Hawaii Independent Staff

On the anniversary of Juneteenth, are African-Americans free yet?

On the anniversary of emancipation in the US, more black men are in prison than were enslaved. Read More »

Schatz gets HGEA

The 2014 race for Inouye's senate seat is on, and Schatz is winning. Read More »

NZ comes to town, brings films MicroFest comes to town A loyal fan – for Microsoft

Here's one person who didn't come to the Microsoft launch event to see Macklemore. Read More »

Kamehameha Day, 2013

Today is the 141st commemoration of Kamehameha I. Read More »

Gabbard speaks out against fast-tracking of Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Obama administration is negotiating the largest U.S. free-trade agreement in secret and on a fast track Read More »

Wanted: Vacant lots, empty retail stores, and your ideas!

Help us identify more sites for our "What Should Go Here" feature Read More »

Nagashima to leave HTDC

The HTDC board voted to name Len Higashi, current senior economic development manager, as acting executive director. Read More »

Alternative energy will no longer be alternative →

The declining costs of wind and solar energy will move them into the mainstream – hopefully soon. More at The Economist » Read More »

UH Regents begin search for new president →

What qualities should the regents look for in the next president? More at Honolulu Star-Advertiser » Read More »

Governor releases transportation construction funds Even women who graduate from Harvard aren’t immune to the wage gap →

One of the takeaways from the Harvard survey: the gender wage gap can't be attributed to career choices. More at The Atlantic »

US: A rich country where a growing minority can’t afford food →

24% of Americans struggle to afford food, according to a Pew survey – compared to just 2% of Japanese citizens. More at Pew Research Center »

For sale: 516 acres of Kapolei land → Hawaii Island journalists criticize Senator Hee for weakening shield law We just passed the climate’s “Grim Milestone” →

Bill McKibben, quoted by Tim McDonnell and James West in Mother Jones:

"Somehow in the last 50 ppm we melted the Arctic ... we'll see what happens in the next 50."
More at Mother Jones »

DeOccupy Honolulu as Salon des Refusé →

The art of resistance at Thomas Square. More at The Doug Note »

Gallery: Hele On Kaka‘ako DeOccupy Honolulu to attend Thomas Square meeting Mother’s Day, 1913 →

A note from 100 years ago to remember our mothers. More at Nupepa Hawaii »

NY: Protected bike lanes boost local business →

Food for thought, on the eve of tomorrow's Kakaako Complete Streets demo:

After the construction of a protected bicycle lane on 9th Avenue, local businesses saw a 49% increase in retail sales.
More at America Bikes »

Helicopter crashes downtown Kakaako gets ready to Hele On

The Sunday event combines a 5k run, bicycle education, art, and more. Read More »

Kamehameha Schools CEO to retire in 2014 →

Her tenure included a new strategic plan and expansion of educational services. More at Press Release »

BayFest cancelled →

The event has been cancelled for 2013 due to sequestration. More at BayFest Hawaii Facebook Page »

Out and about on First Friday Drawing on walls The simple beauty of just coloring

From the Avant Garde Diaries, a beautiful piece on Hawaii's own Jasper Wong Read More »

The legislature closes for the year

Speaker Joe Souki's closing remarks Read More »

Abercrombie officially launches re-election campaign May Day in Hilo, 1942 →

"According to what we understand and hear pertaining to the celebration of Lei Day ... the show put on will be great." – From Hoku o Hawaii newspaper. More at Nupepa Hawaii »

Super PAC transparency bill passes after all Mayor to hold forum on Thomas Square

Caldwell: "“My vision for Thomas Square is to develop the park as the crown jewel in a new Culture and Arts District for the City and County of Honolulu." Read More »

Shakespeare auditions open

Ever wanted to perform the Bard? Now's your chance. Read More »

Gallery: Hawaii Geek Meet 2013

Geek gents and gals gathered genteely at Ala Moana Beach Park. Read More »

The white hat

The manhunt continues for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The suspect is in custody. Read More »

HSTA, state agree on new contract Maestro Matt Catingub returns to lead new independent pops organization

