Happy
Honolulu
Wednesday, January 7th, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 7th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Goodwill Hawaii is offering free IRS-certified tax prep services for low-income individuals who earned $69,000 or less in 2025 — appointments will be available at seven statewide locations from Monday, Jan. 26 through early April. KITV
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Hawaiian Airlines announced a $600 million plan over five years to upgrade passenger areas at Daniel K. Inouye International, Hilo, and Kona while modernizing Airbus A330 interiors starting in 2028. Integrated ticketing improvements with Alaska Airlines will be introduced in late April + the changes promise smooth guest experiences. Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- ➤ Hawaiian Electric Industries reached a $47.75 million settlement with shareholders who said the utility misled them about wildfire safety before the 2023 fires. A preliminary filing was made Monday in a San Francisco court + judge approval is expected. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Chinatown 808 will host its 50th Chinatown Festival & Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Aala Park and along N. Beretania Street to celebrate the Lunar New Year with lion and dragon dances, martial arts, live entertainment and a parade starting at 4:30 p.m. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Freestyle Digital Media will debut the digital version of 'Shaka: A Story of Aloha' on Apple TV starting Jan. 16, showcasing 120 years of diverse stories behind our famous hand gesture — the film features voices including Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee. Hawaii News Now
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Mokapu Elementary School held the grand opening of its rebuilt campus on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Marine Corps Base Hawaii — featuring 55 classrooms and a new administration building built for nearly 1,000 students. KITV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Hawaii Department of Transportation and University of Hawaii partnered with Blyncsy to distribute free dash cameras for road condition monitoring — nearly 900 drivers signed up, with Oahu filled while sign-ups remain on Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai; pickups began Monday, Jan. 5. Hawaii News Now
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Governor Josh Green announced on Tuesday, Jan. 6 that Hawaii received $188,892,440 from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program — funding a five-year effort to upgrade telehealth, modernize services and expand emergency care across neighbor islands. KITV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ A 10-year investment funds the UH Manoa Esports Arena through a partnership with Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union, which will support scholarships (team travel, equipment, and competitive programming) for the growing esports program. The arena will open in August 2027 at the renovated Student Success Center. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Waialae Country Club will host the Sony Open next Monday, marking the first PGA event of the year in Hawaii. The tournament will begin with a blessing ceremony — uniting local golf fans and setting a hopeful tone for the season. KITV
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Happy Honolulu
Welcome to the Happy Honolulu, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Honolulu, Hawaii community. If you like the Happy Honolulu, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Honolulu.
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