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Tag: Hawaii
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Paying for paradise? Hawaii mulls fees for ecotourism crush
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HONOLULU (AP) — Repairing coral reefs after boats run aground. Shielding native forest trees from a killer fungus outbreak. Patrolling waters for swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles.
Taking care of Hawaii’s unique natural environment takes time, people and money. Now Hawaii wants tourists to help pay for it, especially because growing numbers are traveling to the islands to enjoy the beauty of its outdoors — including some lured by dramatic vistas they have seen on social media.
“All I want to do, honestly, is to make travelers accountable and have the capacity to help pay for the impact that they have,” Democratic Gov. Josh Green said earlier this year. “We get between nine and 10 million visitors a year, (but) we only have 1.4 million people living here. Those 10 million travelers should be helping us sustain our environment.”
Hawaii lawmakers are considering legislation that would require tourists to pay for a yearlong license or pass to visit state parks and trails. They are still debating how much they would charge.
The governor campaigned last year on a platform of having all tourists pay a $50 fee to enter the state. Legislators think this would violate U.S. constitutional protections for free travel and have promoted their parks and trails approach instead. Either policy would be a first of its kind for any U.S. state.
Hawaii’s leaders are following the example of other tourism hotspots that have imposed similar fees or taxes like Venice, Italy, and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. The Pacific island nation of Palau, for example, charges arriving international passengers $100 to help it manage a sprawling marine sanctuary and promote ecotourism.
State Rep. Sean Quinlan, a Democrat who chairs the House Tourism Committee, said changing traveler patterns are one reason behind Hawaii’s push. He said golf rounds per visitor per day have declined 30% over the past decade while hiking has increased 50%. People are also seeking out once-obscure sites that they have seen someone post on social media. The state doesn’t have the money to manage all these places, he said.
“It’s not like it was 20 years ago when you bring your family and you hit maybe one or two famous beaches and you go see Pearl Harbor. And that’s the extent of it,” Quinlan said. “These days it’s like, well, you know, ‘I saw this post on Instagram and there’s this beautiful rope swing, a coconut tree.’”
“All these places that didn’t have visitors now have visitors,” he said.
Most state parks and trails are currently free. Some of the most popular ones already charge, like Diamond Head State Monument, which features a trail leading from the floor of a 300,000-year-old volcanic crater up to its summit. It gets 1 million visitors each year and costs $5 for each traveler.
A bill currently before the state House would require nonresidents 15 years and older visiting forests, parks, trails or “other natural area on state land” to buy an annual license online or via mobile app. Violators would pay a civil fine, though penalties wouldn’t be imposed during a five-year education and transition period.
Residents with a Hawaii driver’s license or other state identification would be exempt.
The Senate passed a version of the measure setting the fee at $50. But the House Finance Committee amended it last week to delete the dollar amount. Chair Kyle Yamashita, a Democrat, said the bill was “a work in progress.” The bill has been scheduled for a House floor vote on Thursday.
Dawn Chang, chair of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, told the committee that Hawaii’s beaches are open to the public, so people probably wouldn’t be cited there — and such details still need to be worked out.
Rep. Dee Morikawa, a Democrat on the committee, recommended that the state create a list of places that would require the license.
Green has indicated he’s flexible about where the fee is imposed and that he’s willing to support the Legislature’s approach.
Supporters say there’s no other place in the U.S. that imposes a similar fee on visitors. The closest equivalent may be the $34.50 tax Alaska charges to each cruise ship passenger.
Hawaii’s conservation needs are great. Invasive pests are attacking the state’s forests, including a fungal disease that is killing ohia, a tree unique to Hawaii that makes up the largest portion of the canopy in native wet forests.
Some conservation work directly responds to tourism. The harassment of wildlife like dolphins, turtles and Hawaiian monk seals is a recurring problem. Hikers can unknowingly bring invasive species into the forest on their boots. Snorkelers and boats trample on coral, adding stress to reefs already struggling with invasive algae and coral bleaching.
A 2019 report by Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization, estimated that total federal, state, county and private spending on conservation in Hawaii amounted to $535 million but the need was $886 million.
At the Diamond Head trail recently, some visitors said the fee would make the most sense for people who come to Hawaii often or who might be staying for several weeks. Some said $50 was too high, especially for those who view a walk through nature as a low-cost activity.
“For a large family that wants to have the experience with the kids, that would be a lot of money,” said Sarah Tripp, who was visiting Hawaii with her husband and two of their three children from Marquette, Michigan.
Katrina Kain, an English teacher visiting from Puerto Rico, said she thought the fee would “sting” some people but would be fine so long as it was well-advertised.
“If tourists were informed about it, then they would be OK with it,” she said. “If that was a surprise $50 fee, it would be a pretty lousy surprise.”
The legislation says proceeds would go into a “visitor impact fee special fund” managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Carissa Cabrera, project manager for the Hawaii Green Fee, a coalition of nonprofit groups supporting the measure, said this would ensure the state has money for conservation regardless of budget swings.
