Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
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Wet weather continues across the western islands today as an upper-level disturbance brings unstable conditions and heavy rainfall. Moderate to breezy easterly trades return overnight through Tuesday with shower chances focused over windward areas for the rest of the week. Another front moves in this weekend.
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Today's Big Stories
1. Cindy Luis, pioneer for Hawaii woman sportswriters, dies at 70
For the first several years of his gig as the radio play-by-play voice of University of Hawaii volleyball, Tiff Wells sat adjacent to sports reporter Cindy Luis on press row at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Some might cringe at the prospect of proximity to one’s parent while on the job. But Wells, an only child, saw it the opposite way; he never took those moments next to his mother for granted.
“It was something we always joked about, that we saw each other more at the arena than we did at the house,” Wells said between tears and laughs in a phone call Sunday. “It's always been something that was so special to us.”
Many others joined Wells in issuing tributes and fond remembrances on Sunday for Luis, a pioneer for woman sportswriters in Hawaii who died unexpectedly at her Enchanted Lake home sometime overnight. She was 70.
Wells said he was told by first responders that she passed peacefully. It came as a devastating surprise; Luis had said she wanted to attend Saturday night’s University of Hawaii men’s volleyball match against USC, but did not appear.
That alone was not cause for alarm, but when Luis, an avid paddler, didn’t meet with friends for their regular Sunday morning stroking session off the coast of Lanikai, they grew concerned and some went to check on her.
“It caught everybody off guard. I'm right there with everybody about how shocking and just how quick it happened,” Wells said.
When Luis was named sports editor of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1999, she became the first female leader of a sports department in Hawaii. She was also the first woman sportswriter at the historic newspaper that merged with the Honolulu Advertiser in 2010.
Her death came one week after that of longtime radio broadcaster Bobby Curran and continued a trend of losses of Hawaii sports media personalities. A moment of silence was held for Luis before Sunday's UH baseball game against UC Santa Barbara at Les Murakami Stadium. That was when many learned the news.
“It's how she would have wanted to go out,” Wells said. “As much as she loved covering volleyball, she really loved baseball.”
2. Schatz, Hirono split on spending bill
In a rare breaking of Hawaii ranks, the state’s two U.S. senators diverged Friday on their positions regarding a short-term spending bill necessary to avoid a government shutdown.
Sen. Brian Schatz was among 10 Democratic senators to vote in favor of moving the bill forward for a vote. The measure ultimately passed 54-46, with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Angus King, I-Maine; joining Republicans in voting aye. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote against the bill.
“My job is to protect people in Hawaii,” Schatz said in a statement released after the cloture vote. “Today’s vote on the continuing resolution was a difficult and close call, but ultimately, I made the determination that a flawed bill was better than no bill at all. A shutdown would enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk to unilaterally determine that the vast majority of federal workers are not essential. And given the number of federal workers in Hawaii, mass furloughs would be deeply painful for people across the state.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, opted for a different tactic, standing firm in her opposition to the bill and her commitment to resisting the administration at every turn. In explaining her no votes, the senator focused her ire on Trump rather than her fellow Democrats.
“By forcing a choice between a deeply partisan CR that removes critical guardrails and a shutdown that would enable Trump and Musk to sow yet more chaos, Republicans have made clear that they are more concerned with pleasing Donald Trump than protecting the American people,” she said.
3. Temporary relocation of bus stops on Kalia Road begins Tuesday
The Kalia Road Repair Project being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will necessitate the temporary relocation of TheBus stops along Kalia Road beginning Tuesday, March 18, and will continue through Nov. 7, the duration of the project.
According to the city’s Department of Transportation Services, six TheBus routes will no longer service stops along Kalia Road and will instead detour along Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalakaua Avenue.
The six routes are E, 20, 42, W1, W2 and W3.
Click on the link above for a map of the relocated bus stops.
4. Grounded sailboat removed from Maui marine conservation area
A 65-foot catamaran that grounded at Maui’s Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Marine Life Conservation District almost two months ago was successfully removed on Friday.
The Hula Girl vessel ran aground at Honolua Bay’s Rocky Shoreline on Jan. 31 due to a storm and compromised motor, according to a Department of Land and Natural Resources news release.
DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources worked closely with Kapalua Kai Sailing, Inc., the owners of Hula Girl, to develop and execute the salvage plan.
On Friday afternoon, the tugboat Foss Marine, which is operated by Cates Marine Service, removed Hula Girl from the rocks within an hour.
The DAR dive team conducted an initial damage assessment after the Hula Girl grounded and said it did not harm any no coral, fish or invertebrates in the bay. A follow-up assessment will take place now that the Hula Girl has been moved. DLNR said the boat did not spill any oil and did not scar the reef.
5. Hawaii women's basketball team draws nearby UNLV in WBIT opening round
The Hawaii women’s basketball team remained in Henderson, Nev., after its loss to UC San Diego in the Big West tournament semifinals to await its destination in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.
That turned out to be a wise decision, as UH was assigned to play its former and future conference opponent UNLV at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Rainbow Wahine players and staff reacted enthusiastically to the pairing, which requires minimal travel. UH (22-9) was assured a WBIT berth with its Big West regular-season championship.
“I think they're excited that we don't have to get on a plane tomorrow or Tuesday and fly someplace,” UH coach Laura Beeman told Hawaii media in a Zoom call. “I think right now, it's about trying to regroup, get our minds right, have some good practices … and try to win a ballgame.”
The Rebels (25-7), a UH rival in the Big West in the 1980s and BWC and WAC in the 1990s, fell to San Diego State in the Mountain West semifinals at the Thomas & Mack Center on Tuesday.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Tuesday, March 18
- Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at American Dynamism Summit
- Federal Open Market Committee meeting
- NCAA Men's Basketball First Four games
- Fifth 'Hunger Games' novel published
- Jury trial for Nadine Menendez, wife of Dem Sen. Bob Menendez, charged in alleged bribery scheme
- Arraignment of former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to shut down plane engines mid-flight
In Case You Missed It
Public invited to Waikiki Aquarium's 121st birthday on Wednesday
The nation’s second oldest aquarium will celebrate its 121st birthday with a day of family-friendly activities on Wednesday, March 19.
Founded in 1904, Waikiki Aquarium invites the public to enjoy arts and crafts, special feedings, games, educational exhibits and more, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., as it celebrates over a century of Pacific marine education and conservation.
“For more than a century, the Waikiki Aquarium has been a hub for marine education and conservation,” said Waikiki Aquarium Director Dr. Andrew Rossiter in a release. “We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our community and continue inspiring future generations to care for our ocean.”
Click on the link above for a list of hands-on activities scheduled during Spring Break this week.
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