West Hawai‘i News

People for Active Transportation Hawaiʻi is hosting the special event that will include a bike safety course, education opportunities and great opportunity to ride together with other bicyclists in the community.

The work Jan. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be accompanied by a closure of the mauka lane of Kuakini Highway, between Ihilani Place and Ha‘awina Street.

The National Weather Service said the surf on west-facing shores of Hawaiʻi now is below advisory levels.

The new playground features all new play equipment — including spinners, a large basket swing and various challenging climbing structures; a new synthetic turf safety surfacing system also was installed.

The National Weather Service has extended the high surf advisory for the west-facing shores of the Big Island through Friday, Jan. 16.

These popular events — part of ongoing police community outreach — are intentionally informal with no agenda; conversation topics can range from sharing personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues.

If you’re looking to be serenaded or just want to listen to some great live music, several Big Island venues — including all of Downtown Hilo for one night — have you covered during the upcoming week.

Hilo Airport had its second-driest December in the past 35 years and its driest calendar year since 1949; however, some sites in West Hawai‘i saw above-average rainfall to end 2025 and throughout the year.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department, in collaboration with the County of Hawaiʻi Parks and Recreation Elderly Services Division, is set to host its monthly Kūpuna Watch meeting on January 21, 2026, at Hale Hālāwai in Kona.

Fifteen acres once cleared for cattle grazing was replanted to bring back the forest, and now is used for education, tours, sound baths, yoga and day retreats.

Smaller counter donations programs in 2022 and 2023 became permanent at all Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association park store locations in March 2024; there were $100,000 in direct donations in just the last 3 months of 2025.

Konane Zager, owner of the vessel Waiʻaka, will be fined the maximum penalty of slightly more than $10,000 and lose his commercial marine license for violation in May 2025.

The total number of DUI arrests in 2025 decreased by 6.74% compared with the 964 recorded in 2024; fatal crashes and fatalities also decreased on island roadways last year.

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

The change is aimed at enforcing safe driving habits and enhancing safety of motorists traveling between mile posts 78 and 92.6, in the vicinity of Waikōloa Beach Drive and Keāhole Airport Road.

HFS has helped since 2012 relieve some of the financial stress that comes with pursuing a college degree by awarding more than 130 scholarships to student members, totaling more than $355,000.

About 60 volunteers took part in the cleanup along Keala O Keawe Road, collecting about 15 bags of trash that resulted in a noticeable improvement to the area.

There is an eclectic emulsion of events coming next week around the Big Island, each promising an exciting escape from the everyday bustle. Check out our top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

Radar showed at about 6:30 p.m. that heavy rain over the area diminished; flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat.

A team of Kealakehe students are working to get to the top 8 teams of the written debate competition, which would allow them to debate in New York City and compete for $10,000 grand prize.