Mufi Hanneman, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, which represents hotels, backs the bill but said Hawaii must carefully monitor how the money is used.
“The last thing that you want to see is restrooms that haven’t been fixed, trails or pathways that haven’t been repaved or what have you — and year in, year out it remains the same and people are paying a fee,” Hannemann said.
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Dozens of swimmers under investigation for harassing dolphins in Hawaii
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Dozens of swimmers under investigation for harassing dolphins in Hawaii – CBS News
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The world’s largest surfing wave pool just opened in Oahu as Hawaiians continue to face a water crisis
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Oahu, the Hawaiian island known for having some of the best surfing in the world, has a new site on its shoreline — a freshwater pool dubbed the “world’s largest deep-water standing surf wave.” But the wave pool, filled with water from the fragile aquifer, opened amid an ongoing water crisis, riling up many who say the tourist attraction arrives as locals are suffering.
Wai Kai Commerical Development announced the pool in January 2021 as part of a $40 million recreation hub called The LineUp at WaiKai. The group said it’s the “world’s largest deep-water standing surf wave” called Wai Kai Wave – measuring 100 feet wide – and that hub also features a 52-acre recreational lagoon that will each be “first-of-its-kind attractions.”
The Ewa Beach wave pool holds 1.7 million gallons of fresh water – the amount equivalent to about 2.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools. And the water for it was taken from the aquifer, a resource that’s become increasingly fragile on the island as recent and wide-scale water contamination events and environmental issues have strained locals’ ability to access fresh water for their basic day-to-day needs.
Handout
“Forever chemicals” in wave pool water source
Larry Caster, director of retail development at Wai Kai, told CBS News that the water in the pool comes is provided by the city and county of Honolulu via the Makakilo Well, which is also used to provide water to residents and businesses in the area. The decision to use this water source, he said, was made “after consulting with scientists and others.”
And its use of that well only highlights a major problem that has been plaguing the island’s freshwater system: PFAS.
Also known as “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that take a significantly long period of time to break down and are found in many areas of daily life, allowing them to easily build up in the body and the environment.
These contaminants have been making headlines in Hawaii after it was discovered that about 1,100 gallons of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) were released from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam’s Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility in November 2022, releasing excessive levels of PFAS into the surrounding area. That same storage facility, situated less than 20 miles away, is also the site of a massive jet fuel leak in 2021.
In February, the state’s Department of Health announced that the Makakilo Well was found to have at least one of the thousands of types of these chemicals in its water – Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA). This substance, the DOH said, is “not a regulated drinking water contaminant” and is one of several “PFAS of concern” that’s been found widespread in the environment and requires further study.
Hawaii Department of Health
They did say that the amount of the contaminant found in the well was “well below” environmental action level standards, but those standards are set by the state and the chemical was not included in the EPA’s recent proposal for a first-ever national limit on PFAS in drinking water.
“Although long-term consumption of drinking water with PFAS could be a health risk, the low levels of PFAS in the Ewa-Waianae water system are not an acute health threat,” the Department of Health said in February. “No immediate action is necessary for the system’s users. However, those concerned may use a home filtration option to reduce PFAS.”
A spokesperson for The LineUp told CBS News that the wave pool operates under the same rules as swimming pools in Hawaii and as such, is “regularly tested and treated as required by the Hawaii State Department of Health.”
They have not yet responded to CBS News’ request about the last testing date and the PFAS levels recorded.
“A sore spot for our community”
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which has voiced significant concern about the island’s water issues, approved the opening of Wai Kai Wave – but not without pause.
Ernest Lau, manager and chief engineer of the Board of Water Supply, told CBS News that the wave pool’s opening is “unfortunate,” but those in charge of the site had a long-standing water meter and the board doesn’t have policies that say pools such as this are not allowed.
“The wave pool, that’s a sore spot for our community,” he said. “And we’re learning from that.”
With nearly 1 million people who reside on the island of Oahu and millions more who visit every year, conserving fresh water is crucial.
“As an island state, Hawaii has limited access to natural fresh water supplies,” the state’s Commission on Water Resource Management says on its website. “Competition for fresh water, increasing population and development pressures, the rising awareness of environmental water needs, and the impacts of global climate change require that Hawaii become as efficient as possible in its uses of limited fresh water supplies.”
The island has long struggled with droughts, and in recent years has seen “severe” circumstances, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Although not currently in such conditions, 47% of the state’s streamflow sites are below normal, according to the USGS.
Lau told CBS News the wave pool is no exception to water conservation efforts.
“It is going to use a lot of fresh water to fill the pool. And every five years, they’re going to have to change that water in the pool, so it is a large use of fresh water periodically,” Lau said, adding that developers told him using seawater or recycled wastewater instead “was not an option they really could handle.”
The Board of Water Supply has urged the developers to “practice good water conservation,” Lau said, but ultimately the decision to do so is “up to them.”
But should there be a shortage and the board imposes water restrictions, wave pool operators “would also have to cut back on their usage like everybody else,” Lau said.
