IMAGES OF 2018: A Year Of Alarms, Elections, Lava And A Notable Passing - Honolulu Civil Beat

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IMAGES OF 2018: A Year Of Alarms, Elections, Lava And A Notable Passing

The mother of all false alerts preceded very real disasters that flooded Kauai with rainwater and the Big Island with lava. Then came the threat of Hurricane Lane.
By Cory Lum Richard Wiens / December 26, 2018
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  • <p><strong>DOOMSDAY:</strong> It took 38 long minutes for the all-clear to be sounded after a Jan. 13 cellphone alert warned of incoming ballistic missiles and added, “THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Thousands of people assumed the worst. / Cory Lum</p>

    DOOMSDAY: It took 38 long minutes for the all-clear to be sounded after a Jan. 13 cellphone alert warned of incoming ballistic missiles and added, “THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Thousands of people assumed the worst. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>AFTERMATH:</strong> It was left to Gov. David Ige, left, and Vern Miyagi, head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, to try to explain what happened at a news conference two days later. Miyagi soon resigned, and Ige’s re-election prospects appeared bleak. / Anthony Quintano.</p>

    AFTERMATH: It was left to Gov. David Ige, left, and Vern Miyagi, head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, to try to explain what happened at a news conference two days later. Miyagi soon resigned, and Ige’s re-election prospects appeared bleak. / Anthony Quintano.

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>OPENING DAY:</strong> At 16, Cross Su’e-Kepilino was too young to make good on the message on the signs he held, but that didn’t keep him away from the Capitol Rotunda on the opening day of the 2018 Legislature on Jan. 17. Peaceful protests are common when legislators convene their annual sessions. / Cory Lum</p>

    OPENING DAY: At 16, Cross Su’e-Kepilino was too young to make good on the message on the signs he held, but that didn’t keep him away from the Capitol Rotunda on the opening day of the 2018 Legislature on Jan. 17. Peaceful protests are common when legislators convene their annual sessions. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>STUDENT SOLIDARITY:</strong> Farrington High School students held hands and sang their alma mater, joining a national walkout March 14 to honor students killed and injured in yet another mass school shooting, this time in Parkland, Florida. / Cory Lum</p>

    STUDENT SOLIDARITY: Farrington High School students held hands and sang their alma mater, joining a national walkout March 14 to honor students killed and injured in yet another mass school shooting, this time in Parkland, Florida. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>#HIMTOO:</strong> Former state House Speaker Joe Souki resigned from the Legislature in March and agreed to pay a fine after several women, including former Department of Human Services director Rachael Wong, filed ethics complaints against him alleging sexual misconduct. / Cory Lum</p>

    #HIMTOO: Former state House Speaker Joe Souki resigned from the Legislature in March and agreed to pay a fine after several women, including former Department of Human Services director Rachael Wong, filed ethics complaints against him alleging sexual misconduct. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>KAUAI DELUGE: </strong>In mid-April, an overnight storm produced the most rainfall recorded during a 24-hour period in U.S. history, triggering landslides, dissolving roads into massive sinkholes and damaging nearly 350 homes on the Garden Isle. Floodwaters pushed some homes off their stilts along Hanalei Bay. / Anthony Quintano</p>

    KAUAI DELUGE: In mid-April, an overnight storm produced the most rainfall recorded during a 24-hour period in U.S. history, triggering landslides, dissolving roads into massive sinkholes and damaging nearly 350 homes on the Garden Isle. Floodwaters pushed some homes off their stilts along Hanalei Bay. / Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>LONGTERM RAMIFICATIONS:</strong> Flash floods toppled vehicles and public restrooms near the entrance to Hanalei Pier. At year’s end, there is still limited access to some portions of Kauai’s North Shore. / Anthony Quintano</p>

    LONGTERM RAMIFICATIONS: Flash floods toppled vehicles and public restrooms near the entrance to Hanalei Pier. At year’s end, there is still limited access to some portions of Kauai’s North Shore. / Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>AKAKA’S PASSING:</strong> Nationwide tributes to former Hawaii Sen. Dan Akaka, 93, after his death in April culminated with memorial services in May. The nation’s only senator of Native Hawaiian descent served from 1990 to 2013. / Anthony Quintano</p>

    AKAKA’S PASSING: Nationwide tributes to former Hawaii Sen. Dan Akaka, 93, after his death in April culminated with memorial services in May. The nation’s only senator of Native Hawaiian descent served from 1990 to 2013. / Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/CIvil Beat
  • <p><strong>PELE’S FURY:</strong> The Kilauea volcano began a major new eruptive stage May 3 that continued through Aug. 6 and destroyed more than 700 homes on the Big Island /Anthony Quintano</p>

    PELE’S FURY: The Kilauea volcano began a major new eruptive stage May 3 that continued through Aug. 6 and destroyed more than 700 homes on the Big Island /Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>GROUND ZERO:</strong> Aluminum roofing material lay on the foundation of a home that was engulfed by lava in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. / Cory Lum</p>

    GROUND ZERO: Aluminum roofing material lay on the foundation of a home that was engulfed by lava in the Leilani Estates neighborhood. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>PATH OF DESTRUCTION:</strong> In mid-May, rivers of lava flowed near Pahoa, the gateway to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The park reopened in September. / U.S. Geological Survey</p>

    PATH OF DESTRUCTION: In mid-May, rivers of lava flowed near Pahoa, the gateway to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The park reopened in September. / U.S. Geological Survey

