West Hawai‘i News

All three of the traditional triathlon stages are included — swimming, biking and running — and drivers should expect slowing down on a portion of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway that racers will take on their way toward Hāwī.

The base of Mauna Loa sitting on top of the old oceanic crust is only 6 miles below sea level, so the major magnitude-6.0 earthquake the night of Friday, May 22, happened deeper than the volcano — even deeper than the base of the ocean crust, which is bent downward by the weight of the Hawaiian Island chain.

A great variety of events, activities, festivals and more is once again available for people of all ages; check out this week’s top 10 to see what piques your interests!

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense received more than 200 damage reports as of Wednesday, with eight homes considered destroyed.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense reports to Honolulu media outlet that it had received 143 damage reports — 34 of which were for major damage, including 5 homes destroyed — from the magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22, on west side of Big Island.

Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting.

Homes were rattled off their foundations, cracks appeared in walls, windows were broken, giant boulders blocked residents in, stone walls collapsed, power went out and more following the magnitude-6.0 temblor just before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22.

A total of about 1,000 Hawaiian Electric customers in South Kona, where the quake was centered Friday night, May 22, lost power, with only about 70 remaining in the dark by about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23.

“ARDA-Hawai‘i is honored to support the Kona Hospital Foundation as they elevate patient care and expand healthcare services in West Hawai‘i,” said Imanaka Asato LLLC Managing Principal and ARDA-Hawai‘i Chairman Mithcell Imanaka. “This donation reflects our dedication to supporting accessible, high-quality health care on Hawai‘i Island.”

Hawai’i County Civil Defense reported in an update at 7:54 a.m. Saturday, May 23, that the strong temblor caused rock slides, multiple road closures, power outages, structures to shift on their foundation and other property damage; crews continued to restore power and all roads are reopen.

Both lanes of Nāpōʻopoʻo Road, between the 10-mile marker and Middle Keʻei Road, are closed and motorists should drive with caution on Highway 11 between Rabbit Hill Road and Manuka State Park as crews clean up large rocks and debris in both areas.

The utility firm, if necessary, could proactively shut off power within the next 24 hours in communities on both islands with high exposure to wildfire risk, including the Kawaihae and Waikōloa areas on Hawai‘i Island, as well as parts of Ōmaʻopio and Pulehu in Kahului in West Maui.

After decades of sharing them with students, friends and the community, Richard Stevens finally puts his stories of adventure, hardship, discovery, resilience and people and places that shaped his life into ‘Storyland,’ available now on Amazon.

This weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer, with Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, and the Big Island, especially Puna, has plenty to do for revelers looking to celebrate during the long holiday break.

There are four of the popular community events planned in May, beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at Caffé Florian in Kealakekua.

A flood advisory has been issued through late this afternoon.

Find the purr-fect furry companion and pay no adoption fees for cats older than 6 months during an event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Animal Community Center’s cat barn; the special event is an effort to free up shelter space.

Join Miss Aloha Hawaiʻi Scarlette Burnham-Rosario and the Hawaiʻi Police Department for a beachfront scavenger hunt to help clean the coastline at 7 a.m. this Saturday.

Lily Amor, 17, who was previously reported as a runaway, has been found safe and in good health in Ocean View.

Treat the woman who gave birth to you with an event that has a more personal touch; when you saw it, Mom was the first person who came to mind. This week’s top 10 has some great ideas!