West Hawaii News
Cops invite families to an afternoon of cocoa and Christmas cheer
Families and keiki are invited to get to know their Kona Community Policing Officers over a cup of cocoa next Saturday.
Update: Red flag warning canceled for leeward Big Island
As winds begin to decrease and relative humidity rebounds, the threat of critical fire weather has diminished.
Update: Wind advisory canceled as trade winds fall below advisory thresholds
Winds in North and South Kohala, Kaʻū and the interior of the Big Island will continue to decrease into the weekend as high pressure to the north of the islands weakens.
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Dec. 9-13: ‘The Nutcracker,’ photos with Santa, Christmas chocolates and cocktails, candlelight memorial and more
There are several upcoming festive events scheduled this week at island venues in celebration of the Yuletide season. Check out our top 10 things to do now!
West Hawai‘i County Band, other Kona groups offering sounds of season
Looking for some music to get into the holiday mood? These choral and instrumental ensembles have upcoming concerts, including two today, that are sure to make your season more merry.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree: Is that a branch or a snake?
Businesses, organizations and residents advocate for more “ʻāina-friendly” solutions to combat Christmas tree critters.
The role of regional kitchens in feeding Hawaiʻi’s students
Kona sate Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, chairwoman of the state House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and who was recently part of a panel dicussion about regional kitchens, says these facilities would use local farm products to prepare meals at public schools: “Students will be nourished when they can eat food grown from their communities.”
Celebrate the season with the family in a Waikōloa Winter Wonderland
The forecast on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 at Kings’ Shops calls for a magical holiday celebration complete with falling snow choreographed to festive music and theatrical lighting with entertainment, special performances and more.
Hawaiʻi Island’s Kahele elected chairman of Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees
Board voted 8-1 in favor of the 50-year-old former state and U.S. lawmaker to succeed Carmen ‘Hulu’ Lindsey, who had the post for the past 4 years.
KBIG-FM aims to make holiday season brighter for keiki who need it most
Help put a smile on a child’s face this year by donating to the annual KBIG-FM Toy Drive, which supports several organizations around the Big Island.
Helicopter searching for signs of invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle in Waikōloa
The flight, which started at 10 a.m. and will end at noon, is part of an effort to collect aerial imagery of palm trees in the Waikōloa area to identify potential damage caused by the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle.
Big Island community serves up heaping helping of aloha for those in need
Orchid Isle Ford and Steve Marshall Group Fill the Ford Food Drive collects more than half-ton of food, $10,000 donated to The Food Basket, Hawai’i Island’s food bank, to help end hunger, increase food security around the island.
Public invited to inauguration of incoming Hawaiʻi County officials
Mayor-elect Kimo Alameda, Prosecuting Attorney-elect Kelden Waltjen and members of the Hawaiʻi County Council will be sworn in. If you can’t make it in person, the ceremony is also being livestreamed. Alameda, Waltjen and incoming Council Chairman Holeka Inaba will give remarks.
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Dec. 1-4: Unique holiday shopping opportunities, Hawaiian Christmas Nights, Santa Paws, Christmas Corners and more
The Big Island, as always, has plenty to do now that we all might have a little more free time after the Thanskgiving holiday weekend.
Update: High surf warning canceled, replaced with high surf advisory for Big Island’s western shorelines
Extra-large swell that’s been slamming into the state continues to persist but will drop throughout the night. However, surf of 7 to 10 feet is still expected along the west coastlines of North and South Kohala and North and South Kona.
Magnitude-4 shaker strikes south of Mauna Loa’s Northeast Rift Zone
The earthquake happened at 8:40 a.m. Saturday morning 11 miles west-northwest of Volcano at a depth of 13 miles below sea level. It was felt around the island and as far away as Honolulu.
Update: High surf warning issued for western shores of Big Island through Saturday
Surf from a building extra-large northwest swell will exceed warning levels and peak tonight, with surf of 10 to 14 feet expected along west-facing shorelines, before beginning to decline during the day Saturday.
Parades all across the Big Island bring the holiday spirit to locals and visitors
Hilo, Pāhoa, Waimea, Pahala, Kailua-Kona and Keaʻau will host their annual Christmas parades for Hawaiʻi Island communities throughout the next three weeks.
All Hawaiʻi County solid waste facilities to be closed Thanksgiving Day
Department of Environmental Management wishes Big Island a happy Turkey Day and asks for the public’s kōkua by not littering or illegallly dumping any materials at closed facilities during the annual holiday closure.
Honokōhau Harbor’s new Hawaiian monk seal pup neighbor welcomed, but maybe too much?
State and The Marine Mammal Center partner for public outreach and education campaign for fishers and boaters at West Hawai’i harbor to remind them that some actions can make the endangered 5-month-old monk seal rely on people for food or get too close to fishing hooks, etc.
