East Hawaii News

The earthquake happened at 8:40 a.m. Saturday morning 11 miles west-northwest of Volcano at a depth of 13 miles below sea level. It was felt around the island and as far away as Honolulu.

Hilo, Pāhoa, Waimea, Pahala, Kailua-Kona and Keaʻau will host their annual Christmas parades for Hawaiʻi Island communities throughout the next three weeks.

37-year-old Christin Eve Ho‘omaikainani Ho of Hilo is charged with two counts of third-degree theft and 39-year-old Chase K. Leopoldino of Hilo is charged with one count of third-degree theft. Both are employees of the Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works.

32-year-old Sonny E. Puerto was found guilty by a jury in July of first-degree electronic enticement of a child as part of Operation Keiki Shield in May 2021, when he was texting an undercover police officer he thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking her for sex and other sex acts.

Department of Environmental Management wishes Big Island a happy Turkey Day and asks for the public’s kōkua by not littering or illegallly dumping any materials at closed facilities during the annual holiday closure.

32-year-old Dylan Jessen Gapp of Kea‘au was arrested Saturday in Hawaiian Paradise Park after leading police on a short foot chase and stumbling into a small ditch day after he was seen driving reportedly stolen truck. He is charged with second-degree burglary, first-degree theft and several other offenses.

77-year-old Lowell Thomas Pofahl of Nānāwale Estates faces several charges including second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault following a domestic incident the night of Nov. 22, after which he called Hawai‘i Police Department dispatch and told authorities he tried to kill his wife.

Restaurants and resorts across the Big Island are offering to-go and dine-in Thanksgiving meals perfect for visitors and the last-minute planners.

27 people have died in the past 29 years at Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Hawai’i County Councilwoman Jenn Kagiwada hopes new signage will encourage more safety at the state parks along the East Hawai‘i river on the north side of Hilo.

Twelve young people are more prepared for adulthood after continued education, skill development and career support from the new Hawaiʻi National Guard Job Challenge Academy in Hilo.

One of the park’s most unique — and popular — trails, with stunning bright yellow sulfur crystals clinging to lava rocks on a steaming Kīlauea volcano, reopened Friday, about 3 weeks early, with a new boardwalk and improved safety and accessibility.

26-year-old Tyler Reikofski-Ekle was last seen Aug. 10 in area of 15-mile marker on Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road (Highway 137) in Pāhoa. Does anyone have any information about his whereabouts?

Thanksgiving is almost here. Before you sit down with the family for that tasty turkey dinner, celebrate with some pre-Turkey Day events and more. Don’t miss this week’s top 10 things to do on the island!

The gopher snake was discovered the morning of Nov. 16 by staff at a store that had unloaded about half of the trees from the container before the special delivery holiday hitchhiker was revealed.

Warren Dela Cruz, 43, has been located in good health at Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 11:04 p.m.  

Momi Leonard was found Nov. 15 in Puna.

24-year-old Vincent Souza was last seen the afternoon of Sept. 9 on Kulana Street in Hilo, wearing a camouflage hoodie and black pants. Do you have any information that could lead to finding him?

Surf has finally fallen below advisory levels along eastern shorelines after several days.

East Hawai‘i residents are invited to attend three Coffee With a Cop events this week in Pāpa‘aloa, Hilo, and Volcano, to get to know their district police officers.

North Kona Councilman Holeka Goro Inaba and Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi will serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.