West Hawaii News

The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood statement for the Big Island, warning of minor flooding and erosion along north- and west-facing shores through February 2.

Customers in the affected area can now resume normal water use.

Get ready for a week that invites you to events from helping restore an ancient Hawaiian village site in the Valley of the Kings to expressing your opinions during a town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda.

The goal of the federally mandated survey — which offers a snapshot of homelessness — is to identify and count individuals and families residing in places not meant for human habitation; more than 50 volunteers and staff are participating in this year’s initiative.

Major crash numbers so far in 2026 have increased by 22.73% from the 44 within the first couple of weeks in 2025; Hawai’i Police Department Traffic Services Section discovered 54 major crashes reported already this year as of Jan. 18.

Satellite imagery and web cameras no longer show significant ash falling near Kīlauea volcano because of Episode 41 of lava fountaining in the ongoing episodic summit eruption; the episode lasted more than 8 hours before abruptly ending just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 24).

“I wanted to come out here this year and start hot and not work my way into the season,” said reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner, PGA TOUR Champions Player of the Year and now 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai winner Stewart Cink.

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

People for Active Transportation Hawaiʻi is hosting the special event that will include a bike safety course, education opportunities and great opportunity to ride together with other bicyclists in the community.

The work Jan. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be accompanied by a closure of the mauka lane of Kuakini Highway, between Ihilani Place and Ha‘awina Street.

The National Weather Service said the surf on west-facing shores of Hawaiʻi now is below advisory levels.

The new playground features all new play equipment — including spinners, a large basket swing and various challenging climbing structures; a new synthetic turf safety surfacing system also was installed.

The National Weather Service has extended the high surf advisory for the west-facing shores of the Big Island through Friday, Jan. 16.

These popular events — part of ongoing police community outreach — are intentionally informal with no agenda; conversation topics can range from sharing personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues.

If you’re looking to be serenaded or just want to listen to some great live music, several Big Island venues — including all of Downtown Hilo for one night — have you covered during the upcoming week.

Hilo Airport had its second-driest December in the past 35 years and its driest calendar year since 1949; however, some sites in West Hawai‘i saw above-average rainfall to end 2025 and throughout the year.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department, in collaboration with the County of Hawaiʻi Parks and Recreation Elderly Services Division, is set to host its monthly Kūpuna Watch meeting on January 21, 2026, at Hale Hālāwai in Kona.

Fifteen acres once cleared for cattle grazing was replanted to bring back the forest, and now is used for education, tours, sound baths, yoga and day retreats.

Smaller counter donations programs in 2022 and 2023 became permanent at all Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association park store locations in March 2024; there were $100,000 in direct donations in just the last 3 months of 2025.

Konane Zager, owner of the vessel Waiʻaka, will be fined the maximum penalty of slightly more than $10,000 and lose his commercial marine license for violation in May 2025.