Community

“E Hoʻolohe Kākou – Let Us All Listen” kicks off Friday, June 19, in Hilo; attendees are encouraged to share their perspectives about local news and information needs, community storytelling, emergency communications, media training and the role Nā Leo TV can play in supporting youth and creative careers on the island.

“This gathering is not only about remembrance — it is also about connection, conversation and collective action,” says information from an event flyer posted on Facebook.

Events in Hilo and North Kohala scheduled today, June 11, in observance of King Kamehameha Day, which honors King Kamehameha I — also known as King Kamehameha the Great — who in 1810 became the first ruler of a fully unified Kingdom of Hawai‘i.

Kazama’s chancellorship — including as interim — is marked by an era of growth, stability and renewed momentum for Hawaiʻi Community College.

Electronic Processing and Information Center — Hawai’i County’s online portal for permits, plan submissions, inspections, payments and public records — will be unavailable from 1 a.m. June 11 through 8 a.m. June 12.

The program — which University of Hawaiʻi launched in 2023 at its Maui College campus — offers tuition-free online courses, flexible enrollment, free entry-level certifications and a seamless 4-year degree path, with no prerequisites necessary.

The nonprofit, along with KTA Super Stores, on June 5, 2026, treated staff and employees of Hawai’i County, first responders, hospital staff and other public servants around the Big Island to deliveries of aloha in the form of hundreds of donuts, celebrating the people making a positive difference in their communities.

Duke Escobar’s interest in medicine began in high school while taking a health academy course that introduced him to medical problem-solving through activities such as diagnosing cases from the TV show “House.”

Each scholarship recipient and their parents will be honored July 20 during a special Lions Club of Kona Scholarship Awards Dinner at Teshima’s Restaurant in Kealakekua; the public is invited to attend.

Hawaiʻi receives about $3 million per year from the federal government to fund the Hawaiʻi Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which is mandated by federal law to fight Medicaid fraud and protect patients from abuse and neglect; unfortunately, federal officials say the Hawaiʻi unit falls short of expectations and has for many years.

Participating high school students will be introduced to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, skills through the lens of urban and regional planning with a goal of fueling their higher education choices and perhaps interest in transportation-related careers.

The program makes nutritious meals available to keiki 18 years old and younger — at no charge — during the summer break between school years; meals will be provided Monday through Friday, June 8-July 17.

ʻĪnaʻi Kōkua program will provide onetime $2,000 Home Depot card to support eligible households still recovering from March storms; only about 200 cards will be available statewide.

Extension guarantees more than 60 Native Hawaiian Education Program early childhood education grant recipients throughout the state fully funded for at least another year.

The talk story starts at 5 p.m. at Hawai‘i Keiki Museum in Waikōloa; everyone is encouraged to attend; admission is free and open to the public; features speaker from Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

Series begins this weekend with a soil health field day at HIP Agriculture Farm in Kapaʻau; additional workshops are scheduled each weekend throughout all of June, giving participants chance to learn alongside local farmers, educators and community leaders.

It’s another week full of a unique variety of fun events, activities and more on the Big Island. Check out the top 10 things to do now!

Preliminary statistics from Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism show a total of 828,959 visitors arrived in the state during the month, a 0.5% decrease from a year before, but total visitor spending increased 4.8%.

Utility’s year-round resilience work reduces outages, supports faster restoration, but customers are encouraged to get ready before a tropical cyclone ever approaches the islands; Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, state and county officials reiterate preparedness message.

Mayor and members of his administration will discuss county projects, priorities and issues, including finances, parks, planning, research and development, sustainability, water and more.