Happy
Honolulu
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Happy Honolulu.
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 3rd of May.
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ On Thursday near 6 p.m., a 32-year-old moped rider collided with a car on Waialae Avenue and was taken to hospital by EMS—he did not wear a helmet at the time. Hawaii News Now
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Three men have been charged with defrauding the VA education benefits program out of $9.1 million—Brian Matsudo pleaded guilty in April while Marshall Scott and Raheem Wells face multiple wire fraud charges—and federal investigators are reviewing the case. KITV
- ➤ A Kailua man pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a nearly $2 million scam that cost an elderly California man his home and yacht—he fabricated documents to transfer the yacht's ownership and convinced the victim to shift his million-dollar home to an LLC he owned, leaving the victim homeless and facing up to 20 years in prison when sentencing is scheduled for October. Hawaii News Now
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Preliminary data from the DBEDT shows that March visitor arrivals increased by 3% to 903,891 while spending rose by 10.3% to $1.99 billion compared to last year. Air and cruise numbers grew from the U.S. West and U.S. East and arrivals nearly reached pre-pandemic levels — with spending up by 33.8% from March 2019. Hawaii Free Press
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Kīlauea’s Episode 19 ended early Friday after nearly 8 hours of lava fountains — the eruption began at 9:28 p.m. on May 1 and stopped at 5:20 a.m. on May 2 while releasing about 4 million cubic yards of lava across half of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. KITV
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Today, Hawaii lawmakers ended their session by passing a green fee bill that raises the transient accommodation tax to 14% for all visitors, including cruise ship guests. The change is expected to raise about $100 million a year to fund disaster mitigation for wildfires, flooding and coastal erosion. KITV
- ➤ Grassroot Institute praised the Legislature’s passage of several bills on May 1 that aimed to boost housing, speed up Lahaina’s recovery and enhance government accountability. Grassroot President Keli’i Akina said the measures — such as lowering school fees and shortening permit wait times — reduced building delays and protected property rights as lawmakers worked to ease the housing crisis before the governor’s review. Hawaii Free Press
SHOP NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once. The Buy
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Happy Honolulu.
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Kailua native Aiva Arquette, a projected first-round MLB Draft pick and OSU shortstop, will return home to play his first game at Les Murakami Stadium as the University of Hawaii hosts Oregon State this weekend — he has earned Golden Spikes Player of the Week honors three times this season by leading the Beavers in hits, home runs, RBI and batting average. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Former UH athletics director Craig Angelos reapplied for the AD position after submitting his application on Thursday, as he confirmed to Hawaii News Now on Friday. Angelos, who led UH for 18 months until his dismissal on Nov. 19, 2024, is seeking a return as UH officials begin a national search for a new athletic director. Hawaii News Now
No new events today. You can submit one here.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
Stay Connected Anywhere with This Powerful Portable Charger
Never worry about dead batteries or missed calls again. This high-capacity, portable power bank is a game-changer for anyone who relies on their devices throughout the day. With the ability to charge up to five devices at once, it’s perfect for families, professionals, and travelers alike.
Its compact design makes it easy to carry, while its powerful output ensures your phone, tablet, earbuds, and more stay fully charged no matter where you are. Say goodbye to low-battery anxiety and hello to uninterrupted productivity.
Whether you’re commuting, on vacation, or working remotely, this charger is your ultimate power solution. Stay connected, stay powered, and never miss a moment.
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Happy Honolulu.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A friendship founded on business is better than a business founded on friendship.
~ John D. Rockefeller
About 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