The new orchestra launches in September Read More »

Fringe Festival opens application process

Now in its third year, the arts festival is calling for performers Read More »

Explosions at Boston Marathon

Boston police are reporting at least two dead, 23 90 injured in explosions at Boston Marathon. We're posting recommended media sources where you can get more information. Read More »

It’s Startup Weekend in Honolulu

It's a busy weekend: by Sunday, there will be a new crop of Hawaii businesses Read More »

Royal Hawaiian Hotel

“If you are going to be very grand, go to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. It’s quite the last word financially and otherwise.” Read More »

IRS: No warrant necessary to read email →

Citizens have "generally no privacy" in online communications, according to IRS attorneys. Here's the ACLU's response. More at CNET »

Waikiki Business Plaza and Wimberly Office Building Admiral: US can intercept N. Korea missile → “The Collection” coming to Kakaako’s Block E HMSA seeks 8.5% rate hike for small businesses →

Kristen Consillio at the Star-Advertiser, reporting on a statement from HMSA:

Assessments and taxes related to health care reform account for approximately 23 percent of the rate request, she said.
More at Star-Advertiser »

Japan deploys missiles to protect against North Korea →

Two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air missile launchers were stationed at the defence ministry in Tokyo before dawn, a ministry spokesman said.
More at GlobalPost »

By the Seaside

The 1939 apartments are a reminder of a simpler Waikiki. Learn more in this weekend's walking tour. Read More »

North Korea warns foreigners to leave South

The latest in a ratcheting-up of rhetoric, and hopefully nothing more.

Mayor signs beach smoking ban →

Bill 72 provides fines up to $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second violation within a year, and $500 for additional offenses. More at Hawaii News Now » Read More »

State invests in biofuels →

The state agribusiness corporation is a venture partner in a $1 million effort to produce biofuel and high protein animal feed from unmarketable papaya. More at Hawaii 24/7 »

Bike-In An interview with filmmaker Aina Paikai

A new series of local films begins Friday night at Coffee Talk in Kaimuki. Read More »

Video: The state of the environment

Video from the 2013 Ideas Summit: Maxine Burkett, Robert Harris, Sen. Laura Thielen, and Tom Coffman on the state of our environment. Read More »

Downtown Wal-Mart? →

All signs are pointing to a new Wal-Mart on Fort Street Mall. More at Star-Advertiser » Read More »

North Korea threatens Hawaii, Guam →

The threats are the latest in a series of rhetorical flare-ups from Pyongyang since the United States and South Korean forces began joint military drills earlier this month, as US B-52 bombers flew over the Korean peninsula.
More at GlobalPost »

The Moana Surfrider

What do the Duke of Windsor and Amelia Earhart have in common? Read More »

Should the State buy 22,500 acres of Dole lands?

Senator Donovan Dela Cruz has introduced a resolution for the state to purchase 22,500 acres currently being sold by the agribusiness corporation. Read More »

Kaua‘i hits 8th ocean drowning victim of the year – and it’s only March → When one door closes

The closing of a Moiliili store will help to open doors for Meals on Wheels Read More »

“Habemus Papam Franciscum” →

The new Pope has a Twitter account with 1.6 million followers. And one tweet – in Latin, of course. More at @Pontifex »

Talofa Samoa: Don’t bank on it Downbeat is a diner – and now a lounge, too Report: GMO protest march in Haleiwa →

Mary Pratt at North Shore Informer reports on the first of a series of statewide marches against leases to Monsanto for GMO testing. More at North Shore Informer »

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Where we come from, where we're going Read More »

Byron’s, bye-bye

Hawaii celebrates 47 years of fried Oreos, shrimp burgers, and late nights Read More »

How the sequester will affect Hawaii

The White House released the following estimates of the impact of the budget sequester, if Congress and the President can't reach an agreement by Friday. Read More »

The Roots of Health: Communities, Families, and You

Join us Wednesday at 6 pm for a delicious dinner and conversation about health and food! Co-sponsored by Kokua Kalihi Valley and the Independent. Read More »