The LineUp developers do have a number of sustainability efforts they have or plan to implement, including plans to become a Sustainable Tourism and Outdoors Kit for Evaluation (STOKE)-certified surf park. Caster said they will also donate money to water and marine life restoration programs and will not allow single-use plastics on the property.
But for local resident and water rights activist Healani Sonoda-Pale, the opening of the wave pool is “insanity.”
“They’re opening the largest wave pool on the island of Oahu in a water crisis,” she told CBS News. “…They’re 100 feet away from families who don’t have access to clean drinking water. And there you see the dichotomy of the haves and the have-nots of how industry will continue, despite the fact that their neighbors are suffering.”
In the nearby residential area Kapilina Beach Homes, residents there have experienced water contamination issues since jet fuel leaked into the water system from Red Hill in 2021. As of November, many people there – which is about 5 miles from The LineUp – were still reporting signs of contamination, according to local reports, and volunteers continue to distribute bottled water at the homes every month.
“It’s right next to a surf spot. It’s not needed,” Sonoda-Pale said of The LineUp. “It’s a waste of clean drinking water and it’s all serving the tourist industry.”
Wayne Tanaka, director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, told CBS News the wave pool is a “bizarre arrangement.”
“Using potable water in the middle of a water crisis to support this profit-seeking enterprise is just yet another example of where Western assumptions and priorities have really overtaken the understanding that water is a precious and finite resource,” Tanaka said, “and that we have to protect it and use it for the benefit of all and not just treat it as a commodity.”
When asked about the criticism the wave pool is facing, Caster said those in charge of the site are aware of the “questions and confusion” about the water usage. He said that the daily demand for water will be limited to what needs to be refilled with evaporation.
“Many of our neighbors are very excited about the opening and look forward to experiencing the outdoor recreation, new restaurants, waterfront promenade and more,” he said, adding that they will seek ways to conserve water and implement “best management practices wherever we can.”
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Man swims to safety after being attacked by shark off Hawaii’s Big Island | CNN
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CNN
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A 60-year-old man was swimming in Hawaii’s Anaehoomalu Bay Sunday when he was attacked by a shark, local officials say.
The man was about 200 yards offshore when a shark attacked him around 12:40 p.m. HST, according to a news release from the Hawaii Fire Rescue Department.
The man was able to swim to a catamaran, whose crew helped him out of the water, the release said.
Crew members helped control the man’s bleeding until rescuers arrived on the scene, according to officials. A first responder on a personal watercraft “transported the patient from the catamaran to the beach where HFD personnel were waiting,” the release said.
The man was taken to North Hawaii Hospital with bites to his left hand and the back of his leg, said the fire rescue department. His current condition is unknown.
Anaehoomalu Bay – also known as A-Bay – is located on the west shore of the Big Island. The scenic area is a popular spot for recreational activities like snorkeling.
Authorities said they do not know the size or species of the shark involved in Sunday’s attack.
Overall, the risk of being attacked by sharks remains low. Worldwide, there were a total of 73 confirmed, unprovoked shark bites on people and 39 confirmed, provoked bites in 2021, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File.
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Hawaii to remove grounded boat resting feet from sacred Hauola Stone | CNN
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CNN
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Officials in Hawaii seized a motorboat that had been floating just feet away from a sacred site on Maui known as the Hauola Stone.
The officials told the boat owner they are taking control of the 56-foot grounded motorboat, named Kuuipo, in order “to avoid damaging a culturally significant site,” the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a Facebook post Saturday. The department’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, known as DOBOR, is “immediately hiring a contractor to move the vessel to a safe location,” the department said.
The incident began on March 8 when the boat grounded on the north side of Lāhainā Boat Harbor. The boat owner, Vernon Ray Lindsey, of Wailuku, told government staff he was hiring a salvage company to remove the boat, and he was informed he couldn’t bring the boat anywhere near the Hauola Stone, the department said.
However, the division learned on Saturday that the boat had been refloated about 8 feet away from the stone, the department said.
“You are hereby notified that in order to protect this culturally significant site as well as to protect the natural resources … the State of Hawai’i, through DOBOR, is immediately taking control of Kuuipo,” DOBOR Assistant Administrator Meghan Statts wrote in a letter to Lindsey.
The Hauola Stone is a chair-shaped stone along the western coast of Maui that has been used as a birthing site for royalty and a healing site for ailing people over centuries, according to a sign posted at the location.
“The Hauola stone is where the Pi’ilani ali’i line of Maui birthed their children. It is a sacred site,” the natural resources department’s Deputy Director Laura Kaakua said in a statement. “DLNR did not permit the owner to bring their boat anywhere near the stone, and specifically directed the owner to stay far away from the cultural site.
“The majority of boat owners are responsible, but recent actions by a few have harmed Hawai’i’s natural and cultural resources. Damage to our reefs and cultures sites is unacceptable. DLNR is exploring ways to enforce responsible ownership to protect our ocean environment.”
Unauthorized individuals who try to access the boat could face trespassing charges, and the owner is responsible “for all costs and expenses associated with the removal and disposal,” Statts said.
