Maya: Good morning, Lee-hoo-ay! It's Monday, October fifth, twenty twenty-six, and this is the Lihue Morning Briefing. I'm Maya.
Devon: And I'm Devon. Happy Monday, everyone — new week, same Garden Isle, and we've got your full look at the days ahead.
Maya: Let's start with the weather, and the headline this week is warm, breezy, and showery. Today we're looking at a high near eighty-one, an overnight low around seventy-four, a fifty-three percent chance of drizzle, and trade winds around thirteen miles an hour.
Devon: Tuesday is the wettest day of the stretch — a high near eighty-one, a low around seventy-one, and a hundred percent chance of drizzle, with winds easing to about nine miles an hour. Keep the umbrella handy.
Maya: Wednesday brings a high near eighty, a low around sixty-eight, an eighty percent chance of drizzle, and winds around ten miles an hour.
Devon: Thursday warms up a touch — a high near eighty-two, a low around sixty-eight, an eighty-one percent chance of showers, and light winds near eight miles an hour.
Maya: Friday, we're looking at a high near eighty-two, a low around seventy-one, an eighty-seven percent chance of drizzle, and winds near eight miles an hour.
Devon: Saturday brings a high near eighty-two, a low around seventy-three, an eighty-five percent chance of drizzle, and winds near ten miles an hour.
Maya: And Sunday rounds out the week — a high near eighty, a low near seventy-two, an eighty-six percent chance of drizzle, and light winds near five miles an hour.
Devon: So the theme of the week is classic trade-wind weather: passing drizzle most days, highs holding between eighty and eighty-two all week long, and the ultraviolet index running near eight. Even with the clouds, sunscreen is your friend.
Maya: Out on the coast, conditions look pretty good. Waves run about five feet today, easing to around four feet by midweek. The water temperature is a beautiful eighty-one degrees.
Devon: That's perfect dipping weather — just be ready for a little trade-wind chop when the breezes pick up in the afternoons.
Maya: Now, tonight's sky should be a treat for stargazers. We're in a waning crescent moon, only twenty-seven percent lit, and it doesn't rise until about one-fifty in the morning — so the evening sky will stay dark after sunset at six twenty-one.
Devon: And that dark sky means great viewing for Saturn. Look to the southeast after dark, and you'll spot it glowing bright and steady, hard to miss.
Maya: No space station passes on the schedule tonight, but with the moon out of the way, it's a fine night to just sit back and take in the stars.
Devon: Time for arts and entertainment, and there's a big weekend shaping up. Saturday, October tenth, is the Kauaʻi Matsuri Festival — a full day of taiko drumming, Japanese dance, tea ceremony, mochi making, and crafts, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon at the Kauaʻi War Memorial Convention Hall. Admission is free.
Maya: That same Saturday, downtown Lihue hosts its second Saturday night market from four to eight in the evening — local food, vendors, and live energy on the street.
Devon: And a little further out, mark your calendars for Saturday, October seventeenth — Broadway star Kelli O'Hara performs live at the Kauaʻi Community College Performing Arts Center at seven in the evening. That's a big one for theater fans.
Maya: Now the local news. First, recovery money is on the way for island businesses. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is partnering with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to distribute two point two five million dollars in grant funding to small businesses on Kauai impacted by Hurricane Lowell back in early September. Micro-enterprises can get five thousand dollar awards, and larger small businesses can get up to ten thousand dollars. The application portal opened this morning, with forms and assistance available in seven languages.
Devon: Second, the tourism numbers tell a tough story — and a hopeful one. Direct domestic arrivals at Lihue Airport averaged just eight hundred fifty-nine passengers a day in late September, down nearly sixty-two percent from last year, after visitors were asked to reschedule trips around Hurricane Lowell. The message now is that Kauai is welcoming visitors back — businesses need customers, and most hotels, restaurants, shops, and tours are operating again. The arrivals just haven't caught up yet.
Maya: And finally, some sports pride for the Red Raiders. The Kauai High School girls volleyball team is the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Round One champion, winning a Saturday night playoff thriller at the new Kauai High gymnasium. The Red Raiders outlasted Island School in five sets — twenty-five twenty-one, twenty-two twenty-five, twenty-three twenty-five, twenty-five fourteen, and a decisive fifteen to eight — with clutch serving from Sage McDaniels, Waileia Ibbs, Zariah Fernandez, and Chloe Pascual. Kapaa finished third, taking Waimea in straight sets.
Devon: That's your Monday, Lihue — showery skies, warm water, a dark night for Saturn, and a full calendar ahead. Have a great week, everybody.
Maya: And we'll see you tomorrow morning. Bye for now.