Happy
Honolulu
Sunday, December 21st, 2025
Good morning, Honolulu. Here's your local news at a glance for Sunday, the 21st of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Hawaii Holiday Craft and Gift Fair is ending today at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall (featuring hundreds of local vendors) as a last chance for holiday shopping. KITV
- ➤ Four nonprofits have launched the Hoihoi Maunawili campaign to raise $500,000 for stewardship of 1,000 acres in Maunawili Valley. The effort works with the current landowner to restore community-led agriculture, water security & cultural heritage. Hawaii News Now
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A new study shows that car rentals at Kona and Kahului airports are the priciest in the nation this winter. Prices average $127 and $104 daily and nearly double during the Dec. 21 to 26 peak period (CheapCarRental.com survey), reflecting a modest 1% rise from last winter. Hawaii Free Press
- ➤ Young adults in Honolulu are facing high living costs that force students like 26-year-old Danielle Wilbanks to manage student loans while UH-Manoa’s Rosco Rebibis juggles school and part-time work (online business) to save emergency funds. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Kilauea’s summit has been active since Dec. 23, 2024 — featuring repeated high lava fountaining events, including a dramatic 12‐hour burst on Dec. 6 that reshaped the crater’s landscape. The eruption paused on Dec. 15 while HVO closely monitors activity and expects another active episode between Dec. 22 and 27. Hawaii Tribune-Herald
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ At 10 a.m., Hawaiian Electric reported 3,430 customers were without power from heavy rain and flash flooding in Central Oahu; by 10:45 a.m., outages dropped to about 2,400 as crews continued investigating the cause in Aiea, Halawa, Pearl City, Pearlridge and Waimalu. Hawaii News Now
- ➤ The Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission unanimously chose Kurt Lager—a 20-year lifeguard veteran—as its first commission-appointed chief during a meeting Friday. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Hawaii Living with Anne Lee visits Leonard’s Bakery in Kapahulu to sample its famed malasadas — and her feature also highlights Lady Elaine’s Mediterranean dining at Manoa Marketplace. KITV
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Kamehameha girls' basketball beat Maryknoll 44-32 yesterday morning as Nihoa Dunn scored 13 points while strong defense held Pua‘ena Herrington to seven points. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ Hawaii lost 72-56 today at Seabury Hall Gym in Makawao during the Maui Classic. The team turned over the ball 29 times as it prepares for its New Year's Day game against UC Riverside at Bankoh Arena. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ Ryder Loughlin (the 113-lb wrestler from Mililani) beat Kalani’s Koan Hotema for the state championship at the Hawaii Officials Scholarship Tournament. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
- ➤ Today, Hunter Berger (Saint Louis) faces Ezekiel Fukui (Pearl City) in the 138-pound final at Leilehua for the Hawaii Officials Scholarship Wrestling Tournament; Ryder Armitage, who stunned competitors in the 120-pound bracket, awaits his match against Nanakuli’s Analu Woode, with finals running from 3 to 4 p.m. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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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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