The owner could also be responsible for coral or live rock damage, due to the grounding of the boat, the department said.
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North Shore Oahu is the 2nd Most Popular Surf Spot in the World According to the Travel App, Visited
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Press Release
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Mar 12, 2023Visited, the popular Travel App publishes the Top 10 Most-Visited Surfing Destinations Based on User Data
TORONTO, March 12, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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The travel app Visited by Arriving In High Heels Corporation has published a list of the top 10 most visited surf spots in the world. Scenic Biarritz in the south of France tops the list as the most sought-after surf destination.According to users of the Visited world map app, these are the most popular surf spots around the globe:
- Biarritz entices surfers from far and wide to come enjoy the hollow waves along the picturesque south coast of France.
- North Shore Oahu in Hawaii, U.S., serves up big waves and pro surfing contests along more than 7 miles of beaches.
- Daytona Beach, Florida is a popular surfing destination that offers plenty of beginner-friendly beaches and ride-able waves in the southern U.S..
- San Sebastian located in northern Spain’s Basque country is a prime surfing spot for all ability levels at Zurriola Beach.
- Nazare is a top surf destination along the coast of Portugal serving up big waves that attract top-level surfers.
- Uluwatu and Kuta in Bali, Indonesia, have some of the best surfing waves in the world, attracting intermediate and advanced surfers.
- Byron Bay on the southeast coast of Australia has a wide range of beaches and waves as well as surfing lessons for all levels.
- Honolua Bay in Maui, Hawaii, is renowned for its big waves including hollow, powerful, and long waves.
- Canggu, Bali is a resort village in Indonesia featuring a variety of waves and beginner-friendly places to learn to surf.
- Apollo Bay in Victoria, Australia, has scenic surfing for beginners as well as bigger waves north of the harbor for more advanced surfers.
To see over 50 travel lists with bucket list destinations, get a customized travel map, and set travel goals, users can download Visited on iOS or Android.
Get the full Visited 2022 travel report for more travel stats with the most visited destinations based on over 1.5 million Visited users. To learn more about the Travel Map App, visit https://visitedapp.com.
About Arriving In High Heels Corporation
Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app.
Source: Arriving In High Heels Corporation
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Eruption at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano stops after 61 days
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HONOLULU (AP) — The latest eruption at Kilauea’s summit on Hawaii’s has paused after 61 days of volcanic activity.
U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said Tuesday lava was no longer flowing on the crater floor of Halemaumau, where all recent volcanic activity had been confined, Hawaii News Now reported.
No significant changes have been observed along the volcano’s rift zones. Scientists on Monday observed small “ooze-outs” of lava flowing sluggishly in the lava lake.
Officials said activity diminished in the afternoon, and by Tuesday, there was no active lava in the crater.
USGS said the reduction in activity was related to the “larger deflationary tilt drop” that began Feb. 17, a common process at Kilauea in which the ground deflates for hours or days. The drop in pressure can then cause eruptions to diminish.
Kilauea began erupting again Jan. 5 after scientists detected a glow within Halemaumau Crater. The latest eruption started after a nearly monthlong pause in activity.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 homes.
Before the major 2018 eruption, Kilauea had been erupting since 1983, and streams of lava occasionally covered farms and homes. During that time, the lava sometimes reached the ocean, causing dramatic interactions with the water.
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Man who calls himself
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A man from Maui, Hawaii, who refers to himself as Dolphin Dave, is accused of harassing humpback whales and dolphins in Hawaii.
This weekend, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) received an influx of calls about a man “pursuing a humpback whale,” on the big island, the department said in a Facebook post on Monday.
The suspect was identified as 65-year-old David Jiménez, who was allegedly seen snorkeling close to a humpback whale in Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park on Sunday, DLNR said.
Hawaii DLNR
The department shared a video on social media that appears to have been filmed under water by Jiménez himself. He is seen swimming close to the whale, reaching out and nearly touching its fin.
When the department’s enforcement division arrived on the scene, Jiménez was near a pod of dolphins. A responding officer recorded Jiménez allegedly pursing the pod and leading a group to chase the animals.
Hawaii DLNR
Jiménez is known as “Dolphin Dave” on Facebook, where he shares dolphin-inspired art.
When asked about the incident, Jiménez told officers “he’s not going to stop swimming with whales and dolphins, ‘because it’s magical and others do much worse things,’” the department said.
He was cited for allegedly violating two Hawaii Administrative Rules – one that protects endangered whale species, and another that prevents the harassment of wildlife in a state parks. He is set to appear in court in May.
CBS News has reached out to Hawaii DLNR and Jiménez for further comment and is awaiting response.
Several animals in Hawaii are protected under the several federal and state laws, according to DLNR. Under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, humpback whales are protected, and other Hawaii state laws protected endangered, threatened and indigenous species like other whales, seals and many different types of dolphins.
While humpback whales were once considered endangered – and many populations around the world still are classified as endangered or threatened – they are not considered at risk in Hawaii, according to NOAA. Still, they are at risk of harassment from boats, particularly because they often swim close to shore and attract whale-watching tours.
