News

Ray Chickao Kunitake, 88, will be the Grand Marshal for the Lantern Parade that kicks off the 10 days of festivities.

If the funding vote passes, about 14,000 Native Hawaiians could qualify for $350 payments, while another 1,000 furloughed federal workers may be eligible for $1,200 in assistance.

Hawaiʻi Community College in Hilo has achieved an impressive 8.7% surge in enrollment this fall, marking renewed momentum in education on Hawaiʻi Island.

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025, the County of Hawaiʻi will honor the legacy of Sgt. 1st Class Rodney James Takashi Yano, a Medal of Honor recipient, with a program at the West Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery.

A Canadian male has been charged with sexual assault of a minor after connecting with the minor on an online game, which has led police to remind parents and guardians to monitor kids’ online activities.

Nearly 500 students will attend the third annual West Hawaiʻi Exposure Fair, which will connect youth with career paths in an innovative “speed-dating” format.

Waikōloa Elementary and Middle School is looking for judges for this year’s semi-final rounds.

All twelve state library branches on Hawaiʻi Island are accepting food donations in response to SNAP disruptions and the federal shutdown.

Most farmers who spoke with Big Island Now say they didn’t have direct interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were reportedly on the island several times this year, conducting arrests. But those farmers noticed a lack of workers during the coffee picking season that runs from August to December, resulting in less crop.

The project is part of the Samaritan’s Purse organization, where shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items and toys will be shipped to keiki around the world, along with a message about Jesus Christ.

The $25.6 million initiative, called Sage Grande, is being led by the National Science Foundation. As part of the work, experts will be placing 300 advanced sensor systems in locations across the country to monitor the environment and provide faster warnings for natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and volcanic eruptions.

Kekoa Kaluhiwa follows Jacqueline Conant, who retired after 25 years of federal government service, including 11 years in Case’s Congressional office.

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock (WLB 214) arrived at their new homeport in Honolulu Oct. 14 after 806 days of restorative maintenance.

The demise of the tree began on Oct. 24, when one of its overarching branches broke in the middle of the night.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo placed No. 7 at the 6K event, finishing with 165 points and an average time of 23:31. It was the highest finish at the conference meet since finishing No. 6 in the 2010 PacWest Championships.

The center’s integrated research program is organized around four themes: microbial biodiversity, metabolism and nutrient flow, remote and continuous sensing of ocean processes, and ecosystem modeling and prediction.

President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci explained Alaska Air Group — of which Hawaiian Airlines is a subsidiary — is making the move to strengthen its infrastructure and ensure long-term system reliability following recent IT challenges.

“Fishing is one of our most cherished cultural traditions, and events like this are a great way to celebrate and perpetuate this heritage while bringing together families and friends,” said Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Director Clayton Honma.

As the federal government shutdown persists, The Food Basket is supporting Hawaiʻi Island’s federal workers and residents in need with extended pantry hours and the revival of ʻOhana Food Drops this month.

The joint training will include thousands of participants, including U.S. joint forces and military personnel from seven partner nations: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, France, New Zealand, and other multinational partners.