#Big Island News

Katrina Louise Martinez and her daughter, Ella Joy Marinez, have turned a loving habit of crafting sand messages into a unique company, Sand Scribletz.

Powerful swells have surged along Big Island’s southern shores, prompting the NWS to issue a high-surf advisory through Friday morning.

The 15 high school seniors students awarded throughout the state will each receive $5,000 in financial assistance; all to be honored during special event June 14 on Oʻahu.

What’s happening, Big Island? Looking for something fun to do? Boy, do we have some nifty events on the agenda this week that will get your toes tapping, bodies moving and spirits heightened.

However, a significant decrease in single-family and multi-family housing activity raises concern.

Kazama’s chancellorship — including as interim — is marked by an era of growth, stability and renewed momentum for Hawaiʻi Community College.

Electronic Processing and Information Center — Hawai’i County’s online portal for permits, plan submissions, inspections, payments and public records — will be unavailable from 1 a.m. June 11 through 8 a.m. June 12.

The program — which University of Hawaiʻi launched in 2023 at its Maui College campus — offers tuition-free online courses, flexible enrollment, free entry-level certifications and a seamless 4-year degree path, with no prerequisites necessary.

The nonprofit, along with KTA Super Stores, on June 5, 2026, treated staff and employees of Hawai’i County, first responders, hospital staff and other public servants around the Big Island to deliveries of aloha in the form of hundreds of donuts, celebrating the people making a positive difference in their communities.

Those who register to participate will receive a call to join the discussion once the town hall begins at noon June 11.

Each scholarship recipient and their parents will be honored July 20 during a special Lions Club of Kona Scholarship Awards Dinner at Teshima’s Restaurant in Kealakekua; the public is invited to attend.

Crews will mill the highway and install open-graded friction course to increase drainage capability of the pavement and reduce potential for hydroplaning.

Herman Kirklin was last seen about 1 a.m. Sunday, May 31, near Lehua Street in Fern Acres.

36-year-old Kade Smith, who was not injured in the deadly Wednesday, June 3, collision now officially faces charges of first-degree negligent homicide, manslaughter, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, operating a motor vehicle after license suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and having no vehicle insurance.

The program makes nutritious meals available to keiki 18 years old and younger — at no charge — during the summer break between school years; meals will be provided Monday through Friday, June 8-July 17.

Naiomi Michael was reported as a runaway Sept. 19, 2025; the 16-year-old is 5-foot-7, 120 pounds, Hawaiian/mixed ethnicity, with a tan complexion, long hair — that is possibly bleached or colored — and brown eyes. Have you seen her?

ʻĪnaʻi Kōkua program will provide onetime $2,000 Home Depot card to support eligible households still recovering from March storms; only about 200 cards will be available statewide.

Hawai’i County prosecutor’s office reports 26-year-old Nicholas Andreoni was arrested following two traffic incidents during which he was clocked at driving more than 100 mph on a suspended license.

Charges against 23-year-old Kailua-Kona man Arley Alokoa and a juvenile male stem from an incident June 1 at Kailua-Kona Pier involving an alleged sexual assault, an affray during which another man was injured and a theft of a backpack that likely was the location of the knife used in the fight.

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.