North Hawaii News

The Hawai‘i County Council on Wednesday approved the second and final reading of Bill 105, which temporarily suspends fares for all fixed bus routes and paratransit services offered by Hele-On until Dec. 31, 2023.

Big Island police are again asking for the public’s help with any information about a Kohala man who disappeared eight years ago.

As the reliability of Hawai’i County’s bus system improves, changes to other Hele-On programs are in the works, including plans to restructure the shared-ride taxi program.

Hawaiʻi County is now offering a new COVID testing program for businesses to help prevent workplace spread of the illness.

The Big Island now has another way to help combat COVID-19.

Queen’s North Hawai’i Community Hospital in Waimea is offering a new service for children.

Several nonprofits throughout the state focused on the environment and conservation, including an organization based on the Big Island, will benefit from grants through Hawaiian Electric.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is beefing up its emergency assistance program for Native Hawaiians.

The Waimea Community Association will take up several topics during a meeting this week, including updates on the COVID-19 situation around the Big Island and from Community Policing representatives.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiʻi Island trustee Keola Lindsey is stepping down from his position.

Astronomy in Hawaiʻi supports employment of 1,313 residents and had a total economic impact of $221 million on the state in 2019, according to a University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization update released Sunday, Jan. 30.

Eighty-seven trained site leaders gathered data from the shores of the Big Island, Kaua‘i and O‘ahu during the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count and from Maui during the Great Whale Count by Pacific Whale Foundation, the first of three coordinated whale counts between the two organizations in 2022.

Sustainable Energy Hawai‘i, formerly Big Island Community Coalition, is offering a free webinar about geothermal power options in Hawai’i.

Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea has named imaging services assistant Kylee Stone as its employee of the quarter.

The state Department of Health reported 2,741 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 217,775. Seven new fatalities were reported.

On Wednesday, Jan. 26, a yearling humpback whale entangled in at least 140 feet of line, with a buoy trailing about 60 feet behind, was freed in waters off Ukumehame, Maui, by a team led by responders trained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday signed the latest COVID-19 emergency proclamation, keeping in place current restrictions and officially adding cruise ship passengers to the list of travelers who must abide by Safe Travels Hawaiʻi requirements.

Big Island police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person responsible for using a counterfeit bill to complete a transaction Tuesday, Jan. 25, at a store in Kea‘au.

The state House of Representatives’ Maunakea Working Group has submitted its final report to Hose Speaker Scott K. Saiki and is recommending the formation of a new board to oversee state-managed lands on the mountain.

A research team led by a University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center researcher received a $2 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct public research examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health and tobacco and other substance use among Hawai‘i’s young adults.