East Hawaii News

Love is in the air on the Big Island. Several of this week’s top 10 things to do already are Valentine’s Day-related, but we’re giving you a few early date ideas in case you want to plan ahead and make reservations to surprise your sweetie. Lovers of culture and history, conservation and the environment, community and music have plenty of options, too, this week.

The public is invited to a blessing and unveiling of the new sign that warns visitors about the dangers of the water at Boiling Pots.

Expedition Dinosaur: Into the Deep debuts at ʻImiloa from Feb. 7 to May 4 with animatronics, fossils and interactive displays that immerse visitors in prehistoric waters.

86-year-old Yvonne Mira of Hilo died Feb. 3 at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, less than a week after the single-vehicle crash off Kaʻūmana Drive.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu forecast surf up to 12 feet, causing strong breaking waves and strong currents that will make swimming and certain other ocean activities dangerous.

This is your chance to provide feedback about how Hawai‘i Police Department is doing. You can take the survey until 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

Big Island volcano roars back into action with lava fountains peaking at up to 330 feet at times within the first few hours after the newest eruptive activity began just before 10 p.m. the night of Feb. 3. Vigorous fountains were still erupting from both vents inside the caldera by almost 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, continuing to feed lava flows onto the crater floor.

No buses or paratransit services will run today because of Americans With Disabilities Act training for all Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit employees and contractors. Regular services will resume Monday.

The community foodshare program in Honoka‘a has made and distributed a total of more than 97,000 warm meals for community members and delivered about 450 tons of groceries to kūpuna and shut-ins during the past 6 yeras.

UH-Hilo has partnered with the National Corn to Ethanol Center and the nonprofit BioMADE to create a local fermentation program and sustainability center on the Big Island that is environmentally and economically beneficial for local communities.

The winter storm that blew through the state at the end of the week fortunately didn’t blow away or wash out any of the multitude of events happening around the island, some of which are going on right now!

Nine Hawaiʻi County nonprofits will receive $10.1 million for 15 projects using funding from Tier 2 residential property taxes.

In light of the groundings, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Administrator Meghan Statts reiterated that boat owners and operators should pay attention to weather forecasts, avoid going out in advance of storms and check that their lines are secure in harbors or while tied to moorings.

Several Hawaiʻi County facilities remained closed Friday despite weather conditions improving. Fewer than 100 customers remained without power as of 6 p.m. Friday. A brown water advisory is in effect for the entire island because of stormwater runoff entering coastal waters.

Participants were invited to submit a poem in haiku format or art recognizing Hawaiʻi’s volcanic landscapes in the following age divisions: elementary (grades K-5), middle school (grades 6-8), high school and adult. Nearly 60 entries were received, most from kamaʻāina.

Egg shortages and the fear of depopulation has local poultry farmers urging the State of Hawaiʻi to consult with them and develop an avian flu response plan as the virus spreads to chickens, cows and humans on the mainland.

“Crews are working hard to ensure roadways are clear and to restore power to traffic intersections,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We ask residents to remain off roadways, if possible, as weather conditions worsen and to stay connected to our emergency notifications.”

Hawaiian Electric urges customers to be prepared for possibility of extended outages. Several Hawaiʻi County and state facilities and parks closed because of inclement weather.

Department of Water Supply says to prepare by setting aside drinking water ahead of time to meet essential needs during a prolonged power outage that disrupts water service and having alternate emergency sources of potable water.

Actions were taken by staff, personnel and crew at the facilities throughout the state to make sure they are ready for impacts. Airports will remain open unless there is damage to runway or terminal facilities.