Community

Punahou School student Safa Ahmed as the 2026 Hawaiʻi Youth Poet Laureate, which is a program to connect young voices and writers from across all islands.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs launches the fund Friday, May 22, providing limited number of $10,000 repair grants; informational Zoom webinar set for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

The extension project that began in 1999 to add 10.5 miles to the well-traveled Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, had been shelved twice due to a lack of funding.

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

Community participation is critical for not only documenting the long-known impacts of the impaired waters of Hilo Bay and throughout its watershed, and public input will be used to develop a community vision for the bay region and guide development of any new resilience and management plan.

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center Executive Director Julie Mitchell will provide those who attend with some practical tools they can immediately put to use to become more effective individually and collectively on a nonprofit board.

Polynesian Voyaging Society traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe will return to the island nation for the first time in 20 years; dates will tentatively be from April to September next year.

Deadline to apply is May 29 for Cohort 22: Culinary Foundations through partnership between Culinary Institute of the Pacific and Culinary Institute of America; but don’t wait, seats are limited.

A brief look at several stories from throughout the state.

Special restaging of 2026 Merrie Monarch Festival Hōʻike performance also honors Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui.

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi celebrates 50 years with communitywide initiative Monday, May 18, to lift up programs that serve island children and teens.

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.

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!

Lava geysers from the north vent within Halemaʻumaʻu Crater stopped shortly before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5; tephra fall was greatest within 3 miles from the two active vents.

30-day review period now open for Papahana Kāʻeuʻeu: Hawaiʻi’s Plan for Living Heritage Stewardship, which will guide how state, county agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations and communities work together to identify, protect and steward Hawaiʻi’s historic and cultural resources from 2026 through 2034.

As the nation’s largest one-day food drive, Stamp Out Hunger offers a simple way for Hawaiʻi residents to make a meaningful difference.

Funds totaling $48,697.69 raised by Hawaiʻi Island employees for Hawaiʻi Island United Way will support 36 health and human services programs that reach thousands of Hawaiʻi Island families and individuals each year.

Recent events such as the destructive kona lows in March underscore how quickly emergencies can escalate and how vital it is for communities — including Waimea — to be prepared, connected and informed.

New multi-use community hub to expand food security efforts, youth programming and essential services in Waimea.

Hawai‘i public schools, beginning with the class of 2030, will require the completion of financial literacy education to graduate, with implementation starting in the 2026–27 academic year; Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i provides a ready-to-implement solution, with proven curriculum and volunteer support.