West Hawai‘i News

The talk story starts at 5 p.m. at Hawai‘i Keiki Museum in Waikōloa; everyone is encouraged to attend; admission is free and open to the public; features speaker from Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

It’s another week full of a unique variety of fun events, activities and more on the Big Island. Check out the top 10 things to do now!

Savage surf slams over seawall along Ali‘i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona, drenching passers-by and vehicles; causes Pride of America cruise ship to skip its Kona stop, leading to cancellation of concert by Kona and Windward (O‘ahu) choral societies at Mokuʻaikaua Church; surf should begin to decline overnight, but ocean safety and emergency officials remain on high alert because of dangerous conditions.

Utility’s year-round resilience work reduces outages, supports faster restoration, but customers are encouraged to get ready before a tropical cyclone ever approaches the islands; Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, state and county officials reiterate preparedness message.

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude-4.6 and then revised up to a magnitude-5.2 before again being changed back to a magnitude-4.6 with the latest update from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; moderate shaking reported by community members.

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports Kahaluʻu Beach Park; Laʻaloa Beach Park, also known as Magic Sands; Old Kona Airport Beach Park; and Kohanaiki Beach Park are shuttered as the advisory for south-facing shores of the island remains in place until Thursday morning, June 4; surf of 8 to 12 feet forecast along advisory shorelines.

A quick look at news happening throughout the state and around the Big Island.

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

“This scholarship is one example of the new strategies we are testing to expand access, increase enrollment, strengthen educational attainment and help build the workforce our state needs. It is good for our students and good for Hawaiʻi,” said University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel.

All three of the traditional triathlon stages are included — swimming, biking and running — and drivers should expect slowing down on a portion of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway that racers will take on their way toward Hāwī.

The base of Mauna Loa sitting on top of the old oceanic crust is only 6 miles below sea level, so the major magnitude-6.0 earthquake the night of Friday, May 22, happened deeper than the volcano — even deeper than the base of the ocean crust, which is bent downward by the weight of the Hawaiian Island chain.

A great variety of events, activities, festivals and more is once again available for people of all ages; check out this week’s top 10 to see what piques your interests!

Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense received more than 200 damage reports as of Wednesday, with eight homes considered destroyed.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense reports to Honolulu media outlet that it had received 143 damage reports — 34 of which were for major damage, including 5 homes destroyed — from the magnitude-6.0 earthquake that struck shortly before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22, on west side of Big Island.

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

Homes were rattled off their foundations, cracks appeared in walls, windows were broken, giant boulders blocked residents in, stone walls collapsed, power went out and more following the magnitude-6.0 temblor just before 10 p.m. Friday, May 22.

A total of about 1,000 Hawaiian Electric customers in South Kona, where the quake was centered Friday night, May 22, lost power, with only about 70 remaining in the dark by about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23.

“ARDA-Hawai‘i is honored to support the Kona Hospital Foundation as they elevate patient care and expand healthcare services in West Hawai‘i,” said Imanaka Asato LLLC Managing Principal and ARDA-Hawai‘i Chairman Mithcell Imanaka. “This donation reflects our dedication to supporting accessible, high-quality health care on Hawai‘i Island.”

Hawai’i County Civil Defense reported in an update at 7:54 a.m. Saturday, May 23, that the strong temblor caused rock slides, multiple road closures, power outages, structures to shift on their foundation and other property damage; crews continued to restore power and all roads are reopen.

Both lanes of Nāpōʻopoʻo Road, between the 10-mile marker and Middle Keʻei Road, are closed and motorists should drive with caution on Highway 11 between Rabbit Hill Road and Manuka State Park as crews clean up large rocks and debris in both areas.