News

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is looking for volunteers for its “Stewardship at the Summit” programs to ensure the future of the Hawaiian rainforest at the summit of Kīlauea volcano for the next 100 years.

As of Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, 25 individuals are wanted by the Hawai‘i Police Department because of outstanding warrants.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health is reminding the public that, effective Jan. 1, 2016, residents and visitors alike must be at least age 21 years old in order to buy tobacco products and electronic smoking devices (e-cigarettes) in the state.

The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation has announced a three-day maintenance closure of Mokuola Island (also known as Coconut Island) from Monday to Wednesday, Jan. 4 to 6, 2016.

Since the last update on Dec. 24, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reports that the number of confirmed dengue cases has risen from 176 to 190 as of Dec. 30, 2015.

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for two men wanted in East Hawaiiʻi on outstanding warrants—Christian E. Alameda and Shannon L. Souza.

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for Eddie Seenarine, a 50-year-old Volcano man who was reported missing on Dec. 25.

Attorney General Doug Chin announced today that Honolulu resident Kianna Ah Lee Sam has been charged with theft in the first degree. Sam, 40, allegedly received public assistance benefits to which she was not entitled.

Hawaiʻi Island police will conduct island-wide DUI checkpoints and patrols throughout the holiday weekend and intend to enforce all traffic laws, as always.

Hawai‘i Island police reported today that two Kea‘au residents, a 26-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman, were killed Tuesday, Dec. 29, in a three-vehicle collision on the Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road (Route 130) near the two-mile marker in Keaʻau.

An all-points bulletin has been issued for a white 1995 Toyota Avalon sedan with license plate HWM 818. Police caution the public not to approach the vehicle but, instead, to call police to report its location.

Highway 130—the Kea‘au-Pahoa Highway—is closed in both directions at the Kea‘au transfer station.

There were no threats following a preliminary magnitude 3.2 earthquake reported at 3:38 p.m. (HST) on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, near ʻĀinaloa on the east end of the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will close West Hawai‘i state parks at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, New Year’s Eve. Parks closing early include Hapuna, Kiholo and Kekaha Kai (Mahaiula and Kua Bay sections).

The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife announced the opening of bird hunting in the Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area on Saturday, Jan. 2.

During the week of Dec. 21 through 27, 2015, Hawaiʻi Island police arrested eight motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes—one of them was involved in two separate crashes.

On Friday, Hawaiʻi will become the first state in the nation to raise the age on the sale of tobacco products and e-cigs to 21.

Thomas “Tommy” Friel, a conservation law enforcement officer for nearly three decades, has been named the new Chief of the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, effective today, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.

She is described as a Micronesian, 5-feet-3 inches tall, 156 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and a scar on her right cheek. She was last seen wearing a white shirt and black pants.

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for Kekoa Gapol, an 18-year-old Pāhoa man who was reported missing.