NOAA advises whale watches to keep a safe distance and do not touch the whales.
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Honeymooners Were Stranded At Sea by Snorkeling Company | Entrepreneur
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A newlywed California couple is suing Hawaiian snorkeling company Sail Maui for $5 million after being abandoned in the ocean for hours and having to swim to shore.
Honeymooners Elizabeth “Bette” Webster and Alexander Burckle were on their honeymoon and booked a snorkeling tour off the Lanai Coast.
An hour into the excursion, the couple began noticing that the large catamaran they booked was drifting further away. Webster and Burckle swam for 30 minutes to get back to the boat, but they didn’t get very far. As the waves swelled between six and eight feet, the couple called for help, according to the lawsuit. They were a half mile from land.
Eventually, the catamaran sailed off to the next snorkeling site, leaving the couple behind.
Webster and Burckle had no choice but to swim to shore. They reached the beach exhausted and dehydrated.
“If it wasn’t a couple that was young and fit, they probably would have drowned,” their attorney, Jared Washkowitz, told The Washington Post.
Alone on the beach with no money or cell phone, Webster wrote “help” and “SOS” in the sand. They were eventually rescued by two Lanai residents who helped them helped return to Maui. They called Sail Maui, who hadn’t even realized the couple was missing.
‘They felt like they were going to die’
In their lawsuit against Sail Maui, the couple claims the tour’s captain acted negligently by failing to do a proper head count.
Jess Hebert, one of the other 42 snorkelers on the catamaran that day, told the Washington Post that she’d spoken to the couple about the incident. ‘They felt like there were going to die,” she said. “They were so scared.”
Although the incident happened back in 2021, Washkowitz told USA Today that the couple is still traumatized by it.
“They’re getting psychological treatment and have physical symptoms of anxiety,” he said.
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Jonathan Small
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What’s Listing And What’s Selling For $4 Million-Plus Across The Globe
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From an architectural property in New Jersey to an oceanfront villa in Turks & Caicos, here’s a look … [+]
Forbes Global Properties
The wheels of the global luxury real estate market keep turning with new sales and new listings popping up every day. Here’s a look at six global markets across the world and what’s recently listed for sale and what’s been sold for $4 million or more.
Located in the residential community of Captain Cook, this three-bedroom, four-bathroom property is … [+]
FOR SALE—$4.3 Million (Captain Cook, Hawaii)
The privacy, tropical setting and aquatic lifestyle that draws many buyers to Hawaiian real estate markets can all be found in this oceanside Big Island property, now available for $4.3 million. Positioned along the pristine coast of Kahauloa Bay, the three-bedroom beach house features a pod-style construction consisting of two structures. A gated courtyard makes for an intimate retreat, complete with tropical landscaping.
The two-structure compound sits on half an acre of lush oceanfront with west-facing views. (Hawaii … [+]
To maximize the best of indoor/outdoor living, massive pocket doors blend an open-concept living area and kitchen with a covered lanai. Built for ocean lovers, the home features a private outdoor shower, storage for surfboards, kayaks and paddleboards and easily accessible pathways to the water’s edge. Set in a gated subdivision, privacy is doubled down with a property gate before the driveway. Jan Nores of Hawaii Life holds the listing.
Designed by Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates, this 14,000-square-foot-plus home features rounded … [+]
SOLD—$4.35 Million (Harding Township, New Jersey)
This 14,000-square-foot showplace was designed by Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates, the renowned architectural firm responsible for the addition and renovation of the Manhattan museum. Following a contemporary style, the home features rounded and asymmetrical elements, extensive windows and minimal adornment. A sense of open space is accented by a striking two-story glass embellished skylight.
In addition to seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the compound also houses a library, basketball … [+]
In addition to seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, the compound also houses a library, basketball court and guest house. At $4.35 million, the sale is well above the average price for Harding Township of $885,000. According to listing agent Molly Tonero of Turpin Realtors, the property quickly received three offers, all in cash.
The rare combination of a bucolic, small-town feel with proximity to New York City has made Harding Township one of New Jersey’s most sought-after communities. Regularly considered one of the wealthiest suburban areas in the country, the town sits just 35 miles west of Manhattan and encompasses a rolling country landscape, with pastures, farmland and protected green spaces.
This midcentury-modern home in the village of Senneville embodies the best of modernist design.
FOR SALE—$4.38 Million (Senneville, Quebec)
An architectural 1967 gem in the distinguished village of Senneville is up for sale for CAD $5.9 million (or roughly US $4,388,000) this six-bedroom, five-bathroom home embodies the best of midcentury-modern design, with interior floor-to-ceiling windows, a wood slat wall and floating staircase. At the same time, some elements of the home harken back to more traditional stylings, including a weeping brick wine cellar, ornate neoclassical kitchen and herringbone wood floors. A fluid courtyard driveway lined with charming streetlights fronts the residence.
