East Hawaii News
2-foot snake slithers into Hilo for the holidays among Christmas tree shipment
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.
UPDATE: Hawaiʻi Island police have located missing man in good health
Warren Dela Cruz, 43, has been located in good health at Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 11:04 p.m.
Big Island police ask again for help finding Hilo man missing since September
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?
Update: High surf advisory canceled for east-facing shores of Big Island
Surf has finally fallen below advisory levels along eastern shorelines after several days.
Get to know East Hawaiʻi police officers through casual conversation this week
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.
Hawaiʻi County Council leadership named for 2024-26 term
North Kona Councilman Holeka Goro Inaba and Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi will serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
Big Island lane closures for week of Nov. 16-22
Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting.
Big Islandʻs food bank adds more programs to battle rising costs and insecurity
“With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s a time when everyone starts to think about hunger, and itʻs a huge problem,” said Kristin Frost Albrecht, executive director of The Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.
Update: High surf advisory extended through Monday morning for east-facing shores of Big Island
Large breking waves of 9 to 13 feet can be expected along east-facing shores as strong easterly winds continue to blow across the island through the weekend.
Proposed health center in Keaʻau moving forward with $25 million commitment from billionaire
The Hilo Benioff Medical Center is planning a fundamental extension of its services with a proposed out-patient medical facility on about 9 acres of land near Keaʻau High School.
Update: State cancels high bacteria count notification for Honoli‘i Cove in East Hawai‘i
Bacteria levels of 1,652 per 100 mL were detected during routine monitoring. Another water sample was collected and the site is being retested.
Update: Police identify man and woman killed in head-on crash in Volcano
The Volcano residents who died in the early morning Nov. 9 crash on Highway 11 in Volcano were 48-year-old Joanna Graves and 54-year-old David Makizuru.
Update: Brown water advisory canceled for Big Island’s Hāmākua Coast
The Hawai‘i Department of Health reported the cancellation the afternoon of Nov. 13. The advisory went into effect the afternoon of Nov. 6.
Waimea man faces drug, firearms charges following early morning traffic stop in Puna
42-year-old George-David Summers was arrested Nov. 8 after Hawai‘i Police Department officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle he was driving on Government Beach Road and recovered a loaded .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle, 16-plus grams of methamphetamine and more.
Security equipment problems cause delays, missed flights at Hilo International Airport
During the past few days, people have taken to social media to complain about long security lines at the airport; Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Transportation Security Administration quiet about how equipment problems are being addressed.
Update: Previously reported missing 39-year-old man found in Pāhoa
Hawai‘i Island police report 39-year-old Matthew James Naden was located in good health.
Family desparate for answers a year and a half after disappearance of Pāhoa Purple Heart recipient
The last time anyone saw 34-year-old Kelly Gravitt was the evening of May 19, 2023. His father fears the worst, and Hawai‘i Island police still have no information or leads as to the whereabouts or what happened to the U.S. Army veteran.
Big Isle teen runs away again and police want to know if you have seen him
16-year-old King J. Kehoe was reported as a runaway just 3 days after police located him in connection with another report of him running away at the end of October.
Business Monday: Veteran transitions from Army chemical operations to Big Island farmer
With support from Hoʻola Farms, U.S. Army veteran Amanda Cox finds her roots in agribusiness as she develops I Ka Ua Farm.
