Happy
Honolulu
Friday, February 27th, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 27th of February.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ CU Hawaii opened its second Oahu store in Kahala on Friday, Feb. 27 at 4614 Kilauea Ave offering Korean food, snacks, and drinks with hours from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. KITV
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Billy V Live streams exclusive entertainment news and music previews every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. on HawaiiNewsNow.com and the HNN app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire. Hawaii News Now
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Hawaii’s economy is lifted by high-income visitors as University of Hawaii economists report that Maui visitor spending rose 9% while Oahu saw a 2.5% jump. Shoppers in Waikiki, such as a couple buying T-shirts on Kalakaua Avenue, add momentum (local spending data supports this). Honolulu Star-Advertiser
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (representing District 14) seeks greater transparency in education spending and proposed a travel moratorium on idle state trips. She also plans a one-year pilot for Title 1 fifth graders to publish their own books to boost literacy and business skills. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Yesterday, 99 students from 18 schools competed at UH Manoa to showcase their knowledge of Japan's culture, traditions and history. Kapolei High and King Kekaulike High earned victory and top-performing schools will get a chance to visit Japan through the Japan-America Society contest. KITV
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Maunalua Bay is hosting a fishing tournament this weekend where locals can catch and cook invasive fish to help restore the bay. Residents are invited to join the event & support efforts to improve local waters. KITV
- ➤ Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa identified ten new species of Hawaiian moths on Feb. 26. The finding underscores the need to protect native habitats on the island. KITV
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Dr. Vu, a cardiologist at Pali Momi Medical Center, advises Honolulu residents to lower heart disease risk this month by getting regular checkups, monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI — and eating more fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Costco informed Hawaii members today of a recall for Yakitori Chicken Fried Rice sold in its frozen section—products with best-by dates from Nov. 8, 2025 through Jan. 12, 2027 may contain glass, so customers should return them for a full refund. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ A January 2025 Pentagon report shows military housing stipends contribute to high rent as active-duty service members occupy 14% of Oʻahu rentals, adding pressure to affordability. The finding suggests the military plays a significant role in the local housing market. KITV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors baseball team will host a four-game series against Ball State this weekend. Relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii—a junior transfer from Tokyo—is set to play key roles after UH split a series with Wichita State. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Former UH kicker Kansei Matsuzawa participated in the NFL Combine specialists showcase on Wednesday, displaying record-breaking performance + his involvement in the NFL International Player Pathway Program. He hopes to become the first Japanese-born player to join an NFL roster. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ The UH Rainbow Wahine softball team returns to Manoa this weekend to play in the Outrigger Classic against Mercyhurst and Portland State. After a tough 1-9 stretch, the team seeks a reset with two doubleheaders starting Friday at (3:30 p.m.) as they prepare for Big West play next week. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ The Rainbow Warriors basketball team embarked on its final road trip on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. as it faced the Aggies and will play UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton later in the season in a tight league race. Hawaii News Now
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Impatience with actions, patience with results.
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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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