West Hawaii News

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.

The Big Island is definitely not behind on delivering another packed schedule of events, festivals and activities. All the world’s a stage, so be sure to get out and be one of the actors.

23 motorists were arrested for DUI throughout the week of Jan. 6-12, nearly twice as many than were arrested the first week of 2025. There had been a total of 35 DUI arrests made by Jan. 12 in 2025, a 20.7% increase from the 29 by the same date in 2024.

Summer tuition will match fall and spring semester costs at just $131 per credit for Hawai‘i residents, which will allow students to save money, graduate faster and explore new interests while staying on track academically.

Rosalinda Larkin, founder of the Autism Support and Disability Center, has developed 3 IDs to assist first responders in emergencies that involve people with specific needs.

DUI arrests increased nearly 1% overall throughout all of 2024 on the Big Island, with 964 compared with 955 from the year before. The number of drivers arrested for DUI involved in traffice crashes and those younger than 21 also increased.

Kahlauʻu Beach Park, Kohanaʻiki Beach Park and Mahukona Beach Park are closed for the day.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Monday, there will be no Highway 130 morning contraflow or lane closures unless otherwise permitted. Lane closures can change at any time without notice. All projects are weather permitting.

National Weather Service in Honolulu says surf heights have fallen below warning and advisory levels.

If ever there was a week when “variety” best fit the top 10 things happening around the Big Island, this would be it. From an hour of volcano stand-up comedy to the return of the KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa, there definitely is something for everyone. Check em out today!

Called the Prime Focus Spectrograph, it features about 2,400 prisms scattered across the extremely wide field of view available at the Subaru Telescope’s primary focus, allowing for simultaneous spectroscopic observation and dramatically enhancing its efficiency.

This was the second time in the past week the facility has closed early because of staffing issues with its contractor. It closed early Jan. 10 as well.

Kona patrol officers continue their investigation.

Comedian Ben Miller, and 2023 artist-in-residence at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, brings his hourlong show ‘Stand-Up Science Presents: Volcano’ to Kona and Hilo.

Partnership with Hope Services Hawaiʻi and ʻOhana Health Plan offers transitional housing and structured support in Hilo meant to serve most vulnerable ʻOhana members experiencing homelessness.

Entry forms and additional information are available at the Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation website. Students who want to participate should first check if their school offers a track and field program.

The county’s Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division now accepts payments via credit and debit cards as well as the mobile payment services Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The Hawai‘i Police Department recovered 562.94 grams of illicit fentanyl in 2024, which is enough to potentially kill 281,470 people.

The I Heart Youth Theatre program is a ten-week, tuition-free musical theater arts program for youth, with classes, workshops and rehearsals that lead up to a full-scale production of Disney’s classic musical, “The Little Mermaid.”