    U.S. Geological Survey/Associated Press
  • <p><strong>REPATRIATION:</strong> Fifty-five cases of remains — presumed to be U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War — arrived from North Korea at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Aug. 1. Work to identify the remains began almost immediately. / Anthony Quintano</p>

    REPATRIATION: Fifty-five cases of remains — presumed to be U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War — arrived from North Korea at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Aug. 1. Work to identify the remains began almost immediately. / Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>POLITICAL COMEBACK:</strong> Gov. David Ige was significantly behind his challenger, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, earlier in the year but rebounded after helping to manage the disasters on Kauai and the Big Island. He celebrated with his family after winning the Democratic primary Aug. 11, and won re-election in November. / Cory Lum</p>

    POLITICAL COMEBACK: Gov. David Ige was significantly behind his challenger, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, earlier in the year but rebounded after helping to manage the disasters on Kauai and the Big Island. He celebrated with his family after winning the Democratic primary Aug. 11, and won re-election in November. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>IN THE PATH:</strong> In late August, Hurricane Lane approached from the south as a Category 5 storm and threatened a direct hit on Oahu. Residents like these in Waianae boarded up windows and prepared survival kits. / Anthony Quintano</p>

    IN THE PATH: In late August, Hurricane Lane approached from the south as a Category 5 storm and threatened a direct hit on Oahu. Residents like these in Waianae boarded up windows and prepared survival kits. / Anthony Quintano

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>THE THREAT PASSES:</strong> High-altitude winds subdued the hurricane and pushed it away from Hawaii, although there was flooding on the Big Island, storm-related wildfires on Maui and big surf everywhere else, including near a woman walking next to the Outrigger Hotel in Honolulu. / Cory Lum</p>

    THE THREAT PASSES: High-altitude winds subdued the hurricane and pushed it away from Hawaii, although there was flooding on the Big Island, storm-related wildfires on Maui and big surf everywhere else, including near a woman walking next to the Outrigger Hotel in Honolulu. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>“SHUT UP AND STEP UP”:</strong> Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono gained a national reputation as an antagonist of President Donald Trump, especially in September during the confirmation hearings for his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Hirono said it was time for American men to “just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.” Kavanaugh, who was accused of assaulting a woman decades earlier, was still confirmed to the high court. / Nick Grube</p>

    “SHUT UP AND STEP UP”: Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono gained a national reputation as an antagonist of President Donald Trump, especially in September during the confirmation hearings for his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Hirono said it was time for American men to “just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.” Kavanaugh, who was accused of assaulting a woman decades earlier, was still confirmed to the high court. / Nick Grube

    Nick Grube/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>LEGAL BATTLE:</strong> Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa, 92, with her wife, Veronica Worth, and her Chihuahua during a court hearing in September. They remain locked in a legal dispute over what will happen with Kawananakoa’s $215 million trust and the fate of a foundation she set up to benefit Hawaiian causes. / Cory Lum</p>

    LEGAL BATTLE: Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa, 92, with her wife, Veronica Worth, and her Chihuahua during a court hearing in September. They remain locked in a legal dispute over what will happen with Kawananakoa’s $215 million trust and the fate of a foundation she set up to benefit Hawaiian causes. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>FEDERAL INVESTIGATION WIDENS:</strong> Former Honolulu Police Chief and his wife, former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, leave District Court after a hearing in October regarding the federal corruption charges against them. In December, Honolulu’s chief prosecuting attorney, Keith Kaneshiro, was reportedly informed he was also a target in the widening probe.</p>

    FEDERAL INVESTIGATION WIDENS: Former Honolulu Police Chief and his wife, former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, leave District Court after a hearing in October regarding the federal corruption charges against them. In December, Honolulu’s chief prosecuting attorney, Keith Kaneshiro, was reportedly informed he was also a target in the widening probe.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>HOTEL PICKETS:</strong> Workers at five Hawaii hotels went on strike in October, resulting in short-term financial hardships for off-the-job employees and Kyo-Ya Hotels, operated by Marriott. Fifty-one days later, they reached a settlement that applies to thousands of hotel workers. / Cory Lum</p>

    HOTEL PICKETS: Workers at five Hawaii hotels went on strike in October, resulting in short-term financial hardships for off-the-job employees and Kyo-Ya Hotels, operated by Marriott. Fifty-one days later, they reached a settlement that applies to thousands of hotel workers. / Cory Lum

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>INAUGURAL CHANT:</strong> Oli Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole performs during inauguration ceremonies for Gov. David Ige and Lt. Gov. Josh Green at the Capitol on Dec. 3. / Ronen Zilberman</p>

    INAUGURAL CHANT: Oli Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole performs during inauguration ceremonies for Gov. David Ige and Lt. Gov. Josh Green at the Capitol on Dec. 3. / Ronen Zilberman

    Ronen Zilberman/Civil Beat
  • <p><strong>PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION:</strong> By year’s end, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was one of many Democrats testing the waters for a possible presidential bid in 2020. She spoke at this gathering in New Hampshire in December and also visited Vermont and Iowa.</p>

    PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION: By year’s end, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard was one of many Democrats testing the waters for a possible presidential bid in 2020. She spoke at this gathering in New Hampshire in December and also visited Vermont and Iowa.

    Nick Grube/Civil Beat

About the Authors

  • Cory Lum
    Cory Lum
    Cory Lum was the chief photographer for Civil Beat.
    Use the RSS feed to subscribe to Cory Lum's posts today
  • Richard Wiens
    Richard Wiens
    Richard Wiens is the News Editor of Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at rwiens@civilbeat.org or follow him on twitter at @WiensCivilBeat.
    Use the RSS feed to subscribe to Richard Wiens's posts today
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