West Hawai‘i News

Join HI-PAL at the Kona Keiki Easter Egg Decorating Contest on April 2 and the HI-PAL Outrigger Canoe Regatta in Kona on April 11.

A portion of Highway 11 (Mamalahoa Highway) is closed in both directions near the 95-mile marker in South Kona.

A water tanker is available at Kealakekua Ranch Center for community assistance.

The featured movie “Dog Man” will be shown from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 18 in the cafeteria at Waikōloa Elementary and Middle School.

Radar indicated at 9:13 p.m. heavy rain over all of the Big Island, falling at 1 to 3 inches per hour; several stream gauges remain above flood warning thresholds islandwide, and life-threatening flash flooding was ongoing, with reports of highway closures and flooding in local communities.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said there already are measures in place to limit the harvesting of aquatic fish following a 2017 Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruling.

The department is celebrating the 2026 installment of the special observance by helping customers learn how to identify and fix common household water leaks; events to be hosted in Hilo and Kailua-Kona, with chances for prizes.

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

An open-air tasting night experience returns at the end of this month to the shopping center in Waikōloa, when chefs from several restaurants will serve up bites, plus cocktails and mocktails, all to benefit Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative; tickets are available now.

Severe weather also results in shuttering of all state offices and services, schools including University of Hawaiʻi campuses and activities, Hawaiʻi Legislature, state parks, several areas within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and public libraries on the Big Island.

National Weather Service issued a flood watch in effect through Saturday afternoon (March 14) for Hawaiʻi Island as conditions are expected to become favorable; the storm could even produce brief and weak tornadoes in addition to isolated severe thunderstorms.

Outdoor recreation — including camping, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, etc. — and boating or other water activities during inclement weather put not only yourself but first responders at greater risk in an emergency.

There have been 135 DUI arrests so far this year, a 19.16% decrease from the 167 DUI arrests by the same time last year.

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

The roadway was previously closed between Aloha Kona Drive and Kuakini Highway because of a traffic crash.

The Kohala Centerʻs ReefTeach program and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources ask and urge the public to refrain from swimming, snorkeling and surfing in Kahaluʻu Bay during the closure to support the successful reproduction, settlement and recruitment of new cauliflower coral, as well as give Kahaluʻu this brief — yet essential — time for rejuvenation.

The 21st annual Home Expo Hawaiʻi is at the Kaleiopapa Convention Center on March 14 and 15, and the 2nd annual Healthcare Career Expo is at Kealakehe High School on March 25.

Music is in the air this week as several venues around the island are hosting concerts, live bands and even dance shows featuring a variety of tunes in several different styles; but that’s not all — check out this week’s top 10 now!

Kona Crime Prevention Committee honored Officers Charles Caldwell-Kaʻai, Tyler Meno, Jason Cunefare, and Lawrence Matsumoto for exemplary work in 2025.

The islandwide inspections will be conducted from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 10-13 in a Manuiwa Airways helicopter.