Big Island Now

Gov. Josh Green has approved the release of $9.5 million to support higher education and infrastructure in Hawaiʻi County.

The state Department of Agriculture has received nearly $400,000 from the federal EPA for pesticide enforcement. #HawaiiDepartmentofAgriculture #BiosecurityPesticidesBranch #EPA

A wind advisory is in place for Big Island summits until Tuesday morning. #hiwx #windadvisory #bigislandsummits

Annual "Journey Through the Universe" Week brings astronomy to life for students of all ages. #Journey Through the Universe #Maunakea Observatories #Maunakea Moongazing #astronomy #stem education

An essential water-use-only notice for affected Lālāmilo, South Kohala customers has been downgraded. #waterrestriction #hawaiicounty

A flood watch has been issued across all the main Hawaiian Islands for the next few days as a trough moving over the state is anticipated to bring abundant tropical moisture. #hiwx #hawaiianislands #floodwatch

The restaurant will be hosting a grand opening under its new name on Oct. 30, where customers can explore the new menu and enjoy hula and Tahitian performances. #businessmonday #voyagers #konarestaurant

Police Officer Jessica Cook Recognized as North Kohala Officer of the Quarter by the Hawai‘i Police Department. #Hawaii Police Department #Jessica Cook #North Kohala

Retired Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Rechtenwald will receive a prestigious national award in Philadelphia on Nov. 12. #SandraDayOConnorAward #MarkRecktenwald #HawaiiSupremeCourt

The police are asking for the public's help in finding a Big Island man who was reported missing. #missingperson #hawaiipolicedepartment

A pedestrian who died after being hit by a vehicle while crossing in Hilo has been identified. #collision #hawaiipolicedepartment #hilo

A new installation at Bishop Museum features works by revered kuma hula Nālani Kanakaʻole, who passed away in January. #BishopMuseum #NalaniKanakaole #SigZane #KuhaoīmaikalaniZane

Despite increased utility rates for residents in 2025 and scrutiny from Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission on Monday, Punaluʻu Water and Sanitation has no plans for residents living without essential water and sewer services.

Hawai‘i County will host the Ka‘ū-loween Bash at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Gym Park on Oct. 31 with trick-or-treating, live entertainment, kendama (traditional Japanese wooden skill toy) demonstrations, food vendors and a keiki zone with bounce houses. #BigIslandhalloween #Kauloween #HawaiiCounty

Agricultural leaders from throughout the islands will gather Nov. 9 and 10 on the Big Island for the 2026 Hawai‘i Agriculture Conference. #HawaiiAgricultureConference #AG2026

Jon Henricks, Hawai‘i County clerk, said all Council Members, regardless of tenure, take the oath of office during the Inauguration ceremony, which will be held at noon on Dec. 7.

Pisces V, a legendary deep-sea submersible, embarks on its final voyage at Bishop Museum after 40 years of ocean exploration. #PiscesV #HawaiiUnderseaResearchLaboratory #BishopMuseum

During Bat Week, which runs Oct. 24 to 31, the Hawaii Wildlife Center is calling for help protecting the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat. #BatWeek #HawaiiWildlifeCenter #Hawaiianhorarybat

Kīlauea volcano has been busy with eruptions and intrusions following 2018. This activity is part of the normal dynamic behavior at Kīlauea. By closely monitoring this activity, HVO continues to learn about the patterns of change at Kīlauea, which can unfold quickly. #HVO #Kilaueaeruption #USGS

A man from Hilo is facing child abuse charges after a cybertip to police reported he had uploaded more than 800 images of child pornography to Google Photos. #Googlephotos #Childporonography #HawaiiIslandpolice

Hawai‘i Island police have launched a negligent homicide investigation, which occurred on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Nā Leo TV hosted a fund drive to celebrate National Community Media Day, which highlights the significance of local voices, civic engagement, cultural expression, and public access to media technology.

A $2.5 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will help the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center expand cancer care across the islands. #UHCancerCenter #HemsleyCharitableTrust #KaUmekeLama

Parker Ranch announced Thursday it is entering a new partnership with a group of Hawai‘i-based investors, including developer Stanford Carr, to revitalize the former Jacaranda Inn property in Waimea. #ParkerRanch #JacarandaInn #StanfordCarr

Local farmers affected by recent storms and flooding can learn about disaster recovery at upcoming webinars. #GoFarmHawaii #Hawaiiagriculture

The Hilo Lagoon Centre is hosting a celebratory event marking its 55th anniversary, featuring a presentation and a historical display that showcases the venue’s rich contributions to downtown Hilo.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health Clean Water Branch has issued an advisory for high levels of bacteria in the water at Puako Boat Ramp in Waimea. #PuakoBoatRamp #Bacteriaadvisory

As of Oct. 11, there have been 25 fatal crashes, resulting in 27 fatalities, compared with 16 fatal crashes, resulting in 17 fatalities for the same time last year.

