Long-awaited draft EA puts county one step closer to reopening Puna roads cut off by lava
Nearly five years after the end of the 2018 Kilauea eruption, a long-delayed environmental report about the reopening of Pohoiki Road and other lower Puna roads inundated by lava finally was published Thursday.
Body found this morning in Wailoa River
Police are investigating a body that was discovered this morning on the edge of Wailoa River in Hilo.
Tokuda visits Hilo, talks story with curious residents
What began as an event to help East Hawaii residents file federal paperwork became an impromptu town hall with a U.S. congresswoman Wednesday.
PONC awards dollars for Ka‘u, N Kona maintenance
Roughly $81,000 in grant funding will go to three Big Island nonprofits to maintain more than 3,000 acres in Ka‘u and North Kona.
County council proposes larger property tax break for older kupuna
More than 5,000 Big Island kupuna could get a larger property tax break under a new bill that will be discussed today.
Vacation rental prices soar
Vacation rental prices on the Big Island have increased by nearly 50% since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic despite a decline in occupancy rates.
Insurance company that covers about 1,000 Big Isle customers is exiting the market
A mainland-based insurance provider is pulling out of the Hawaii market, leaving residents in Lava Zones 1 and 2 in a tough spot.
New county sustainability office created
A new Hawaii County agency has been formed to focus on safeguarding the island’s environment and combating climate change.
Council votes to change process for ag land tax assessments
An effort to offer Big Island commercial farmers a better break on their taxes took a new form Wednesday.
County measure looks to expand use of Kilauea grants
County Council members hope to broaden how Kilauea recovery grants can be awarded in Lower Puna.
Pohoiki Boat Ramp restoration takes step forward
Even with funding up in the air, a project to reopen the Pohoiki Boat Ramp has taken another step forward.
Report: Single WWII relic recovered from area in Waimea
A single piece of military hardware has been recovered from an 11,000-acre area in Waimea over the last 17 years, according to a report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Did TMT start work or no? Land board to mull permit condition No. 4
The latest legal challenge against the Thirty Meter Telescope project hinges on whether construction of the controversial and long-delayed observatory has actually already begun.
Home prices continue to rise despite cooling market
Big Island houses are staying on the market for longer as sellers stand firm on their asking prices while the real estate market cools nationwide.
Hawaii among states participating in consumer protection effort
The state Department of the Attorney General will partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to combat price gouging, but it is unclear what that work will entail.
Not-so-storm-chasing surfers: Honoli‘i laid back post Calvin
It was business as usual at East Hawaii’s surf spots the morning after the near-miss of Tropical Storm Calvin.
Under a new law, state’s fuel tax will be phased out
The majority of Hawaii residents approve of a road usage fee that will eventually replace the state’s fuel tax.
Group pulls plug on Hilo bottling plant
A second attempt to build a bottling plant in Hilo has been abandoned after community opposition.
State study aims to boost Banyan Drive
Banyan Drive may see new life after the state conducts a study of how to improve the ailing area over the next several months.
New pilot program aims to encourage pono behavior
Two beach parks in Keaukaha are the test bed for a new pair of county and state programs to cultivate more mindful behavior in visitors.