Covering over 14,500 square feet, the floor plan includes amenity spaces like a sauna and movie … [+]
Covering over 14,500 square feet, the floor plan includes amenity spaces like a sauna and movie theater. Long known as one of the most affluent areas in greater Montreal, Senneville stretches along the forested coast of the Lake of Two Mountains. The listing for 299 Ch. de Senneville is held by Profusion Immobilier’s Claudia Lefebvre.
The village lies on the southern coast of Providenciales—the most populated of the islands—in the … [+]
SOLD—$6.195 Million (Turtle Tail, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos)
With its exceptional natural beauty, seclusion and year-round temperate weather, the archipelago nation of Turks and Caicos has caught the attention of luxury developers and investors who are dotting the islands with resorts and turnkey villas. On the southern coast of Providenciales—the most populated of the islands—the renowned Wymara Resort offers waterfront residences, including this recently sold hillside villa for $6.195 million.
Completed in 2018, the modern villa features a clean, stylish design.
Completed in 2018, the modern villa features a clean, stylish design, with natural materials and a soft color palette selected to accentuate the shimmering turquoise of the water below. An infinity pool, plunge pool, ocean-level deck, a screened lounge, and front and back banks of sliding doors place a premium on indoor/outdoor living. The 5,400 square feet that make up the interior include four ensuite bedrooms, a one-bedroom poolside guest house and an open-concept living space, all with far-reaching views of the home’s brilliant surroundings.
The 5,400 square feet of interior include four ensuite bedrooms and a one-bedroom poolside guest … [+]
Listing agent Latoya Jones of Grace Bay Realty, says new construction and preconstruction properties across the island nation are selling at the most competitive price points and are continuing to strengthen the already successful luxury market.
Trial Bay House in the scenic seaside town of Kettering.
FOR SALE—$6.145 Million (Kettering, Tasmania, Australia)
Winner of the 2010 Australian Institute of Architects Robin Boyd Award, Trial Bay House in the scenic seaside town of Kettering overcomes an architectural paradox—the four-bedroom home is at once modern and rustic.
Built roughly 40 years ago, the country home has undergone extensive renovations while retaining … [+]
Built roughly 40 years ago, the country home has since undergone extensive renovations while retaining touches of its initial character such as the original external lines and timber ceilings. In a single room, the application of wood and stone elements displays both a restrained yet lavish design. Generous use of windows allows for serene views of the rolling coastal countryside and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. The home’s two wings are adjoined by an enclosed veranda overlooking a pebbled courtyard. A guesthouse with a private balcony is also located on the property.
The home’s two wings are adjoined by an enclosed veranda overlooking a pebbled courtyard.
Situated along the southern coast of the island state of Tasmania, Kettering has a population of less than a thousand, making for a tranquil and private existence. Priced at AU $9.45 million (or roughly US $6,145,570), the listing is held by Tracey Atkins and Robert Fletcher of Melbourne-based Private Property Global.
The eight-bedroom, nine-bathroom home known as Franton Court sold for $4.75 million.
SOLD—$4.75 Million (Westport, Connecticut)
This three-story Italianate-style mansion is called Franton Court, a name given by previous owner Hilla von Rebay, who was the original curator and co-founder of the Guggenheim Museum. Built approximately 160 years ago, the storied manor has undergone numerous updates including a recent three-year renovation that incorporated modern amenities like a pool, entertainment barn and tennis court. Still, Franton Court retains its original splendor, with ornate interiors, nine fireplaces and manicured grounds.
Found along Long Island Sound within Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Westport is known for its stately … [+]
According to the listing agent Susan Leone of The Higgins Group Private Brokerage, the compound’s two-bedroom guesthouse has attracted such visitors as Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall and Frank Lloyd Wright.
The sizable price tag is not just due to the home’s pedigree but also to the distinguished location in the Green Farms neighborhood where a number of the area’s most expensive properties reside. Nestled along the Long Island Sound within Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Westport is known for its stately homes and affluent residents.
Gabrielle Di Bianco, also with The Higgins Group, shared the listing.
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NTSB says it will investigate plane’s steep dive off Hawaii
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday it will investigate a December flight in which a United Airlines plane descended to within less than 800 feet (250 meters) of the ocean surface after taking off from Hawaii.
The NTSB said it expects to issue a preliminary report in two to three weeks.
The agency had told The Associated Press on Monday that it was asking United questions about the incident before deciding whether to launch a formal investigation.
The Boeing 777 dropped more than 1,400 feet (470 meters) before regaining altitude and completing the Dec. 18 flight from Kahului Airport on the island of Maui to San Francisco, according to data from tracking service Flightradar24. No injuries were reported.
Chicago-based United said it is cooperating with authorities and the pilots are currently receiving additional training.
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Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard writing book on leaving Democrats
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NEW YORK (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic representative from Hawaii who clashed often with her party and eventually left it, has a memoir coming out Oct. 10.
Gabbard’s memoir, currently untitled, is the first of a two-book deal with Regnery Publishing, the longtime conservative publisher. Regnery is calling the book the “full story of her electrifying break” with the Democrats. Gabbard served in the House of Representatives from 2013-2021, and over time would become a prominent critic of party leadership, including on its support for Ukraine against the Russians. Gabbard once called Hillary Clinton the “embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long.” She endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ run against Clinton for the 2016 presidential party nomination and briefly ran herself for the 2020 election before dropping out and backing the eventual winner, Joe Biden.
