Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a press conference that they need help in their search for the Bernstein family.

Abigail Bernstein and her two sons, Koa Kai and Kush Kohole, were last seen at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor back in October 2022.

They had been scheduled to leave on a year-long journey at sea with someone Abigail met online.

But the Coast Guard was notified last year they never returned.

“Ms. Bernstein lived a nomadic lifestyle and had cut ties with her family before going out to sea, interviews and intelligence indicated she was probably living off of the grid and off of the land somewhere in Hawaii,” FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill said.

“While the Bernstein family went missing on Oahu, Ms. Bernstein did have ties to the Big Island, Kauai and Maui.”

The boys, Koa Kai and Kush Kohole, would now be 11 and 8 years old, respectively.

Officials say they have no evidence of foul play but have not ruled it out.

Anyone with any tips or information is encouraged to call the FBI at (808) 673-2719.

(Hawaii News Now)

HEAD-ON CRASH IN WAIALUA

Authorities are investigating a deadly head-on crash on Oahu on Sunday.

It happened on Kaukonahua Road around 4:30 p.m.

According to Honolulu police, the first vehicle was traveling northbound when it drifted off the roadway, then veered back onto the roadway and into oncoming traffic. It then struck another vehicle that was traveling southbound.

Honolulu fire personnel extricated both drivers, who were rushed to the hospital.

The passenger of the first vehicle was found dead at the scene, officials said.

Police said speed may have played a role.

(Hawaii News Now)

STARLINK ACCESS

A third of Tonga's population has had no internet for more than two weeks, with officials blaming an earthquake.

The government deactivated Starlink in the archipelago last week, saying the service was illegal as a license was needed to operate in the country.

Tongans have started a petition, calling on government to "take immediate action to allow access to Starlink internet services".

The petition, created on July 10, has been signed by over 1200 people.

Acting communications director, Stan Ahio, told RNZ Pacific, a suspected quake on June 29, disrupted the service to two outlying islands popular with tourists.

"The main island is still operating from the main fibre cable from Fiji but the domestic cable to Ha'apai and Vava'u are currently disrupted."

Ahio said Tonga Cable Limited hopes to restore full access to the internet by the weekend.

Island Cruising managing director, Viki Moore, has 126 yachts in the Pacific who rely on Starlink as a means of communications.

She told RNZ Pacific there is no viable alternative.

The ABC's Pacific Beat reported due to the disruption internet providers had switched over to satellite internet.

A specialist cable repair ship is sailing to Tonga from Singapore, and is expected to arrive on Thursday.

(RNZ Pacific)

BLAZE AT WAIKIKI HOTEL

Honolulu firefighters extinguished a blaze that broke out from a Waikiki hotel on Sunday night.

Firefighters were called to 229 Paoakalani Avenue — the address of the Aston Waikiki Sunset hotel — around 9 p.m.

HFD said smoke was billowing from the 25th floor laundry room.

The fire was quickly extinguished.

No injuries were reported.

HFD is investigating the cause of the blaze and damage estimates.

(Hawaii News Now)

MENTAL HEALTH FROM 'SAMOAN PERSPECTIVE'

A newly released podcast presented in the Samoan language aims to reduce stigma around mental health.

Called Fau Gagana — a Samoan nurse’s perceptive on mental health provides general information, as well as interpretations on mental wellbeing from a Samoan perspective.

Auckland University of Technology's nursing lecturer, Dr Ioana Mulipola, says the idea for the podcast came about while she was completing her doctorate in 2023.

"During my doctoral study, that's when really wanted to do a podcast to take the message out there to share what I know about what mental health and share it with my community in a language that everyone can understand."

She said she wants to empower the Samoa community because "mental health is a topic that we hardly talk about".

"I really want my community to have knowledge about what mental health is and what mental illness is and what are the symptoms so that people will look after their own health and wellbeing, and their families and their communities," she said.

"I want to start the conversation that it's okay to talk about mental health."

(RNZ Pacific)

DIABETES PREVENTION

There is a plea for immediate action to improve education, access to care, and awareness of diabetes in Fiji.

It comes after Diabetes Fiji recently lost three members of their Young Diabetes Fiji program due to complications.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes is the fastest growing health emergencies of the 21st century, with 537 million people living with the disease worldwide.

The IDF estimates 10 percent of the adult population to have diabetes resulting in almost 1600 deaths a year in 2021.

Diabetes Fiji is the only dedicated organization in the country that advocates on the issue of diabetes.

Its acting chief executive, Marawa Kini, told RNZ Pacific there will be consequences if nothing changes.

(RNZ Pacific)

MANHUNT UNDERWAY

A manhunt is underway after sheriff deputies discovered a man who appeared to have been stabbed to death outside Honolulu’s airport Sunday morning.

The man — believed to be in his early 50′s — was found under a freeway off-ramp near Rogers Boulevard just before 7 a.m.

The Department of Law Enforcement has launched a second-degree murder investigation.

Authorities have not yet released a description of the suspect.

Details are limited in the case.

(Hawaii News Now)