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Global news for Hawaii 

Hawaii Island: New Eruption breaks out in the east rift zone in lower Puna

Scott Foster
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has announced that fissure 16 is venting lava spatter about a mile below the Puna Geothermal Plant, a mile west of Highway 132. No lava flow has yet occurred. Highway 132 (Pahoa-Kapoho Road) remains open and no buildings are in danger from the latest fissure. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the 16th fissure with lava spatter opened east of the Puna Geothermal Plant and Northeast of the... Read More
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CBS announces Hawaii’s favorite TV series MagnumP.I. is being picked up for 2019

Scott Foster
The long-running TV series Magnum P.I. began in 1980 starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 during its first-run broadcast on the American television network CBS. The series consistently ranked in the top twenty U.S. network TV programs during the first five years of its original run. In 2017, CBS issued a pilot commitment for a reboot... Read More

What to do? Health threat for Hawaii visitors and residents. HPH warns residents on all Hawaii Islands

Scott Foster
Planning to visit Hawaii? The Hawaii travel and tourism industry is playing down a health threat to all Hawaiian Islands that is very real. It includes not only the Island of Hawaii but Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu with its tourism center Waikiki and Kauai. The danger of causing a threat to the health of tourists and locals on all Hawaiian Islands is caused by the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii Island. The... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Hawaii Island Lives and Livelihood From Tourism At Risk As Kilauea Volcano Eruption Escalates

Scott Foster
HAWAII ISLAND: If Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island goes into what is now predicted as “a new cycle of violent eruption” with massive smoke, fumes and poisonous Sulfur Dioxide gas and equally poisonous Hydrogen Sulfide gas, when the trade winds eventually shift, Maui and Oahu could also be at risk for the potentially deadly vog. Gas levels are being carefully monitored and reported on and additional evacuations could occur should the... Read More
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Rethinking Hawaii Tourism: 21st Century Solutions for 21st Century Challenges

Scott Foster
HONOLULU: MAY 3, 2018 -- Many compelling recommendations and the research & reasoning behind them about marketing Hawaii were presented and discussed by four respected local economics and marketing veterans during a luncheon forum on Wednesday, May 2nd. The event was presented by the Hawaii Economic Association (HEA) at Honolulu’s Plaza Club and I was lucky enough to have a front row seat. Obviously good friends, the four scheduled and began... Read More

Hawaii Tourism Authority escapes “Draconian” budget cuts; new leadership appointed

Scott Foster
HONOLULU, Hawaii - On the heels of the latest in a long series of “scathing” state audits of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), HTA Board Chair Rick Fried, a prominent Honolulu attorney, submitted his resignation after Governor David Ige withdrew Fried’s nomination to continue as board chairman of HTA. HTA is the state agency responsible for Hawaii’s tourism marketing. Fried became chair in 2015. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Fried’s “exit... Read More
Global news for Hawaii Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Hawaii Volcano Eruption Reactivates

Scott Foster
Hawaii Volcano Eruption Reactivates HAWAII ISLAND UPDATE HAWAII: Situation getting more "dire." 5.6 earthquake just reported under the ocean near Hawaii Island "in the vicinity of the South flank" of the Kilauea volcano. No tsunami is predicted. After the Kilauea volcano eruption slowed late Thursday night, the Hawaii County Civil Defense has confirmed that new volcanic vents are erupting in what’s known as “the East Riff Zone.” This large area in... Read More
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Hawaii Volcano Eruption

Scott Foster
Kilauea Volcano Eruption on Hawaii Island; Mandatory Evacuation of 10,000 In Lower Puna; Governor Calls In Hawaii National Guard; Red Cross Opens Two Shelters HAWAII ISLAND UPDATE The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that “Gov. David Ige has called in the Hawaii National Guard to help with evacuation efforts in lower Puna as a new Kilauea volcano lava eruption inundates a Leilani Estates neighborhood." Governor Ige will reportedly fly to Hilo early Friday.... Read More
Global news for Hawaii kamaainas 

Hawaii Tourism Authority Budget Nearing Last Vote

Scott Foster
HONOLULU, HAWAII — The final version of the bill which would make significant changes to the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) budget is one step away from being sent to the governor for his signature. Unlikely, but the bill could still fail during the full Senate floor vote after the changes made during a conference committee last week. Should it pass, Governor David Ige could veto the legislation. The original bill was... Read More

Hawaii Legislature Seizes Control of Tourism Authority Budget

Scott Foster
HONOLULU - After many years of “scathing” State audits, on April 27, 2018, the Hawaii State Legislature passed a bill during a conference committee which removes much of the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) unfettered autonomy over how to spend its estimated $120 million annual budget. Several important questions remain including: 1) Will Hawaii Governor David Ige sign it? 2) What’s going to happen at the Senate confirmation hearing on Monday, April... Read More
Global news for Hawaii kamaainas 

Hawaii “Tourism Industry Needs Better Planning, Not Budget Cuts”

Scott Foster
The following op-ed was published by CivilBeat.org on April 18, 2018 Tourism Industry Needs Better Planning, Not Budget Cuts. The state needs to invest in marketing that strategically attracts the visitors who contribute to real economic impact. By Frank Haas“Frank Haas is president of Marketing Management, a consultancy focused on hospitality and tourism. In 2015, he helped the Hawaii Tourism Authority with its 2016 strategic plan.” Watching the evolution of Hawaii... Read More
Hawaii Tourism News kamaainas 

Fate of Hawaii Tourism Authority Budget still unknown

Scott Foster
HONOLULU: After many years of negative State audits, the 2018 audit of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) was described as “scathing” and highlighted specific insider deals, favoritism, non-bid contracts and a glaring lack of board oversight at the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Push finally come to shove with the introduction of companion House and Senate bills with the House version becoming the vehicle. A recent Senate Draft 2 was heard and passed... Read More
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HAWAII HOUSE BILL BANS “CONVERSION THERAPY”

Scott Foster
April 10, 2018 HAWAII HOUSE BILL BANS “CONVERSION THERAPY” By Scott Foster HONOLULU: Today, the Hawaii House of Representatives passed an amended Senate Bill (Senate Bill SB 270) which would ban the abusive practice of so-called “Conversion Therapy” which has been falsely claimed “to make Gay people straight.” Because the House added several amendments, it will still need to pass a conference committee before it can be sent to Hawaii Governor... Read More
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Hawai`i Becoming the 7th Jurisdiction in the US To Enact Medical Aid In Dying Legislation

Scott Foster
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE” WILL BE A VALID QUESTION IN HAWAI`I AS DEATH WITH DIGNITY BECOMES LAW Hawaii Becoming the 7th Jurisdiction in the US To Enact Medical Aid In Dying Legislation By Scott Foster Medical Aid In Dying, “the defining civil rights struggle of our time,” will be signed into law by Hawai`i Governor David Ige at 10:30 AM Hawai`i Time on Thursday, April 5th. Hawaii Will Become... Read More
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HAWAII GOVERNOR ON THE WAY OUT

Scott Foster
March 29, 2018 HAWAII GOVERNOR ON THE WAY OUT By Scott Foster HONOLULU: Those who might have been thinking things couldn’t get any worse for Hawaii’s Governor David Ige, a poll commissioned by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser indicates Ige’s most viable opponent (one of Hawaii’s two U.S. Representatives) Colleen Hanabusa has a stunning 20-percent lead over incumbent Governor Ige. With less than five months until the Democratic primary, “47 percent of likely... Read More