‘Tis the season for Christmas tree shopping
The Hilo Y’s Men and Women’s Club, in partnership with the Island of Hawaii YMCA, will be selling Christmas trees until stock runs out. For 72 years, the YMCA has been selling Christmas trees as a way to raise money for programs. This year, online preorders were offered for the first time.
Roth: New rules to take ‘a measured approach’
As Mayor Mitch Roth prepares to take over as primary emergency rule maker for Hawaii County from Gov. David Ige, he and his rules committee are “trying to take a measured approach.”
New EA planned for sewer project
The county is set to prepare another environmental assessment and work closely with the community before constructing a wastewater system to replace gang cesspools in Naalehu and Pahala, Environmental Management Director Ramzi Mansour said Wednesday.
Feds sentence women in Kona meth bust
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor on Nov. 18 sentenced a pair of Hawaii Island women to federal prison for their role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine distribution, according to County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen.
Meeting on Hilo skate park slated for Dec. 8
The county Department of Parks and Recreation will be holding a public meeting on the design and development of a Hilo skate park.
DOH, health director ‘keeping our ears open’ about omicron variant
State Health Director Dr. Libby Char said Friday she and her colleagues “are very much attuned to” the new novel coronavirus variant from South Africa called the omicron variant and are “keeping our ears open.”
Police: Burglars stole DLNR vehicles
Police are seeking for the public’s assistance in finding vehicles which were stolen from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Forest and Wildlife Division baseyard in Hilo.
State briefs for November 27
Nonprofit is new owner of Kauai’s last fishpond
Leeward Planning Commission uncertain on Waikoloa Resort plan
The Leeward Planning Commission had more questions than answers last week and held back approval of a timeshare and residential development for Waikoloa Resort that would consume half of one of the resort’s two golf courses.
Small businesses, big niche: Local retailers offer alternative to big-box rush for holiday shopping
Although some holiday shoppers have big plans, sometimes the best plans start by thinking — and shopping — small.
Schatz talks infrastructure – ‘really good news’ – Build Back Better
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who’s in Hawaii for Thanksgiving, called the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill President Joe Biden recently signed into law “really great news.”
Pilot program aims to curb panhandling in Kailua Village
A pilot program to divert spare change from panhandlers to nonprofits that assist the homeless and other in need is underway in West Hawaii.
Hawaii groups want US to shut down military fuel tanks
HONOLULU — Citing threats to Honolulu’s drinking water, the Sierra Club of Hawaii and other groups on Wednesday called on President Joe Biden and military leaders to shut down tanks that provide an important fuel reserve for U.S. forces in the Pacific.
Restaurants trying to find workers as restrictions ease
HONOLULU — Hawaii restaurants are trying to find workers as COVID-19 capacity and social distancing rules that have been in place for much of the pandemic are lifted.
Water Board mulls rate hikes
Members of the island Water Board favored a 9.5% annual rate increase over options of 12% and 8% after a presentation Tuesday from consultants anticipating revenues and expenses over the next five years.
Kamehameha Schools invests $10 million in food systems fund
Kamehameha Schools has created a new $10 million food systems fund, from which the first $300,000 is being invested in the Hawaii ‘Ulu Cooperative to scale up its business operations.
Schatz: $43M earmarked for rural health care providers
Schatz: $43M earmarked for rural health care providers
Oahu fishpond restoration reveals century-old grave
HONOLULU — Restoration of fishponds in Hawaii led to the discovery of a child’s grave from nearly 100 years ago.
Ige: Counties free to make emergency rules without state’s permission
Gov. Ige today announced that as of Dec. 1, he will no longer require counties to obtain his approval or that of Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, before issuing county emergency orders, rules or proclamations.
Honolulu LGBTQ nightclub files federal discrimination suit
HONOLULU — The Honolulu Liquor Commission and the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is discriminating against a Honolulu LGBTQ nightclub and its community, according to a federal lawsuit.
