Hurricane Lala Aftermath: New University of Hawaiʻi reporting puts Lala’s rainfall at about 1.3 trillion gallons—nearly 2 million Olympic-size pools—driving flash flooding and damaging winds across the islands, with Hawaiʻi County taking 66% of the total and extreme hourly downpours around Nāʻālehu. Volcano Monitoring: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field technicians are credited with keeping Kīlauea’s summit watch running, helping the public track unrest and forecasts through near-real-time data. Statehood Day Closures: Hawaii’s Friday holiday schedule includes statewide school and office closures, with Honolulu keeping key services running and listing what’s open or shut. Local Safety & Biosecurity: An opossum found at a Hilo freight warehouse was contained, euthanized, and sent for rabies testing—another reminder that the animal is prohibited in Hawaii without permits. Housing Affordability: A new report says affordability worsened in Q2 as mortgage rates, construction costs, and uncertainty pushed housing costs higher again. Scam Alerts: Waianae ranked among Hawaii’s top cities for scam reports in July, with employment scams driving the biggest losses. Business & AI: Maui Economic Development Board hosted an AI workshop for small businesses and nonprofits, aiming for practical “quick wins” rather than hype.