Good evening, Hawaii. Here are the main stories we've been following today:
Your Weather Planner
Wet weather and elevated rain chances are expected across the western end of the state throughout the end of the week because of a stalled front. Breezy trades also increase Friday into the weekend, with increased rain chances into early next week.
Watch the latest news from across the country.
Today's Big Stories
1. Resolution calls on Trump to uphold law, abide by court orders
The state Senate Committee on Judiciary passed a concurrent resolution calling on President Donald Trump, and all members of any current or future administration, to abide by the laws of the United States and comply with orders issued by U.S. courts.
Judiciary committee chair Sen. Karl Rhoads introduced the resolution last month in response to the Trump administration’s defiance of recent court orders, including injunctions against the freezing of federal funds and the suspension of refugee admissions.
“The President and his administration must respect the judiciary and abide by the law,” Rhoads said. “Some seem to believe that burning down the federal government will make America a better place. There are plenty of examples of countries without functioning governments and people flee these countries and try to come to the United States.”
Senate Concurrent Resolution 158, Proposed Senate Draft 1, stresses that Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” and that the president, like all citizens, must follow the nation’s laws. “Despite the brilliant design of the United States judiciary created by the founding fathers, the President of the United States and his cabinet secretaries have repeatedly attacked the judiciary simply for carrying out its duty to interpret the laws and United States Constitution, as a check on the power of the executive branch of government,” the resolutions states.
Wall Street shuddered, and a level of shock unseen since COVID's outbreak tore through financial markets worldwide Thursday on worries about the damage President Donald Trump's newest set of tariffs could do to economies across continents, including his own.
The S&P 500 sank 4.8%, more than in major markets across Asia and Europe, for its worst day since the pandemic crashed the economy in 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,679 points, or 4%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 6%.
Little was spared in financial markets as fear flared about the potentially toxic mix of weakening economic growth and higher inflation that tariffs can create.
Everything from crude oil to Big Tech stocks to the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies fell. Even gold, which hit records recently as investors sought something safer to own, pulled lower. Some of the worst hits walloped smaller U.S. companies, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks dropped 6.6% to pull more than 20% below its record.
Investors worldwide knew Trump was going to announce a sweeping set of tariffs late Wednesday, and fears surrounding it had already pulled Wall Street's main measure of health, the S&P 500 index, 10% below its all-time high. But Trump still managed to surprise them with "the worst case scenario for tariffs," according to Mary Ann Bartels, chief investment officer at Sanctuary Wealth.
3. New law cuts back on Waikiki festivals, parades
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi enacted a bill Wednesday that will reduce the number of street festivals and parades in Waikiki each year and encourage promoters to consider other neighborhoods for large-scale cultural events.
“Waikiki has long been a hub for festivals, but we recognize the need for balance,” Blangiardi said. “This legislation ensures we minimize disruptions for residents, businesses and visitors in Waikiki while creating opportunities for more community-driven events in neighborhoods eager to host them. I am very pleased to make this happen; this is long overdue and has been too big a burden on the Waikiki community.”
Under Bill 50, the number of street festivals in Waikiki will be cut in half to just six per year with permits limited to two festivals per four-month period. Legacy events such as the Honolulu Marathon, Hoolaulea and Toys for Tots will not count toward the total.
4. Bishop Museum announces new CEO
Bishop Museum announced Wednesday the selection of Kristofer Helgen, a scientist and experienced museum administrator, as its new CEO.
He will step into his new role on Aug. 1, replacing Dee Jay Mailer, who completed her three-year contract.
Born in Minnesota, Helgen’s scientific research has concentrated on the Pacific region, with a focus on biodiversity, environmental impact, and conservation, according to a news release. Currently, he is the chief scientist and director of the Australian Museum Research Institute at the Australian Museum in Sydney, where he has overseen 120 research and collections staff.
When Helgen was a student at Harvard University in 2002, he studied the Bishop Museum’s mammal collection. In 2007, he became a Research Associate at the museum, and over two decades helped to re-identify the museum’s mammal specimens. Before joining the Australian Museum, Helgen worked for a decade at the Smithsonian Institution, where he was chief curator of mammals.
Helgen was hired after a 5-month, worldwide search, which drew 50 applicants and was led by Patrick Kirch, a professor of anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, with the help of nonprofit executive search firm Morris & Berger.
5. DLNR continues crackdown on people picking opihi, arrests one person and cites two others
On Saturday, state conservation officers cited two people and arrested a third person for allegedly picking opihi along the shoreline in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island.
This comes less than a week after officers cited two men for allegedly collecting opihi from the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District on Oahu’s North Shore.
On Saturday, DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers approached 60-year-old James Kanuha of Kailua-Kona, who was allegedly seen picking opihi along the Alli Drive shoreline. He had collected 156 undersized opihi, according to a DLNR news release. Officers told him to return the opihi to a tide pool.
Officers cited Kanuha for violating a Hawaii law that says it is illegal to take any opihi shell (with the animal attached), which is less than one and one-fourth inches in diameter. He is required to appear in Kona District Court on May 8.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Friday, April 4
- The Employment Situation: Unemployment Rate, Average Workweek, Average Hourly Earnings, Manufacturing Payrolls, Nonfarm payrolls. Last month's data said that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in February, while the unemployment rate was 4.1%
- 2nd anniversary of Donald Trump indicted for 'hush money' payments
- NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four
- Robert Downey Jr. celebrates 60th birthday
In Case You Missed It
Project Keiki helps fight food insecurity at Foodland stores statewide
Starting April 1 to 30, Project Keiki returns to Foodland stores across the state to raise funds for Hawaii’s local food banks — Hawaii Foodbank on Oahu and Kauai, Maui Food Bank and The Food Basket on Hawaii Island.
Customers at Foodland, Sack N Save and Foodland Farms can support the effort by making any of the following donation options at checkout:
- Donate $5, $10 or $20
- Round up
- Donate your spare change
- Donate 250 Maika‘i points ($5)
- Purchase a Pouch Pal for $5.99
Visit the Foodland website or follow @FoodlandHI on Instagram and @FoodlandHawaii on Facebook for more information.
