News
Visitor Arrivals Down 70% in February
According to preliminary statistics released by the Hawai´i Tourism Authority (HTA), the average daily census showed that there were 90,776 visitors in Hawai´i on any given day in February 2021, compared to 250,052 visitors per day in February 2020.
SNAP Replacement Benefits Available Through Early April
A SNAP Replacement Benefit is a replacement of food purchased with SNAP benefits that was destroyed in a household misfortune such as the recent severe weather, flooding, and landslides.
Letter to the Editor: Overcoming Vaccine Entropy
“From the get-go, the national COVID vaccine rollout was a lesson in entropy.”
Former Kaua‘i JROTC Instructor Faces Federal Charges in Connection to Sexual Exploitation of Former Student
Waimea High School’s former JROTC instructor was taken into federal custody on two counts of sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18 for the purpose of producing child pornography.
Thurston Lava Tube, Forest Trail Reopens After 1 Year Closure
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reopened Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) and the rain forest trail one year after it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible Age Bracket For COVID-19 Vaccine Expands Statewide
The registration period will open on Monday, March 29.
Parents Petition for Removal of Principal at Kona’s Hawaiian Immersion School
Frustration over poor leadership is driving teachers and staff out of West Hawai‘i’s sole Hawaiian immersion school.
Police ID Woman Who Died in Fatal Captain Cook Crash
A one-vehicle crash in Captain Cook last week left a 19-year-old woman dead. On Thursday, police released her name.
DOH Reports 122 New COVID-19 Cases Statewide
The Hawai‘i Department of Health reported 122 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, raising the statewide total to 29,071. One new COVID-related death was also reported.
HPD IDs Man Who Died While in Police Custody
Hawai‘i Police have identified a man who died in custody on Saturday, March 20, as 29-year-old Charren Ornellas with a last known address in Hilo.
DLIR Call Center Temporarily Shuts Down After Staffer Tests Positive for COVID-19
The Department of Labor & Industrial Relations’s (DLIR) general call center at the Hawai‘i Convention Center call center is unavailable today, March 25, as a result of a positive COVID-19 test.
North Hawai’i Community Hospital Administers 10K COVID-19 Shots
Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital provided its 10,000th COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, March 24.
State House to Restore Funding to Hilo Youth Challenge Academy
Today, March 24, the House of Representatives passed the House version of the state budget which rejects the administration’s proposed cut to the Youth Challenge Academy Hilo campus.
County Issues Reminder: Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bag Ban Remains in Effect
As an early response to the pandemic, on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, former Mayor Harry Kim suspended the ban on single-use plastic checkout bags under his third Supplementary Emergency Proclamation.
DOH Reports 58 New COVID Cases Wednesday
The state’s two-week average is 74 new cases daily, with a test positivity rate of 1.5%.
Hilo Man Dies After 5-Car Crash Near Ainaola Drive
A 75-year-old Hilo man, identified as Franklin Dacanay, died following a five-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon, March 23, in the area of the Ainaola Drive and Mikokoi Street intersection in Hilo.
Kona’s Mask-Making Company Faces Setbacks Due to Damaged Shipment
The state’s only mask-making company could be set back a few months after its recent shipment to the Big Island appeared to arrive damaged.
