State funding lapses for Puna road study to find another route for evacuations, growing traffic

86-year-old Yvonne Mira of Hilo died Feb. 3 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, less than a week after the single-vehicle crash off Kaʻūmana Drive.

A peaceful protest is scheduled for 5 p.m. Feb. 5 along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, south of Henry Street, near The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu forecast surf up to 12 feet, causing strong breaking waves and strong currents that will make swimming and certain other ocean activities dangerous.

This is your chance to provide feedback about how Hawai‘i Police Department is doing. You can take the survey until 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

Hawai‘i County Council initially failed to pass the original funding bill for the study in January 2024, which would have accepted the state’s $1 million and a $500,000 county match. The council ultimately passed its own bill in March 2024, with a $1 million county match, that expanded the scope of the study months before state funding lapsed on June 30, 2024.

Hawaiʻi County clarified that vector control operations, which caused the park to be temporarily closed Tuesday morning, involved treatment for Argentine ants. No little fire ants have been detected at the park off Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road.

Big Island volcano roars back into action with lava fountains peaking at up to 330 feet at times within the first few hours after the newest eruptive activity began just before 10 p.m. the night of Feb. 3. Vigorous fountains were still erupting from both vents inside the caldera by almost 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, continuing to feed lava flows onto the crater floor.

Feb. 3 collision was second crash during 2-day span in which a motorcyclist died on a Puna roadway. Hawai‘i Police Department continues to investigate both.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education served meals free of charge at 73 school locations and alternative learning programs on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island through its Seamless Summer Option program during the summer of 2024.

Gathered at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel Moku Ola Ballroom, each new officer had their badge pinned on by a loved one during the ceremony, which was limited to police personnel, guest speakers, and family members of the recruits.

The winter storm that blew through the state at the end of the week fortunately didn’t blow away or wash out any of the multitude of events happening around the island, some of which are going on right now!

The 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival features a full lineup of multi-cultural activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday.

The Big Island is definitely not behind on delivering another packed schedule of events, festivals and activities. All the world’s a stage, so be sure to get out and be one of the actors.

If ever there was a week when “variety” best fit the top 10 things happening around the Big Island, this would be it. From an hour of volcano stand-up comedy to the return of the KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa, there definitely is something for everyone. Check em out today!

Comedian Ben Miller, and 2023 artist-in-residence at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, brings his hourlong show ‘Stand-Up Science Presents: Volcano’ to Kona and Hilo.