Happy
Honolulu
Wednesday, January 21st, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 21st of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Temporary sidewalk closures will take effect near Fort and Bishop Street on Nimitz Highway starting tomorrow as rail construction begins. Pedestrian detours will remain in place for three weeks. KITV
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Hawaiian Electric attributes rising business rates in Kalihi to oil prices and a new billing system — though privacy rules prevent discussing individual customer accounts, according to spokesman Darren Pai. Hawaii News Now
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Gold Star families on Oahu helped build the three-quarter size Wall That Heals (a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.) yesterday. The wall honors Vietnam War heroes and preserves the memory of their service. KITV
- ➤ Diverse community members gathered in Waikiki on Jan. 20 to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy in a festive parade where music+ aloha filled the streets. Neighbors joined in a respectful tribute that celebrated his enduring message and shared heritage. KITV
- ➤ Blue Note Hawaii has announced that Josh Tatofi, known as the Polynesian Luther Vandross, will serve as its 2026 Artist-In-Residence with seven weekend sets this year. The concerts — featuring special guest appearances — will offer unique musical experiences at Blue Note Hawaii. KITV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Gov. Josh Green said misinformation about measles is entirely preventable; his statement comes amid national concerns the misleading facts could raise outbreak risks in Hawaii & prompt officials to double down on public health messaging. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Hawaii Pacific Health CEO Ray Vara and HMSA CEO Mark Mugiishi discussed a proposed partnership between two of Hawaii's largest medical companies — aiming to improve health care on the islands. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Preliminary data from the Department of Health show that births in Hawaii dropped nearly 20% from 18,444 in 2015 to 14,964 in 2024 — a trend linked to more older pregnancies and health challenges such as diabetes and high blood pressure. KITV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ No. 5-ranked ‘Iolani beat No. 2 Saint Louis Tuesday night at Father Bray Athletic Center with Declan Beckette scoring 12 points, Raymon Teocson adding 10 points, & Ayden Goo recording five steals for a 47-40 win. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ Former Hawaii prep athletes are making waves in sports — Iolani alum J.J. Mandaquit guarded Purdue’s Gicarri Harris in a Jan. 7 basketball game in West Lafayette. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ During the final round of the Sony Open on Sunday, Jan. 18 (at Waialae Country Club), a capacity crowd watched Chris Gotterup hit from the 17th tee as he played a key role in closing the tournament. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
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.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Honolulu and across Hawaii. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Happy Honolulu
A free Honolulu community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://happyhonolulu.com/sitemap