Happy
Honolulu
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 16th of September.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Matson led the list of profitable companies for the fourth year while Hawaiian Electric lost more than $1.42 billion in 2024 due to its wildfire settlement linked to the Maui fires. The loss was higher than the total profit of 53 other companies—showing big changes in Hawaii’s business scene. Hawaii Business
- ➤ Mo'ili'ili businesses are changing with new shops like Awa Hou and Mosa that give customers fresh experiences and more choice. The shops are working to meet local challenges and add extra variety to the area. KITV
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Nearly 30,000 fans attended the free tribute concert for island reggae legend Fiji—held at Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell and Kapiʻolani Park over the weekend. Organizers praised the strong community effort and noted that the event recorded no arrests and only minor issues while they consider plans for a future annual tradition. KITV
- ➤ May Kamaka was crowned 2025 Miss Chinatown in Honolulu on September 15 and has since used her Iolani and University of Hawaii background to pursue a career in medicine—she plans to combine her studies in Hawaiian Studies and Biology to advance her goals. KITV
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Supporters rallied to back Kamehameha Schools’ 140-year-old admissions policy—saying it was created to address long-standing social and economic injustice amid new challenges to the rule. They argued that the policy should remain unchanged to continue remedying past inequities. Hawaii News Now
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Honolulu officials have launched a public survey to choose a weekly day of rest for Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden so its nine full-time staff can complete needed maintenance—voters can choose Tuesday or Thursday—and the closure will begin in 2026. The survey stays open until 5 p.m. on October 8. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ State lawmakers in Hawaii are debating a bill to legalize recreational cannabis as critics cite safety and potency concerns. Rep. Tarnas said he will introduce a revised version next year—health officials support rescheduling but current medical cannabis laws will remain unchanged. Hawaii Tribune-Herald
- ➤ The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources will host an open house Thursday, Sept 18 from 6 to 7:30 at Moanalua Middle School to gather public input on its draft management plan for the Moanalua section of the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve—community members may ask questions and learn about proposed strategies. Written comments on the plan will be accepted until Oct 31. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Last year, Honolulu police officers logged overtime that doubled their salaries—125 officers recorded over 1,000 extra hours. Hawaii News Now
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Hawaii Department of Health’s OnTrack Hawaii program launched the Start with Care campaign on Monday to help young people recognize early signs of psychosis and receive time-limited support such as therapy, medication management, and help with school and work. The campaign also posted PSAs and social media messages — efforts aimed at reducing isolation and building trust among youth. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is offering free virtual autism training sessions to help service providers and families connect and support autism care across the islands—improving access to vital services for Hawaii families. KITV
- ➤ Taliyah Ballesteros’ family is planning a fundraiser to support her urgent brain surgery and healing journey — the event will help cover medical costs and bring hope to her ‘ohana. KITV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ The University of Hawai'i women's golf team is competing in a 16-team tournament at Chambers Bay in Seattle—while the U-H Football team celebrates a Homecoming win against Portland State. KITV
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Focus is saying no to good ideas.
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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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