Business

The free community event is aimed at giving Puna’s youth a path to stay, work and thrive at home; businesses and employers who want to host a table should register by Aug. 6.

Preliminary state statistics show total visitor spending in June was $1.98 billion, a 0.6% increase from June last year, with 858,577 total visitors last month, up 0.2% compared with 857,102 visitors in June 2025.

Mark your calendars now; tickets go on sale Aug. 1 for what is hyped as what is expected to be the Honolulu festival’s biggest and best year yet.

Faii Metawee and Caleb Houck have opened Blooms Café in Hilo, which has homemade foods and drinks that feature local flavors and seasonal specials, along with beautiful, unique orchids for sale.

On Saturday, Vital Boxing hosted the first annual “Battle in Puna,” giving young athletes from Big Island, Oʻahu and California a chance to showcase their skills in a USA Boxing Hawaiʻi event.

A quick look at news happening throughout the state.

Several Big Island organizations among 49 throughout the state selected to receive funding and present authentic experiences for the residents and visitors from July through December.

Producers and farmers from all four counties are encouraged to contact their local Farm Service Agency even if they previously received information about other recovery programs; deadline to apply is July 31.

Lacy Deniz, who was born and raised on the Big Island, works at Hawaiʻi News Now and has covered a wide variety of stories throughout her career so far, including the 2022 Mauna Loa eruption, restoration efforts on Kahoʻolawe and even interviewing Aquaman himself Jason Momoa during the movie’s premiere.

At just 30, Mehana Pilago transformed her father’s tattoo business into a creative studio for fellow artists, with her entrepreneurship including the purchase of a 3,000-square-foot building in Kona.

A brief look at financial and business news from the Big Island and state.

Small business and industry partners are invited to attend this exclusive event the afternoon of July 31; deadline to register is today (July 23).

The Kona Kat Café gives people a chance to play with a kitten and ultimately provide a forever home if they are able, whether they live on the island or are visiting from the mainland.

Nine Brains, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., acquired full fee-simple ownership of Pacific 19 Kona hotel — formerly Kona Seaside Hotel — 4 years after it purchased the ground lease for the property.

The fix for a bad business climate isn’t more bureaucracy. It’s less. Reducing taxes and regulations help revitalize the economy. If only our lawmakers would embrace those policies more often.

The 150 members of UNITE HERE Local 5 on the Big Island resort’s staff have worked without a contract since February 2025; they are asking their employer to negotiate with them on a contract that respects their work and wages while keeping up with the rising cost of living.

Jessica Cockrell of Hilo has launched ShiftPass, an innovative app that aims to ease the hiring process in the short-term and improve career possibilities for Hawaiʻi residents in the long-term.

The dealership’s Cap & Corolla Giveaway supports students, recent graduates and first-time vehicle buyers.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green earlier this week signed state Senate Bill 2580, now Act 185, which broadens access to the state’s film tax credit, as well as Senate Bill 2907, now Act 186, centralizing marine affairs oversight.

A quick look at news from throughout the state and beyond.