Sophia McCullough

The Honolulu Zoo's only male lion Ekundu, who also had an underlying health condition, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and died last week, the zoo announced. The zoo said it has implemented strict safety measures and is working to secure vaccinations for the animals.

State Department of Transportation officials Tuesday announced the completion of a $58.7 million facility to process international flights at Kona International Airport. Airport Administrator Ross Higashi said the new facility is a big step in ensuring Hawaiʻi has a resilient airport system.

Will the starter gun go off for the Honolulu Marathon as it did recently for the Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon? The president of the Honolulu Marathon shared he was disappointed the governor’s announcement of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions didn’t go as far as to encourage overseas participation in the marathon.

Hawaiʻi's counties are in different stages of approving their increases to the transient accommodations tax to make up for lost revenue after the state stopped allocating its statewide tax. The Honolulu City Council approved last week the first reading of a bill that would allow the city to levy a 3% tax on tourist accommodations.

Hawaiʻi's four counties are in different stages of increasing the transient accommodations tax to make up for lost revenue after the state stopped allocating its statewide tax. Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters says the council needs to hold the first vote on its hotel room tax bill at the Oct. 6 meeting in order to get it passed before the end of the year.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization came out with a report on depression, saying it's common worldwide and a leading cause of disability. Local psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Cook has found that psychedelics and alternative medicines benefit his patients, at a time when so many are under added stress and anxiety.

COVID-19 cases are trending down across the state but medical facilities are still strained. Hilton Raethel, head of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, shared the latest about long-term care facilities, staffing problems, and monoclonal antibody treatments.

Joe McGinn, an Oʻahu farmer and farming instructor, says he’s recently seen an increase in the theft of ʻulu, or breadfruit. He spoke to The Conversation about why he thinks thieves specifically target the fruit, and how increased community agricultural efforts could help eliminate the need for stealing.

Like many hospitals across the state, Hilo Medical Center on Hawaiʻi Island approached a crisis situation at the height of the COVID-19 surge. Case counts are going down — average daily new cases have dropped by 35% over the past two weeks. But Hawaiʻi's health care infrastructure is still overburdened.

Kolekole Bridge on Hawaiʻi Island has been undergoing emergency repairs since last week, causing long traffic delays on the only road in and out of Hilo along the Hamakua Coast.