News
Working to make the promise of ‘justice for all’ reality
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Recktenwald delivers final State of the Judiciary address, reporting he will pass a strong, resilient and thriving Judiciary to next generation of leaders.
‘The floor is lava’ again: New fountain erupts, beginning 6th episode of activity in Kīlauea summit
Episode 6 of the Big Island volcano’s latest eruption, which began the week of Christmas 2024, is underway as lava flows onto the crater floor from a geiser that started at about 11:28 p.m. Jan. 24.
Nonprofit helps keiki dive into their creativity through songwriting
“I’m Hawaiian” was written by third grade students at Kohala Elementary a few years ago and was recorded by guitarist John Keawe for Kid Pan Alley, a nonprofit organization founded by American folk musician Paul Reisler.
Update: Flood advisory canceled for parts of Hāmākua, Hilo
Radar shows heavy rain has diminished and flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat.
Māhukona Beach Park reopens
North Hawai‘i park was closed Jan. 6 so work could proceed for the demolition of the old pavilion, which had not been used for several years, because of safety concerns. Regular hours resume Jan. 25 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Volcano Watch: Recent lava fountains highlight Pele’s hair hazards
Wondering about that dusting of glittery threads on your property? Pele’s hair is the name for the strands of volcanic glass that are created when globs of liquid lava are stretched apart during an eruption.
‘Return-to-Home program’ proposed for houseless people to return to their home states
A bill introduced by 13 representatives in the state House calls for establishing a permanent “Return-to-Home program” with an as yet undetermined amount of funding to return homeless people in Hawaiʻi to their home states.
Hawai‘i County Council to hold special meeting about pick for Environmental Management director
The Hawaiʻi County Council confirmed eight of new Mayor Kimo Alameda’s selections to lead departments, but the appointment for director of Environmental Management was held up over concerns involving potential conflicts of interest.
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 23-29: ManaFest, King Tide Tour, Winemaker Dinner Series, Shakespeare in Paradise and more
The Big Island is definitely not behind on delivering another packed schedule of events, festivals and activities. All the world’s a stage, so be sure to get out and be one of the actors.
Kīlauea ‘strikes back’ in fifth eruptive episode but then suddenly retreats
After less than a day of eruptive activity, Episode V of the Big Island volcano’s ongoing summit eruption — the shortest so far — ended early Thursday morning. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists say a sixth episode coudl start sometime during the next few days if inflationary trends continue.
State of the Judiciary address to be broadcast live on Youtube
Chief Jusice Mark E. Recktenwald will use his time to do an overview of the court system’s achievements and priorities.
More than 20 DUI arrests made during 2nd week of 2025 on Big Island roads
23 motorists were arrested for DUI throughout the week of Jan. 6-12, nearly twice as many than were arrested the first week of 2025. There had been a total of 35 DUI arrests made by Jan. 12 in 2025, a 20.7% increase from the 29 by the same date in 2024.
Focused on thriving: State House Majority unveils its 2025 bill package
7-bill package championed by the caucus of 42 Democrats covers critical issues the state faces such as housing, homelessness, agriculture and biosecurity, economic development and public safety.
‘Episode V: The Volcano Strikes Back’
Ongoing episodic eruption within summit caldera of Big Island’s Kīlauea volcano that began Dec. 23, 2024, started its fifth eruptive event at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, after about 4 days on pause.
Discover power of biochar during meeting in Puna
Biochar is speculated to have been used as a soil supplement thousands of years ago in the Amazon River basis, where regions of fertile soil called ‘terra preta,’ or ‘dark earth,’ were created by indigenous people.
Affordable Shipping for All Act takes on unfair shipping practices
Hawai‘i Democrat U.S. Rep. Ed Case reintroduces House Resolution 380 to end what he calls “discriminatory and exclusionary” practices that drive up costs and make life harder for millions of Americans living in non-contiguous states and U.S. territories.
University of Hawai‘i community colleges lower summer tuition
Summer tuition will match fall and spring semester costs at just $131 per credit for Hawai‘i residents, which will allow students to save money, graduate faster and explore new interests while staying on track academically.
Hilo autism advocate developed alert cards to assist first responders, help people with disabilities
Rosalinda Larkin, founder of the Autism Support and Disability Center, has developed 3 IDs to assist first responders in emergencies that involve people with specific needs.
Gov. Green delivers State of the State address, again prioritizing tax cuts, housing
As he enters his third year in office, Gov. Josh Green told a joint session of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature: “Today, I am proud to report to you that the state of Hawai‘i is strong.”
Kaiser Permanente volunteers gather on Big Island to clear invasive species, restore historic fishpond and more
About 100 Kaiser Permanente physicians, providers, nurses, other clinical and administrative staff, and their family members volunteered at two Hawai‘i Island sites Monday as part of the 2025 Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i Annual Day of Service – Hosted by Hawai‘i Permanente Medical Group on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
