West Hawai‘i News

Na Aliʻi Peralta, 50, faces charges of burglary, theft and promoting a dangerous drug.

Light to locally moderate scattered showers are forecast for Tuesday, April 7, along mainly windward and mauka locations of the state, with a minor risk of locally heavy rainfall and concern for isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon on the Big Island; flood watch already in place, going into effect from Wednesday morning, April 8, through Friday afternoon, April 10.

The member of the 101st recruit class, who served in Kona since May 2025 upon graduating to solo patrol, was named Officer of the Month for April for his actions the morning of Oct. 28, 2025, that led to saving the life of a 51-year-old man.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show 16,482 people died and about 1.6 million people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers from 2020 to 2024 nationwide.

Four U.S. golfers and one from Japan shoot out the rest of the 28-golfer field at the Big Island course to advance to final qualifying round at a site to be determined on the mainland.

National Weather Service says confidence is increasing that unsettled weather — possibly even a fifth kona low since the beginning of the year — will impact the state from midweek and possibly into this weekend even as some places continue to recover from back-to-back kona lows in March and majority of Merrie Monarch Festival activities kick off Wednesday, April 8, in Hilo.

There have been a total of 198 DUI arrests so far this year, a 6.16% decrease from the 237 during the same period last year; DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.

Public asked to help identifying a man captured in surveillance footage who is suspected of using a credit card to make unauthorized purchases at several businesses, including two large Big Box stores, in Kailua-Kona.

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

The festival, now scheduled for May 9 in Keauhou marks 25 years of honoring Kamehameha III, a visionary leader and his enduring influence on education and Hawaiʻi.

Next week is a big one for the Big Island. It’s Merrie Monarch time, celebrating all things Hawaiian. plus, it’s Easter Weekend. Check out this week’s top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

Paddle Against Cancer raises money to help Hawaiʻi Island residents travel to Oʻahu to receive cancer treatment.

Coffee submissions must be done by Tuesday, March 31 at Kona Farm Direct.

There are two 2 open board seats available to commercial tenants and one available for a fee simple owner or lessee of land within the district; the new members will be elected in May during the Kailua Village Business Improvement District Annual Meeting.

In observance of Good Friday, April 3, there will be no contraflow or lane closures unless otherwise permitted; Lane closure schedules can change at any time without notice.

Stormy weather isn’t on the guest list for any of this week’s events around the Big Island, so we enthusiastically encourage everyone to get out of the house to have some fun. Check out this week’s top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

Residents can place their yard waste at the curb for collection between late April and May 4 as part of a program to reduce wildfire risk and remove breeding grounds for coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Flood watch extended through Monday, March 23, for Hawai’i Island only because of lingering moisture left by the departing kona low — the second of back-to-back kona lows in the past 2 weeks — and a trough aloft that will produce conditions for another round of rainfall.

The rain is mostly over Maui County this morning, with the storm expected to slide southeast toward Hawai‘i Island later today.

The islands remain safe and welcoming, and after two kona lows in a week, weather conditions are expected to improve early next week; Kauaʻi and Oʻahu already are seeing improving conditions.