Safety

The captain called police and SWAT officers, and the FBI responded to search the aircraft. Nothing suspicious was found, and there was no threat to travelers, the police statement said.

Sheep and goats have been used to clear flammable grasses in Hawaiʻi. They mostly do such “prescribed grazing” at solar farms, but can it work closer to people? HPR’s Mark Ladao reports on a pilot project in East Oʻahu that's looking to find out.

The last patient of the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Āliamanu being treated at the Straub Benioff Medical Center in Honolulu has been discharged from its burn care unit.

Heads up to households on the east side of Hawaiʻi Island — state and county officials may come knocking on your door to survey you about emergency preparedness. HPR’s Savannah Harriman-Pote has the details.

State lawmakers passed hundreds of bills this week. That’s a lot to keep track of, so with the legislative session over as of Friday evening, HPR is narrowing it down to the important bills we’ve been tracking.

A bill that would have banned assault rifles in Hawaiʻi stalled on one of the last days of this legislative session. The bill sought to ban the sale and possession of semi-automatic assault rifles beginning in 2026.

While lawmakers are considering many bills ahead of the end of the 2025 session on Friday, here at Hawaiʻi Public Radio, we’ve narrowed down the topics to the top four we’re paying close attention to.

State lawmakers are moving bills that aim to punish and deter the use of illegal fireworks. A pair of fireworks measures passed through conference hearings last week, among the final hurdles for bills going through the state legislative process.

About half of Hawaiian Electric's utility lines are underground. HECO officials say the study will help them determine a strategy for burying more lines.

A measure that would ban the purchase of assault rifles is heading to a final vote in the state Legislature. If it passes, Hawaiʻi would become the 11th state to adopt this type of ban.