West Hawai‘i News

The rain is mostly over Maui County this morning, with the storm expected to slide southeast toward Hawai‘i Island later today.

The islands remain safe and welcoming, and after two kona lows in a week, weather conditions are expected to improve early next week; Kauaʻi and Oʻahu already are seeing improving conditions.

32-year-old Steven Erik Michael Lindquist was taken into custody and charged following a March 18 incident in the Keauhou Shopping Center parking lot during which he reportedly threatened someone with a .22-caliber pellet gun.

The advisory was issued Saturday, March 21, and is the result of heavy rain and/or high surf associated with the powerful kona low that slammed into the island last weekend; the public is strongly encouraged to stay out of waters that appear brown or murky, especially after a storm since it could contain higher than normal pollutants.

The public meetings cover crime, traffic trends, reporting elder abuse, and identifying and preventing financial and internet scams.

This storm is not expected to be as severe as the powerful kona low that slammed into the island last weekend; however, be aware that areas that flooded during the first storm could flood faster with additional rainfall because of ground saturation.

The Waikōloa museum’s Island Science Lecture Series continues today, March 19, with Jessica Nagasako, who will share some recent science updates from the Mauna Kea observatory and answer the question, ‘How do we get that data?’

Have a good time this weekend and beyond; don’t let the weather weigh you down too much. Check out this week’s top 10 things to do for some good tunes, outdoor fun, entrepreneur wisdom, eco-art and more.

Hawai‘i Department of Education reports majority of instructional space at Konawaena requires professional cleaning and structural repairs following last weekend’s kona low; department continues damage assessments at campuses statewide.

Hawaiian Electric reports crews are working through hazardous and complex conditions to repair overhead and underground electrical infrastructure; more rain forecast later this week also could delay restoration efforts.

Join HI-PAL at the Kona Keiki Easter Egg Decorating Contest on April 2 and the HI-PAL Outrigger Canoe Regatta in Kona on April 11.

A portion of Highway 11 (Mamalahoa Highway) is closed in both directions near the 95-mile marker in South Kona.

A water tanker is available at Kealakekua Ranch Center for community assistance.

The featured movie “Dog Man” will be shown from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 18 in the cafeteria at Waikōloa Elementary and Middle School.

Radar indicated at 9:13 p.m. heavy rain over all of the Big Island, falling at 1 to 3 inches per hour; several stream gauges remain above flood warning thresholds islandwide, and life-threatening flash flooding was ongoing, with reports of highway closures and flooding in local communities.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said there already are measures in place to limit the harvesting of aquatic fish following a 2017 Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruling.

The department is celebrating the 2026 installment of the special observance by helping customers learn how to identify and fix common household water leaks; events to be hosted in Hilo and Kailua-Kona, with chances for prizes.

Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting.

An open-air tasting night experience returns at the end of this month to the shopping center in Waikōloa, when chefs from several restaurants will serve up bites, plus cocktails and mocktails, all to benefit Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative; tickets are available now.

Severe weather also results in shuttering of all state offices and services, schools including University of Hawaiʻi campuses and activities, Hawaiʻi Legislature, state parks, several areas within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and public libraries on the Big Island.