A 33-year-old man died after his speeding vehicle hit a fence in Kalaeloa, Oahu, in the year's first road fatality; a passenger was seriously injured.

Two men were hospitalized after separate moped crashes in Honolulu on New Year's Day, with one crash near the airport and another involving an 18-year-old and a parked car.

Honolulu Police responded to 592 fireworks-related calls on New Year's Eve, arresting two individuals. Officers worked through holidays to ensure safety and law compliance.

The Schaefer Portrait Challenge exhibit arrives at Capitol Modern: the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, featuring a diverse collection of Hawaiian portraits from various islands and artists.

New legislative filings show hundreds of people leave Hawaii prisons and jails without the IDs they need to find housing or work. Officials blame timing rules, agency bottlenecks and missing equipment.

A citizen proposal to make Honolulu responsible for sidewalks is moving through the charter commission as the city's plan lists about 901 missing miles and a $2.6B price tag.

Honolulu plans to add about 92.5 acres to Waimanalo Gulch, triggering a public review and renewed fights over groundwater protection. A Jan. 13 meeting will be the first public forum.

Separate New Year’s Day crashes on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu killed two people as police investigate possible speed and impairment. Toxicology results are pending.

Maui County firefighters tackled 22 fire-related calls over New Year’s — mostly small brush and dumpster blazes that were quickly contained. No major damage or displacement was reported.

Hawaii braces for stronger trade winds and increased showers, particularly in windward areas. Weather conditions with potential thunderstorms are expected to continue into next week. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect due to rough marine conditions.

Hawaiʻi updates parentage laws for LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, effective Jan. 1, 2026, with Act 298 replacing gendered terms and simplifying parental recognition.

Counties across Hawaiʻi have hired more workers, but double‑digit vacancy rates persist in police, fire and public‑works roles. Pay gaps between islands are a major hurdle.

A 7-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital after suffering burns in a suspected fireworks mishap in Kāneʻohe late Wednesday night.