Harlem Shake @ KS

Is this the best local Harlem Shake video? Read More »

US Senate Dems unveil $110B budget cut compromise → Gallery: Honolulu Night Market

Some of our favorite Instagrams from Saturday's Honolulu Night Market. Read More »

Council considering banning tents on sidewalks →

The Honolulu City Council is considering bills that would ban tents and other items on public sidewalks. More at Hawaii News Now » Read More »

Pacific nations call for French Polynesia self-determination →

Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu have introduced a UN general assembly resolution to reinscribe French Polynesia on the UN decolonization list. More at Pacific Islands Report »

No tsunami watch for Hawaii after Santa Cruz islands quake →

A South Pacific quake this afternoon has not triggered a tsunami watch for Hawaii. More at Hawaii News Now » Read More »

A parking-less Palace? →

State Representative Gene Ward is pushing forward a bill that would remove parking stalls (except for handicap and special event parking) from Iolani Palace. More at KHON » Read More »

Kiribati buys land in Fiji →

"We are buying this land in Vanua Levu, near Savusavu, to address our food security and not for the relocation of our people," Kiribati President Anote Tong told the Fiji Times.
More at stuff.co.nz »

Big Island electric utility pushes for more geothermal → Live Fruitfully

The Hawaii Independent + Jamba Juice Hawaii Read More »

House democrats: “Legalize It”

House Speaker Joe Souki and House Majority Leader Scott Saiki have introduced a bill to legalize marijuana. Read More »

Abercrombie: “Seize the moment to act with confidence”

The verbatim text of the Governor's 2013 State of the State Address. Read More »

120 years ago today: the Overthrow →

An article from our archives. And an article from 1893. More at Read more »

“Freedom is our future”

The verbatim text of Dr. Vandana Shiva's speech at Wednesday's rally at the State Capitol. Read More »

New US draft climate change report released for review →

To sum it up: “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present." More at Nature » Read More »

Island Air to be sold →

The new, undisclosed buyer may take over in the next two months More at Pacific Business News »

Hawaiian to acquire 16 new Airbus jets

More jets, more jobs. Just another day at Hawaiian Air. Read More »

OHA to reconsider position on Mauna Kea telescope Say resigns, proposes Oshiro in his place →

The battle over the control of the State House took a new turn today as Calvin Say resigned, and proposed Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro in his place. More at Star-Advertiser »

Alaska senator calls for $15 million for tsunami debris cleanup →

An Alaska senator is criticizing the U.S. government’s response to tsunami debris cleanup and is calling for $15 million to be included in a disaster relief package. More at KITV »

Fatal typhoon hits the Philippines →

More than 300 lives have been lost so far. More at KHON2 »

UN recognizes Palestine →

The United Nations today voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to "nonmember observer state," despite the wishes of the United States and Israel. More at Washington Post »

Honolulu gets new electric car charge stations →

Honolulu electric vehicle drivers have six new charging stations to choose from, located in parking facilities from Chinatown to Waikiki. More at Hawaii News Now »

Governor puts brakes on PLDC rulemaking

William Aila, DLNR chair, will be convening meetings with 'stakeholders' to address their concerns over the Public Land Development Corporation. Read More »

Souki takes the stage Rail federal funding gets green light

That's $1.55 billion down, $4 billion to go.

UH may face audit →

The University of Hawaii may soon face an audit, due to the "Wonder Blunder" scandal. More at Civil Beat » Read More »

Gallery: Night Market

Food, music, skateboarding, hookah – who could ask for anything more?

Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Hawaii in January →

In January, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi will travel to Hawaii and accept an award at the Rotary Global Peace Forum in Honolulu. The award will recognize Suu Kyi in her non-violent efforts to promote human rights in Myanmar. More at Star Advertiser »

“Help Wanted” in Caldwell administration →

The newly elected mayor of Honolulu, Kirk Caldwell is accepting applications for director and deputy director positions for multiple departments in the city. Applications are being accepted until December 7. More at KHON2 »