North Hawai‘i News

Love is in the air on the Big Island. Several of this week’s top 10 things to do already are Valentine’s Day-related, but we’re giving you a few early date ideas in case you want to plan ahead and make reservations to surprise your sweetie. Lovers of culture and history, conservation and the environment, community and music have plenty of options, too, this week.

National Weather Service forecasters in Honolulu forecast surf up to 12 feet, causing strong breaking waves and strong currents that will make swimming and certain other ocean activities dangerous.

This is your chance to provide feedback about how Hawai‘i Police Department is doing. You can take the survey until 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

No buses or paratransit services will run today because of Americans With Disabilities Act training for all Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit employees and contractors. Regular services will resume Monday.

The community foodshare program in Honoka‘a has made and distributed a total of more than 97,000 warm meals for community members and delivered about 450 tons of groceries to kūpuna and shut-ins during the past 6 yeras.

The winter storm that blew through the state at the end of the week fortunately didn’t blow away or wash out any of the multitude of events happening around the island, some of which are going on right now!

Nine Hawaiʻi County nonprofits will receive $10.1 million for 15 projects using funding from Tier 2 residential property taxes.

Egg shortages and the fear of depopulation has local poultry farmers urging the State of Hawaiʻi to consult with them and develop an avian flu response plan as the virus spreads to chickens, cows and humans on the mainland.

“Crews are working hard to ensure roadways are clear and to restore power to traffic intersections,” said Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda. “We ask residents to remain off roadways, if possible, as weather conditions worsen and to stay connected to our emergency notifications.”

Hawaiian Electric urges customers to be prepared for possibility of extended outages. Several Hawaiʻi County and state facilities and parks closed because of inclement weather.

Department of Water Supply says to prepare by setting aside drinking water ahead of time to meet essential needs during a prolonged power outage that disrupts water service and having alternate emergency sources of potable water.

Actions were taken by staff, personnel and crew at the facilities throughout the state to make sure they are ready for impacts. Airports will remain open unless there is damage to runway or terminal facilities.

Hawai‘i Police Department is closing the road in Hāmākua on the east side of the Big Island because of the flood watch that will be in effect for the island associated with the approaching major winter storm.

Unusually strong winter storm expected to pass just north of Kaua‘i, dragging cold front up through entire state, with tropical moisture and instability provided by strong southerly kona winds.

Hawai‘i Island kindergarteners through sixth graders to create art with the theme of, “Being Water Wise is…,” for a contest through the County Department of Water Supply.

Eight out of 45 Hawaiʻi VEX robotics teams have an opportunity to compete at the highest level in the world-class event after qualifying in regionals last weekend.

Flood advisory was issued until early the morning of Jan. 28 for an area including portions of the the Hāmākua Coast and leeward Kohala.

The 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival features a full lineup of multi-cultural activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday.

With questions about the fair allocation of funds, the Hawaiʻi County Council will vote on the appropriation of $10.5 million for nonprofits addressing housing and homelessness this Friday.

“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.