In recent years, she was a frequent guest on the Fox network and is now a paid contributor. Last October, she left the Democrats, saying they were dominated by an “elitist cabal of warmongers” and “woke Democratic Party ideologues,” and supported numerous Republican candidates in the fall’s elections.
“This book will share my experiences at the highest level of Democratic politics, and why I can no longer call myself a Democrat,” Gabbard, 41, said in a statement Monday. “Today’s Democratic Party is unrecognizable from the party I joined 20 years ago.”
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Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets, plastic bags in stomach
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HONOLULU (AP) — A whale that washed ashore in Hawaii over the weekend likely died in part because it ate large volumes of fishing traps, fishing nets, plastic bags and other marine debris, scientists said Thursday, highlighting the threat to wildlife from the millions of tons of plastic that ends up in oceans every year.
The body of the 56-foot (17-meter) long, 120,000-pound (54,431-kilogram) animal was first noticed on a reef off Kauai on Friday. High tide brought it ashore on Saturday.
Kristi West, the director of the University of Hawaii’s Health and Stranding Lab, said there were enough foreign objects in the opening of the whale’s intestinal tract to block food.
“The presence of undigested fish and squid lends further evidence of a blockage,” she said in a news release from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The whale’s stomach contained six hagfish traps, seven types of fishing net, two types of plastic bags, a light protector, fishing line and a float from a net. Researchers also found squid beaks, fish skeleton and remains of other prey in the whale’s stomach.
It’s the first known case of a sperm whale in Hawaii waters ingesting discarded fishing gear, West said.
The whale’s stomach was so large West’s team wasn’t able to examine it completely. They suspect there was more material they weren’t able to recover.
Researchers found nothing wrong with other organs they examined. They collected samples to screen for disease and conduct other follow-up tests.
Sperm whales travel across thousands of miles in the ocean so it’s not clear where the debris came from.
Scientists say that more than 35 million tons (31.9 million metric tons) of plastic pollution is produced around Earth each year and about a quarter of that ends up around the water.
Marine debris harms numerous species.
Seabirds can ingest as much as 8% of their body weight in plastic. Endangered Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles can get caught in plastic nets and die. Sharks and other apex predators eat smaller fish that feed on microplastic, which can then endanger their own health.
In addition to eating plastics, large whales are harmed when they become entangled in fishing gear or other ropes in the ocean. The drag from debris can force whales to use more energy to swim and make it harder for them to eat, causing starvation.
On Tuesday, marine mammal responders freed a humpback whale that was caught in rope, a bundle of gear and two buoys off the Big Island.
Sperm whales are an endangered species found in deep oceans across the world. A 2021 report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated there were about 4,500 sperm whales in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands, from the Big Island in the south to Kure Atoll in the north.
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Russian spy ship spotted off coast of Hawaii
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Russian spy ship spotted off coast of Hawaii – CBS News
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US Coast Guard tracking suspected Russian spy ship off coast of Hawaii in international waters | CNN Politics
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CNN
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The US Coast Guard says it is tracking a suspected Russian spy ship off the coast of Hawaii in international waters as heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow remain over Russian’s war in Ukraine.
“In recent weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard has continued to monitor a Russian vessel, believed to be an intelligence gathering ship, off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands,” the USCG said in a news release.
The Coast Guard noted the situation is not unusual but that it is tracking it closely. “While foreign military vessels may transit freely through the U.S. economic exclusive zone (EEZ), as per customary international laws, foreign-flagged military vessels have often been observed operating and loitering within Coast Guard District Fourteen’s area of response,” the release stated.
This is not the first time suspected Russia spy ships have sailed off the coast of the United States. In 2019, a Russian spy ship off the southeastern coast of the United States was observed operating in what two US officials told CNN was an “unsafe manner.”
Watch: Russian spy ship sails recklessly off US (December 2019)
The actions of the Viktor Leonov, a Russian surveillance ship sailing off the coast of South Carolina and Florida, were determined to be unsafe because it was not using running lights in low visibility weather and was not responding to commercial vessels’ attempts to communicate to avoid potential accidents.
The USCG said in the release that it “continues to coordinate with Department of Defense partners, providing updates to foreign vessel movements and activities and to appropriately meet presence with presence to encourage international maritime norms.”
Military: Russian spy ship moving toward US (2018)
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Renewable energy usage has doubled in the last decade. Hawaii is leading the charge.
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Renewable energy is on the rise.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, renewable sources of energy like hydropower, wind and solar will account for 24% of the nation’s energy supply in 2023, more than double what it was a decade ago.
The number is being driven by an increase in generating capacity from wind and solar and the retirement of coal and nuclear plants — and a dramatic drop in prices in recent years.
While big states like California, Texas and Washington lead the way on total renewable energy generation, one small state has been leading in a different way.
