Community

Customers can still access many services during the holiday closure by visiting the USPS website or self-service kiosks available in many retail lobbies throughout the nation.

Troy Branco-Liu for most of his life never imagined leaving Lahaina. However, after the 2023 Maui wildfire upended his community, a University of Hawaiʻi scholarship opened a door the Lahainaluna High School graduate never expected, an opportunity to start over at Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo on the Big Island, which would ultimately change the course of his future.

“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.”

“Mahalo to the faculty and staff recognized at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s 2026 End of the Year Awards Celebration for their excellence in teaching, service, innovation and care for our campus,” says a post on the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Facebook page, adding it’s their work that makes a lasting impact every day.

Calvin Furtado was named January Officer of the Month, Josiah Loving and Victor McLellan were named February Officers of the Month and Jared-Taylor Makaweo-Quihano was honored as March Officer of the Month; all demonstrated distinguished police work, outstanding investigative work and decisive action.

Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services says its electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, vendor Fidelity Information Services sent some beneficiaries SUN Bucks card instead of regular Kōkua card.

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

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.

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.