Happy
Honolulu
Friday, May 1st, 2026
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 1st of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ HECO crews finished repairing a key transmission line today to restore power from Leeward to Windward, Waimanalo + East Honolulu, while Loren King set a record by crossing the Kaiwi Channel in just over 13 hours on the Oahu-to-Molokai route. Hawaii News Now
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ SONIC will open its first drive-in restaurant on Oahu at its new location (5001 Kapolei Parkway) in May. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Flooding on Oahu’s North Shore damaged local flower farms and left Hawaiian Lei Company with few blooms weeks before Lei Day, Mother’s Day, and graduation. Shops are importing alternatives & urging customers to plan ahead as supplies remain tight. KITV
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Faith Kealohapauʻole Paredes was crowned Miss Aloha Hula 2026 at the Merrie Monarch Festival earlier this month — she paused her Dartmouth studies to prepare and now leads by sharing her deep Hawaiian roots and hula legacy. KITV
- ➤ Today, Kamehameha Schools is holding round two final practice for its Song Contest featuring songs honoring Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop under the theme Pauahi Nona Ka Lei, celebrating local cultural heritage. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Four-time GRAMMY Award-winning Kalani Peʻa spoke on Billy V Live today about his music and Hawaiʻi culture before his May Day performance on Sunday, May 3 at Hawaiʻi Theatre. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Tin Can Mailman in Chinatown on Nuʻuanu Avenue showcases Hawaii’s past through vintage artifacts and collectibles that reveal everyday life from earlier eras. Owner Christopher Owalt-Sanchez says the shop preserves tangible pieces of local history (keeping Hawaii’s unique stories alive), allowing generations to remember these everyday treasures. Hawaii News Now
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ After the Kona Low storms, tourism dropped as flight delays and cancellations disrupted visitor attractions and local businesses reported major losses. A Haleiwa food truck was heavily damaged and DBEDT estimates overall losses near $325 million + recovery efforts to revive business are underway. KITV
- ➤ The Kona Low storms caused hundreds of millions in losses for Hawaii's tourism sector as cancellations and closures impacted North Shore businesses on Apr. 30. Officials now say renewed travel will help rebuild the industry. KITV
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ On Apr. 30 at the Big Island Chocolate Festival, three Hawaii college culinary teams competed in a dessert challenge - Kapiʻolani Community College won first place and earned a $2,500 scholarship. KITV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Honolulu Ocean Safety will take registrations May 15 — 16 at the Ocean Safety Training Center in Ala Moana Beach Park; applicants will take physical exams May 22 — 23 and attend final interviews May 26 to qualify for part-time lifeguard jobs. KITV
- ➤ A new AARP report shows nearly half of Hawaii-born young adults now live out of state owing to high housing costs and strict land-use rules—most have relocated to states like Washington. Hawaii Free Press
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center is expanding to Kauai with a soft launch today and an open house + grand opening celebration set for June. The center aims to improve community access to crucial support services. Hawaii News Now
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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