West Hawai‘i News

The event is intentionally informal, with no agenda. Those who attend can talk about a wide range of topics, ranging from personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues.

Entry at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park will be free during the 64th annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

North and South Kohala as well as parts of Hāmākua, North Kona, Kaʻū and Puna will see sustained northeast winds of 15 to 30 mph throughout the day as trade winds gain strength from a tight pressure gradient created because of a surface high northeast of the state.

State, county and nonprofit organizations involved in wildfire prevention and mitigation say following the devastating and deadly wildfires in in August 2023 that destroyed Lahaina, killing more than 100 people, and other blazes on the Big Island the same day, people in Hawai‘i are beginning to understand the risks they, their families and their livlihoods face when wildfires loom.

Give your keiki the knowledge they need today to lead with strength tomorrow, and get essential information along with practical tools to prepare for disasters.

Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting. Check to see if any of the planned closures will impact your commute during the next week.

There have been 432 DUI arrests so far this year on Big Island roadways, a 3.79% decrease compared with the 449 made during the same period in 2024. Hawai‘i Police Department reports DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.

22-year-old Alaina Kainoa-Aukai of Ocean View remains in custody, charged with several offenses including attempted murder, assault and others following crash that happened after alleged domestic dispute between the couple.

West Hawai‘i state Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa named majority caucus leader for 2025-26 term; several Big Island lawmakers assigned chairmanships or vice chairmanships of committees.

If you’re seeking an adventure — or even a misadventure — the Big Island has some upcoming events and activities that are sure to pique your interest. Check out this week’s top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

The Society for Kona’s Education and Art is calling for community support to raise $150,000 needed to repair its historic building, pausing its beloved art camps and workshops until the restoration is complete.

Community walk-through and talk story event scheduled June 28 for project aimed at connecting and preserving public open spaces in Kona by linking corridors such as trails, bike paths, shorelines and roadways that support multimodal access.

The Buddhist tradition of dance is meant to welcome, celebrate and appreciate ancestors and loved ones who have passed away.

The Department of Health issued a red “closed” placard to Hong Kong Chop Suey, 82-6066 Mamalahoa Hwy., for at least 10 critical food safety violations found on Thursday.

Junson Heckerz, 28, was arrested after a crime spree that included vehicle theft, burglary, and an officer-involved shooting in Captain Cook on Wednesday.

The healthcare landscape of West Hawaiʻi is set for a major transformation as the Hawaiʻi Health Systems West Hawaiʻi Region, The Queen’s Health Systems, and Aliʻi Health Center unite under a shared workforce agreement to enhance specialty health care.

John Lee Franks, 47, of Ocean View was convicted of continuous sexual assault of a minor younger than 14 years old and first-degree attempted sexual assault, both Class A felonies. The verdict was handed down May 29 after a 2-week bench trial in February.

Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting. Check to see if any of the planned closures will impact your commute during the next week.

Officers through their investigation identified 29-year-old Emmy Cedeno Perez of Kailua-Kona as the alleged party responsible for a possible scam involving a device called “The Barnacle” that is placed on a vehicle windshield and meant to obstruct a driver’s view, temporarily imobilizing the vehicle, until a fine is paid to remove it.

What’s on the agenda for the upcoming weekend and next week? Well, there’s art exhibits, concerts, workshops, festivals and a lot more. Check out this week’s top 10 now!