinstating funding to the 10 affected MEPs.
The Hawaii lawmakers welcomed the news but expressed continued concern over the administration’s cuts.
According to NIST data, INNOVATE Hawaii contributed to 2,239 jobs created or retained; $4,190,741 in cost savings; $37,597,893 in new and retained sales; and $15,631,459 in new client investments.
2. Blangiardi appoints Randal Collins to head emergency management
The former emergency management director for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious and controversial NEOM project has been selected as the next head of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management.
Randal Collins will replace Hiro Toiya, who stepped down last September to take a new position with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Acting director Jennifer Walter will return to her previous position as deputy director.
Collins, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Indianapolis, and a Master of Leadership and doctorate in organizational change from the University of Southern California.
His extensive background in emergency management includes work on some 30 federally declared disaster responses. Collins has previously served as emergency management coordinator for the City of El Segundo, national director of American humane rescue and deputy director of operations and preparedness for Indianapolis-Marion County Emergency Management.
Collins will start his new position on May 1.
3. University of Hawaii to have on-campus tailgating for all 7 home games of 2025 football season
The University of Hawaii executed a dry run for on-campus tailgating in the final game of the 2024 season.
The school feels it’s ready for the full experience in 2025.
UH announced Wednesday that all seven contests at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex for the fall season will include an Upper Campus pregame tailgating component in Zone 13 along Correa Road — a series of parking lots stretching from Kennedy Theatre to Campus Center.
Season tailgating passes will go for $250 per vehicle. UH has 270 stalls to allot; it still forbids tailgating in the Lower Campus parking structure also known as Zone 20.
H-Club members will have the first chance to purchase tailgating passes. The highest levels of membership are already cleared to order them, while the lowest tier opens May 2.
4. Maui Humane Society issues urgent call for fosters
The Maui Humane Society released an urgent call for people to help foster animals as they prepare for a large-scale intake of dogs connected to a Humane Enforcement case.
The shelter is already full, with zero open kennels, and they are hoping to make space to care for incoming animals, according to a news release.
“This is a critical situation,” said Nikki Russell, Maui Humane Society’s Chief of Operations. “We take our responsibility to rescue animals in need very seriously, and when shelter space is so limited, it is extremely challenging to do our jobs. We desperately need our community’s help.”
MHS is the only open-intake shelter on the island and they hold the animal control contract with Maui County, which means they must always be ready to take in new animals who are victims of abuse, sick or injured, or have nowhere else to go.
When Spectrum News Hawaii asked for more information about the recent case, which involves a large-scale intake of dogs, Ivankic said she couldn't provide further details as the case is still open, but said the nonprofit was in the process of taking in the animals.
For anyone who wants to foster, MHS provides food, supplies, medication, training and ongoing support. To learn more about becoming a foster, click here.
5. 2 people killed in FSU shooting; Police identify suspect as deputy's son
Police say two people were killed and five others were injured when someone opened fire Thursday on the campus of Florida State University.
Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower said at a 4:30 p.m. news conference that the first shots were fired at 11:50 a.m. He said FSU police officers responded "immediately."
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil identified the suspect as the son of one of his deputies, and said he allegedly used one of his parent's firearms in the shooting. The suspect is Phoenix Ikner, 20 years old.
The ATF and FBI are now involved in the investigation.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Friday, April 18
- WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony
- Star Wars Celebration, fan experience and exhibition celebrating the sci-fi saga, featuring special guests, stage shows, panels, interactive events, screenings, and exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming 'Star Wars' projects. Guests include Alan Tudyk, Anthony Daniels, Daniel Logan, Diego Luna, Doug Chiang, Mads Mikkelsen, Manny Jacinto and Temuera Morrison
- Good Friday (aka Holy Friday), religious holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
- Pope Francis holds 'Passion of the Lord' service at the Vatican to mark Good Friday, before Way of the Cross meditations at the Colosseum, Rome
- State Employment and Unemployment/U.S. stock markets closed on Good Friday
- Vice President Vance reportedly travels to Italy around now
In Case You Missed It
Neighborhood park recognized as ‘Oldest Active Baseball Field in America’
Recognized as the “father of modern baseball” and a respected community leader, Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr.’s 205th birthday comes with an official recognition of the baseball field at Cartwright Neighborhood Park as the “Oldest Active Baseball Field in America.”
A special dedication was held Thursday, at Cartwright Neighborhood Park, located at 1313 Makiki Street.
Cartwright is credited with establishing many of the game’s fundamental elements on the park site in 1852, including the diamond-shaped field, 90-foot base paths, nine innings and nine players per side — all of which continue to define the game as it’s played today.
