Hawaii News Now

A powerful typhoon slammed into the Philippines on Thursday, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate as authorities had to deal with overcrowding in emergency shelters amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The governor announced plans Wednesday to ramp up contact tracing efforts in order to prepare for a possible increase in COVID-19 cases as the state’s economy reopens.

In this edition in our series of panel discussions on the coronavirus pandemic, Mahealani Richardson talks with all four Hawaii mayors on how the individual counties are responding to their own unique challenges.

As states reopen, experts weigh in on the future of air travel. Watch “This is Now” live from the HNN Digital Center with Ashley Nagaoka and Jonathan Jared Saupe weekdays on Hawaii News Now’s platforms online and on mobile.

Crews will resume their search at first light for a missing teenage boy who went diving off West Oahu. Plus, new projections show the nation's coronavirus death toll could reach 147,000 by August.

Top stories from across Hawaii and around the world, as seen on the 5 p.m. news broadcast from Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert issued a blunt warning Tuesday that cities and states could “turn back the clock” and see more COVID-19 deaths and economic damage alike if they lift coronavirus stay-at-home orders too fast -- a sharp contrast as President Donald Trump pushes to right a free-falling economy.

Some countries that have eased social distancing restrictions are now seeing a spike in cases. Plus, top health officials are testifying before a Senate committee about getting Americans back to work.

5 p.m. Newscast (May 11, 2020) by Hawaii News Now

Retail stores and shopping malls allowed to reopen across Maui County on Monday, but they must follow strict safety guidelines.

For stores that are ready to reopen, guidelines include no physical contact, wearing face coverings and limiting the number of people entering the business.

Businesses and spaces that are not allowed to operate include food courts (except for delivery or takeout), theaters, arcades, beauty salons and several others.

Maui Mayor Mike Victorino made the announcement last week Wednesday to allot extra time for businesses to prepare.

“It is my opinion that some businesses are not ready. Giving them until Monday will help them do it right rather than in haste,” he said. “A nice seamless reopening will help them do it right rather than in haste.”

Victorino also addressed the confusion about the reopening date for Maui County.

On Tuesday, the governor said retailers and shopping malls would reopen statewide on Thursday. But the Governor’s Office later corrected that message, saying that Oahu and Maui County would have different reopening dates.