In 2015, Hawaii became the first state to pass a law saying all electricity would come from renewable sources by 2045.
Jeff Mikulina is an environmentalist in Hawaii who pushed for the clean energy standard. Initially, the idea was not well received.
“The governor at the time called me Harry Potter, which I thought was a bit of an honor. We kept on pushing,” Mikulina said.
Why Harry Potter?
“He said it was magical thinking,” Mikulina said.
Since then, Hawaii’s electricity mix has undergone significant changes.
For example, in 2013, the state got less than 1% of its electricity from solar. By 2021 that number grew to 17.5%. While 5.1% of that comes from solar farms, 12.4% comes from things like rooftop solar, on private homes.
“It’s been fantastic that the adoption of rooftop solar over the last 10 or 15 years in Hawaii,” Mikulina said. “Now we have nearly 100,000 mini power plants on people’s rooftops statewide,” he added.
The progress toward 100% renewal energy in Hawaii is ahead of schedule and has led to other noticeable changes like the closure of the state’s last remaining coal plant in 2022.
But the state is still heavily reliant on oil imported from places like Libya and until recently Russia, the cost of electricity has also gone up and many of the easier steps have already been taken.
Mikulina says it’s worth the continued effort.
“The bottom line is we need to get off fossil fuel as fast as possible. And it’s not a question of, can we achieve it? It’s a moral question that we must,” Mikulina said.
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Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts again, summit crater glows
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HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Kilauea began erupting inside its summit crater Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, less than one month after the volcano and its larger neighbor Mauna Loa stopped releasing lava.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in webcam images indicating Kilauea had begun erupting inside Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s summit caldera, the agency said.
Kilauea’s summit is inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from residential communities.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey raised the alert level for Kilauea due to signs that magma was moving below the summit surface, an indication that the volcano might erupt.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It last erupted for 16 months starting in September 2021. For about two weeks starting Nov. 27, Hawaii had two volcanoes spewing lava side by side when Mauna Loa erupted for the first time in 38 years. Both volcanoes stopped erupting at about the same time.
During the twin eruption, visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were able to see lava from both eruptions at the same time.
“It was a beautiful eruption, and lots of people got to see it, and it didn’t take out any major infrastructure and most importantly, it didn’t affect anybody’s life,” said Ken Hon, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s scientist in charge.
Mauna Loa lava didn’t pose a threat to any communities, but got within 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) of a major highway connecting the east and west sides of the island. A 2018 Kilauea eruption destroyed more than 700 residences.
The observatory planned to continue monitoring the volcanoes for signs of renewed activity. Hon previously said there is generally a three-month “cooling off” period before scientists consider an eruption to be complete.
It was unclear what connection there could be to the volcanoes stopping their eruptions around the same time. The volcanoes can be seen at the same time from multiple spots in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park near Kilauea’s caldera.
Scientists planned to look at data to study the relationship between the two volcanoes, Hon previously said.
For Native Hawaiians, volcanic eruptions have deep cultural and spiritual significance. During Mauna Loa’s eruption, many Hawaiians took part in cultural traditions, such as singing, chanting and dancing to honor Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and leaving offerings known as “hookupu.”
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Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Erupts Again, Summit Crater Glows
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HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Kilauea began erupting inside its summit crater Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, less than one month after the volcano and its larger neighbor Mauna Loa stopped releasing lava.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in webcam images indicating Kilauea had begun erupting inside Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s summit caldera, the agency said.
Kilauea’s summit is inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and away from residential communities.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey raised the alert level for Kilauea due to signs that magma was moving below the summit surface, an indication that the volcano might erupt.
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BYU offensive lineman Veikoso dies in construction accident
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HONOLULU — Brigham Young University offensive lineman Sione Veikoso was killed in a construction accident in his hometown in Hawaii, family members said.
Veikoso, 22, died Friday after a retaining wall he was helping repair during holiday break from school collapsed, his family confirmed. The Honolulu Fire Department reported that three others were injured when the 15-foot (4.5-meter) rock wall partially fell behind a home in Kailua, which is about 12 miles (19 kilometers) northeast of Honolulu.
“He was a gentle giant who loved his family. He was reliable and caring,” Veikoso’s cousin Joshua Kava said in a written statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
The 6-foot-7 (2-meter), 305-pound (138-kilogram) lineman had completed his first season at BYU, where he transferred after one year at Arizona State, while retaining four years of eligibility.
Firefighters arrived at the home just before noon Friday to find the collapsed wall and bystanders using a small excavator to remove rocks trapping the men. Rescuers called them off because of the wall’s instability and manually removed rocks to free two of the men in about 15 minutes. But Veikoso was trapped deeper. He was removed at about 12:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:35 p.m.
The homeowner told authorities she was having the stone wall repaired. A total of six people were at the scene. One man escaped the rubble before firefighters arrived but refused treatment and two were uninjured.
“Rest in Love Sione. God be with you till we meet again,” BYU football said in a tweet.
After high school, Veikoso spent two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Manaus, Brazil, before enrolling in college.
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