East Hawaii News

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reported a 10% increase in traffic fatalities in 2024 with 51 from the City and County of Honolulu, 29 from Hawaiʻi Island, 14 from Maui County and 8 from Kauaʻi County.

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management has scheduled tree trimming along the driveway entrance to the Keaʻau Transfer Station between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. from Tuesday, Jan. 14 through Thursday, Jan. 16.

There were 770,940 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in November of this year, which is an increase of 5.3% compared to the same month in 2023.

Gov. Josh Green signed an executive order protecting primary caregivers cultivating cannabis for patients within the bounds of the law that exists as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported the earthquake late Sunday night was part of the ongoing swarm of deep seismicity that has been happening beneath the area of the Kaʻū community since 2019. It had no apparent impact on either Kīlauea of Mauna Loa volcanoes.

There are eyes watching and waiting for those awe-inspiring moments with more nefarious reasons in mind. “Thieves are looking for the right moment to steal your stuff,” said Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in a recent Facebook post.

As another year comes to a close, revelry and talk of auld lang syne will abound — reminiscing about times long past for old times’ sake. But no matter what you do to celebrate this New Year’s, be safe, be responsible and do it together.

Wally Lau, co-founder of the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, said of Hawai’i County Mayor Kimo Alameda: “No matter where he’s at, he is a motivator and a do-er who can excite people.”

If fountaining continues, it is possible heights will increase as more gas-rich lava erupts. However, it is not possible to estimate how high fountains could get or how long fountaining will last.

The low level eruptive activity has gone on for more than a day, after the eruption resumed Thursday evening. Eruptions in the summit region typically last about a week to more than a year. This eruption began during the early morning of Dec. 23.

2-day showcase will feature top high school basketball players from U.S. and Canada, with presumptive No. 1 2026 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa to headline the field.

Fireworks sales began Thursday and end at midnight New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers.

Dannah Delos Santos was reported missing Dec. 17; however, she was last seen Dec. 12 at the Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal in downtown Hilo.

An employee of the grocery store reported an unidentified woman placed several items in a basket and proceeded to the exit without paying at about 5:30 a.m. Dec. 11.

“Inflation of the summit following the shutdown indicates that a resumption in activity is possible in the coming days, but not certain,” said Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in its daily Kīlauea update just after 9:30 a.m. today.

Momi Leonard was found Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, in Puna.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received a report at 3:22 p.m. Monday from the captain of fishing vessel Honua-‘Oe requesting a medevac for a 51-year-old man who injured his abdomen when he fell into a porthole.

Vigorous fountaining from vents in the southwest corner of Halemaʻmaʻu Crater within Kaluapele, the volcano’s summit caldera, rapidly died down a few minutes just before 11 a.m. Lava then began draining back into tthe vent at nearly the same time summit tiltmeters started recording a change from deflation to inflation.

31-year-old Clyde T. Loa and 41-year-old Kawai J. Pomroy are still at large after reportedly escaping Dec. 13 from the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center reintegration facility.

Fountaining of lava began to increase in vigor by about 11 a.m. today, signaling the onset of the second episode of the eruption, which started early Monday within and remains confined to the volcano’s summit caldera and downdropped block.