Happy
Honolulu
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 27th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The County of Hawaii secured the $6.2M purchase of the 81-acre Kawainui Makai site on the Hilo-Hamakua coast, preserving a cherished spot for recreation and cultural use (spurred by community advocacy). The county will work with local partners for ongoing stewardship of the area. KITV
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Seven WWII nisei soldiers were posthumously promoted to 2nd lieutenant in a ceremony at Ke‘ehi Lagoon Memorial State Park on Monday & their legacy is honored for overcoming discrimination during the war. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Hawaii Kaiser Permanente workers have begun striking today over alleged unfair labor practices (joining 31,000 California workers who started their walkout Monday) as part of a broader dispute over work conditions. Hawaii News Now
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ HB 1559 proposes banning cellphones in public schools to boost learning and focus, but teachers and parents remain divided on its impact. Legislators cite benefits seen in other states and call for clear enforcement guidelines from the Department of Education. Hawaii Tribune-Herald
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Honolulu Parks and Recreation will remove a 70-foot Bodhi tree from Manoa Road on Monday, Feb. 2, closing the road for up to 10 days due to safety hazards to nearby structures — traffic will be redirected via Gore Way. KITV
- ➤ Honolulu resumed its unsheltered Point in Time count Monday as outreach teams and city officials surveyed Chinatown and other areas — the count, held for the first time since 2024, revealed gaps in local support that will guide future efforts. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ In Honolulu, a father-daughter practice stops taking insurance and adopts a direct primary care model this month. They charge a $200 monthly fee so patients can enjoy longer visits and more attentive care. KITV
- ➤ Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said the state’s $188M rural health award boosts its per-capita ranking to sixth among states. Developed through the Hawaii Rural Health Transformation Plan, the award—followed by further rounds through 2030—requires revised state budgets to unlock funds. Hawaii Free Press
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Campbell Sabers basketball player Jaynalyn Sotelo has been challenging girls basketball opponents with both offensive and defensive skills. Her strong play in recent games has energized the team in local contests. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ Kalani and Campbell high school girls advanced to the OIA basketball final after strong play in earlier rounds. The championship game will be held in Honolulu soon, officials said. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say.
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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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