In the past year, the price of a dozen eggs in Honolulu rose by more than 10% from $9.04 to more than $10, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Market Analysis and News Branch. #Hawaiieggs #HawaiiDepartmentofAgriculture

Time is running out to support UH Hilo’s Vulcans! The annual Vulcan Challenge ends Friday, Oct. 23, with more than $46,000 in matching gifts available to support scholarships, travel, training and other resources for the university’s 12 NCAA Division II teams.

The federal program can be used to reimburse eligible state and local governments and certain nonprofits for the costs associated with emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoring disaster-damaged roads, bridges and public facilities.

Mahalo, Capt. Pernell Hanoa! The Kaʻū District commander received the Hāweo Award for his leadership and dedication during and after Hurricane Lala. #Capt.Hanoa #HaweoAward #HPD #BigIslandNow

In Hawaiʻi, mail-in ballots must be received — NOT POSTMARKED — by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Ballots received after the deadline cannot be counted. #USPostalService #Mailinballots #GeneralElectionmailinballots

Not into the spooky events? Check out upcoming artists coming to perform in Kona, as well as the 12th annual East Hawai‘i Jazz and Blues Festival.

A Hawaiʻi County Council bill that would have rezoned a parcel of land in Waikōloa Village to allow for the development of an affordable home project with 400 apartments and 300 single-family homes has been postponed until July of 2027. #WaikoloaVillage #HawaiiCountyCouncil #WaikoloaGreen

Arthur Clayton Jr. appeared in Hilo District Court Wednesday, where his request for supervised release was denied and bail was maintained at $72,000. #HPD #BigIslandNow

Quick hits on Big Island Press Club's Torch of Light honor, Resilient Minds in Conflict workshop at Kuʻikahi Mediation Center and the 2026 Workforce Hero awards.

You can dispose of unused and expired medications at drop-off sites across the islands on Oct. 24, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. #NationalPrescriptionDrugTakeBackDay #PrescriptionDrugdisposal

A recent Hawaiian Airlines practice flight allowed people with disabilities to become more comfortable with air travel. #HawaiianAirlines #HawaiinaAirlinespracticeflight #Hawaiipeoplewithdisabilities

The discovery is the result of a decades-long survey that is now providing new insights into how galaxies form and evolve.

This transformative project aims to provide 39 self-help homes, enabling families to contribute labor instead of down payments to enhance affordable housing on Hawaiʻi Island.

Five people went for a swim on Monday evening at Hapuna Beach, but only four were able to make it back to shore due to high winds and strong offshore currents. The fifth person was rescued after a nearly 4 hour search by 19 first responders. #HapunaBeach #HapunaBeachrescue #HawaiiFireDepartment

Could Hawaiʻi’s next great teacher be sitting in a high school classroom right now? Nearly 200 students will explore education careers at the fourth annual Dive Into Education event on Friday. #DiveintoEducation #DeptofEducation #BigIslandNow

K9 Trina successfully located the missing man on a trail, approximately two miles from where his rental vehicle had been located.

Technology improvements are underway at the University of Hawaiʻi, including expanded access to free Microsoft 365 at all campuses. #UH #Microsoft365 #UHStrategicInitiativeFund

An elementary school on Hawai‘i Island is closed to students and staff because of a water outage.

The settlement requires CVS to address its future obligations in dispensing controlled substances after years of policies that prioritized corporate profits over patient safety.

Where to vote? How to register? Who is running? What are the amendments. For everything you need to know about voting in Hawaiʻi County for the General Election, click on the story. #HawaiiCountyElections #HawaiiVoterServiceCenter #HawaiiBallotBoxes

With renovations nearly complete, the Kīlauea Visitor Center at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, is scheduled to reopen late this year. And check out the November activities at the park. #HawaiiVolcanoesNationalPark #KilaueaVisitorCenter #KilaueaMilitaryCamp

The Hawaiʻi State Senate held a briefing last week to better understand programs and institutions established to support Native Hawaiians and help ensure their continuation. #HawaiiStateSenate #NativeHawaiianprograms #HawaiianAffairs