West Hawaii News

44-year-old Brandan Patrick Nicholson of Kailua-Kona was taken into custody shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Waipiʻo Valley Access Road will reopen to residents with a valid driver’s license; all camping permits issued by the Hawai‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation remain valid.

There have been 19 fatal crashes resulting in 21 fatalities this year on the Big Island as of Aug. 27. Impairment from alcohol or drugs was a factor in 63% of those crashes.

Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner, and it doesn’t look like there’s any hurricanes to get in the way to stop you from getting out and going to see what’s happening around the island.

“On its current track, Hone will brush past the southern slopes of the Big Island tonight into Sunday morning, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and large surf. Expect strong and gusty easterly winds and periods of heavy showers to continue Sunday into Monday as Hone passes south of the smaller islands.” — National Weather Service Hawai‘i Area Synopis from 12:08 p.m. today

Regardless of knowing and how many times in advance of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 in the Central Pacific, that people are told it’s impossible to precisely — 100% without a doubt, right on the money, no ifs, ands or buts — predict the movement of hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions, many still seem to enjoy living on the edge.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect for the entire Big Island as Hone is expected to bring increasing wind and the possibility of excessive rain to parts of the island this weekend. The storm was moving west at 16 mph. Its maximum sustained winds increased, now at 50 mph, up from 45 mph earlier this morning.

The newest detail to develop overnight was that once the storm passes by the Big Island, it is forecast to intensify, reaching hurricane strength late Sunday into Monday as it moves south of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu.

The latest forecast track issued at 5 p.m. today by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu shows Tropical Storm Hone’s center still passing south or possibly near the Big Island on Saturday night into Sunday morning as a strong tropical storm.

That support is not only welcomed by the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, it’s likely somewhat of a reassurance to the hundreds, if not thousands, of travelers flying in and out of the airport daily — especially frequent flyers from the Big Island and elsewhere in the state on trips for work, doctor’s appointments or other reasons.

The trust, which owns a total of 54 acres of land at the bay in West Hawai’i, aims to enhance, revitalize and transform the bay area so place-based cultural education and revenue-generating opportunities are reoriented to better serve the Keauhou community, visitors, cultural practitioners, existing commercial activities and other landowners, but those who oppose it say no one wants the bay to be changed into another high-end resort.

42-year-old Angela Kenyon of Hōlualoa was last seen the morning of July 31 in Kailua-Kona. Have you seen her?

The Captain Cook eatery was immediately shut down Aug. 2 after being issued a red “closed” placard. A follow-up inspection is scheduled Tuesday to re-assess the restaurant’s progress on required corrective actions.

44-year-old Larry Stephan Hultberg is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14 years.

You’ll be able to receive free glucose, cholesterol, body mass index and blood pressure screenings. You can also get affordable immunizations including COVID-19; flu; human papillomavirus (HPV); pneumonia; tetanus; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); varicella (chicken pox/shingles), whooping cough (TDAP); hepatitis A and B; and others.

The presentation begins at noon today at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, in the Mayor’s Conference Room B-2 on the second floor of Building B. The presentation is open to the public.

The Great Waikōloa Rubber Duckie Race was a major success, with hundreds of spectators cheering as 10,000 bright yellow duckies bobbled, waddled and drifted toward the lakeside finish line at the Kings’ Shops on a fun-filled Fourth of July.

The new and innovate market hosted on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at Queens’ Marketplace features fresh produce, local delights, value-added products and more, all locally grown or produced and made on the Big Island. It highlights the rich argricultural and culinary creativity found in Hawai‘i.

The body of Adam Santos was found buried in a make shift grave in a vacant lava field July 2. A forensic pathologist ruled his death was caused by multiple blunt force trauma to his head.

50-year-old Jenny Raylynn Partin of Kailua-Kona was reported missing in March.