The Big Island is once again teeming with events, activities, shows and more for any and everyone to enjoy. Check out what’s happening in this week’s top 10!

The long-awaited playground redevelopment project at Pu‘u Nui Park in Waikōloa Village is finally underway.

The services are being stopped at the Honokaʻa, Laupāhoehoe, Volcano, Pāhala and Waiʻōhinu stations after Big Island Scrap Metal in Kea‘au, Hawai‘i County’s contracted metal recycling partner, suffered a large industrial fire Wednesday.

Big Island firefighters discovered a 50-by-50-by-12-foot mound of scrap metal and large tires about 75% involved in fire under a covered, open steel metal building when they arrived at Big Island Scrap Metal at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Gray — and at times black — gritty smoke billowed into the air, easily sticking out against the bright blue clear sky.

On Tuesday during Hawai‘i County Council’s Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee, Alameda sat in front of the council with nine of his selected department heads for Hawai‘i County, seeking the body’s confirmation on each individual.

Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen will join 37 other golfers on the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai in Ka‘ūpūlehu to open the 2025 PGA TOUR Champions season.

Hawai‘i state Sen. Tim Richards and state Rep. David Tarnas along with Hawai‘i County Council members Heather Kimball and James Hustace are speaking during the meeting Thursday.

An agriculture inspector from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch in Kona retrieved the animal early Sunday morning and arranged for it to be transported to Honolulu. This was the second opossum in as many months to be captured in the islands.

The lack of trade winds is keeping the vog lingering over Hawai‘i Island, but that is expected to change by the weekend.

8-show residency scheduled to begin later this month at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas indefinitely postponed as iconic 77-year-old musician recovers.

The officer successfully investigated several cases within the first two months of his solo patrol that resulted in the recovery of stolen property.

A total of $60,000 will be awarded to qualified applicants.

Clare E. Connors submitted her resignation to President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and Attorney General Merrick Garland, which will become effective at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2025.

The declaration of emergency is in effect from Jan. 6 through March 6.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park in South Kona is closed. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park’s Alanui Kaloko Road and the coastal trail from Kaloko Fishpond to ʻAiʻōpio Fishtrap is also closed.

According to a press release from the university, UH Mānoa demonstrated research excellence across a range of critical fields, with several disciplines.

According to Hawai‘i Island police, a scammer posed as a police sergeant, leaving a message for the victim saying they were “calling from the Hawai‘i Police Department regarding an important ongoing legal matter.” In other instances, scammers were asking people to buy Apple cards.

Panel discussions will be aimed at collaboration to develop a process to build up and support the next generation of teachers. This year’s summit will also feature national board certified teacher Carla Warren, senior partner with the National Center for Grow Your Own, who will share information about nationwide trends in teacher cultivation and lessons for Hawaiʻi.

Before we get too far into 2025 and the headlines start rolling in about the people, research and work at the 10 campuses of the statewide University of Hawai‘i system, let’s review the top headlines from last year. University of Hawai‘i News posted nearly 1,500 stories in a very eventful 2024.

U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda as well as U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz were sworn in Friday and will again represent Hawaiʻi for the next two years in the 119th Congress.