In Case You Missed It

Shipping company’s operations at ports in Hilo, Kawaihae on Big Island and Nāwiliwili on Kaua‘i are open again; barges from Honolulu arrived at Kawaihae and Nāwiliwili on July 29, but not all cargo was discharged and none was loaded back from either port.

Aimed at helping communities recover from major disasters more quickly, the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act was introduced and written by Hawai‘i Democrat U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

The Home Improvement Loan Program — or HILP — provides low-interest loans intended to help low- and moderate-income families repair, improve or modernize their primary residence; loan amounts range from $2,500 to $50,000 at a 3% simple interest rate to eligible homeowners.

Hawai‘i County officials ask residents, however, to exercise caution and stay out of the water, as coastal areas continue to be hazardous.

A 3rd Circuit Court judge granted the defense attorney’s motion to dismiss the two most serious charges: first-degree accomplice to attempted murder, a class A felony, and place to keep pistol or revolver, a class B felony.

100 Laysan finches, a native Hawaiian bird that once thrived at Midway Atoll on the far northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, now a part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, were released on Eastern Island last week as part of continuing efforts to re-establish and expand native bird populations to the national monument in preparation for potential catastrophic events.

Nearly 230 student-athletes representing all 12 University of Hawai‘i at Hilo sports teams posted a combined record-high grade-point average of 3.32, topping last year’s previous combined record-high grade-point average of 3.28.

One lucky winner will recieve a trip for 2 to the 15th anniversary festival on O’ahu at the end of October, including airfare for two on Hawaiian Airlines, a 4-night stay at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Paradise Hotel, two priority access tickets to the Hawaiian Airlines Presents Decanted grand tasting and two tickets to Cirque Du Soleil ‘Auana at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, a prize package worth a total $5,700.

Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting. Check to see if any of the planned closures will impact your commute during the next week.

Annual 3-month Operation Nasse — conducted by United States, Australia, France and New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu — aimed at safeguarding marine resources of Pacific Island nations.

The consulting firm will look at what kind of uses are feasible and wanted in the area, but also determine what infrastructure is needed to support those uses.

Proactive outreach and innovative problem-solving aimed at improving well-being of communities he serves have distinguished the Kona Community Policing Section officer, setting the 14-year Hawai‘i Police Department veteran apart and leading to him being honored.

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources says a contractor is scheduled to begin July 29 trimming and removing the massive tree that uprooted and toppled the afternoon of July 12, falling across Kilauea Avenue, a portion of nearby Calvary Chapel Hilo and — it was learned a week later — two women, apparently crushing them underneath. It’s been about 2 weeks since the tree collapsed and almost a week since the bodies of the two women were recovered from under its now tangled and mangled canopy.

A total of $10.5 million was awarded in 2024-25 to 15 projects by 9 nonprofits working to ensure homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring on Hawaiʻi Island. Deadline to apply this year is 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

‘Critical elements’ such as lithium, nickel, magnesium, platinum, iridium and rare earth elements, among others, have become important for our everyday lives — used in everything from solar panels, batteries and vehicles to power plants, medical devices and smartphones — and more than half of these resources formed in ancient volcanic systems.

Traditional double-hulled voyaging canoes have been back in Tahitian capital since July 14 preparing for the next leg of their Moananuiākea Voyage; stop also allowed for crew rotation before continuing their epic circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean.

The program — a joint effort between Hawai‘i and U.S. Department of Agriculture — is aimed at bridging a gap in nutrition many keiki throughout the islands experience during their summer break from school.

Violet Coultas was is under the care of Arizona Department of Child Safety while her mother Sarah Coultas of Pa‘auilo remains in custody, pending extradition to Hawai‘i. They were located in Cottonwood, Ariz., about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

Nonprofits pursuing projects that strengthen the Big Island’s future are invited to apply for fiscal year 2025-26 Impact Grants program funding.

While the situation has improved statewide compared with before the 2024-25 school year, 4 of the 9 school bus routes throughout the state still suspended are on the Big Island. Fortunately, offiicials report new drivers are being trained.