Food insecurity rises in Hawaii amid increasing costs

A new study from nonprofit Hunger Free America found that 137,000 people across the state lived in food-insecure households between 2020 and 2022 — including 14.7% of children, 8.3% of employed adults and 4.4% of older residents.

Maine bars Trump from ballot as US Supreme Court weighs states’ authority to block former president

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause, becoming the first election official to take action unilaterally as the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether Trump remains eligible to return to the White House.

Obituaries for December 29

Mary Louise Apo, 82, of Hilo died Dec. 10. Born Ka‘u, she was a former crossing guard and lunch/yard supervisor for Naalehu Elementary School, janitor for Naalehu Public Library and Ka‘u Police Station, and of Kilauea and Ka‘u wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitation 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 522 Ponahawai St. in Hilo. Service at 10:30 am. Burial 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2. Survived by sons, Lawrence (Esther) Apo of San Antonio and Wayde (Billie-Lee) Apo Sr. of Ainaloa; daughters, Sherlene (Robert) Rosario of Pahala and Tanya (George) Garcia, of Crownsville, Md.; sisters, Angeline Moniz and Aileen Mattos of Hilo; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; aunts, uncles and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

No immunity from justice: Trump doesn’t get a pass from federal felonies

It was no surprise that the U.S. Supreme Court turned down Special Counsel Jack Smith’s very unusual request to hear an appeal of a trial judge’s decision that Donald Trump does not enjoy presidential immunity for criminal acts committed during his term of office even before an appeals court ruled on the matter.

Obituaries for December 28

Greg “Maka” Maka‘ala Hiroshi Branco, 32, of Mountain View died Dec. 17 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Hilo, he was a landscaper, driller, beekeeper and 2010 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus. Celebration of life 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, at Wailoa State Park large pavilion. Casual attire. Survived by son, Zavery Ha‘ali‘i Branco; daughter, Zailey Anale‘a Branco; father, Greg Branco; mother, Vickie Murata; companion, Sandylynn Akiona; sisters, Seasons Branco, Jasmine (Alan Soistman Jr.) Branco and Asa (John) Harvest; hanai sisters, Cheyanne Rapoza and Lisa Ebesugawa; maternal grandparents, Herbert and Tazuko Murata; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.

As the Endangered Species Act turns 50, those who first enforced it reflect on its mixed legacy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Dec. 28, 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act. “Nothing,” he said, “is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed.” The powerful new law charged the federal government with saving every endangered plant and animal in America and enjoyed nearly unanimous bipartisan support.

BIIF hoops: Pahoa girls down Hilo

The Pahoa Daggers defeated the Hilo Vikings 48-31 in a home game on Wednesday night. Pahoa senior Jaylynn Kaawaloa-Alidon was the top scorer with 18 points and sophomore Remedy Gonsalez scored 13 points.