Happy
Honolulu
Wednesday, December 17th, 2025
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 17th of December.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Andrea Smith now bakes her signature alfajores cookies and Latin desserts in her new Wahiawā kitchen off Mango Place. The commercial space lets her complete a week’s workload in 1.5 days (a big change after years of long baking days). Honolulu Magazine
- ➤ A Hawaii-based bakery was featured on Good Morning America this weekend for its creative holiday cookie deliveries. Founded in Makawao (as a thank you to local nurses), Maui Cookie Lady gained national recognition with fans like Dwayne Johnson. Hawaii News Now
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra performed at Prince David Kawānanakoa Middle School on Dec. 16 + many students experienced their first live symphony. KITV
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Students from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama met with young Māori at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hokianga in New Zealand to share indigenous language and traditions. They exchanged native chants and practices to strengthen cultural links across the Pacific. Hawaii News Now
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Grow Good Hawaii is creating urban agroforestry to produce fruits (avocado, mango) in backyards, schoolyards, and parks as it tackles food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss in Honolulu. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Honolulu residents and visitors can now use the new Akamai Arrival form and airport apps to fill out online forms and check security wait times for smoother holiday travel. The system rollout aims to reduce stress during the busy season. KITV
- ➤ Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd (45) died unexpectedly Sunday morning after 21 years of service. Flags on county property were ordered at half-staff and Deputy Chief Daniel Volpe will serve as acting fire chief as the community mourns his loss. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Hawaii’s minimum wage will rise to $16 per hour on January 1, 2026 as part of a phased plan to reach $18 by January 1, 2028 while Act 115 sets a minimum penalty of $500 for wage law violations. Hawaii Free Press
- ➤ Holiday travel upgrades at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport include a new Waialua Bar and Café in Terminal 1 (blessed Monday) and a fleet of electric buses linking travelers to a consolidated rental car hub, plus a fully digital agriculture form now available on all domestic flights. Hawaii News Now
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ More than 43,000 runners braved the rain and finished the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon today from Hawaii Kai to Downtown; organizers celebrated the record turnout by handing out 40,000 malasadas to finishers. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa became the first consensus All-American in (108) seasons after tying an NCAA record by making (25 straight) field goals, including a 47-yard kick against Wyoming on Nov. 29 at the Ching Complex. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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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