Kilauea Ave. work likely to last until 2022
Work to improve Kilauea Avenue likely will continue until January 2022.
Couple pays $76K in fines for illegal aquarium fishing
A Kealakekua couple has agreed to pay $76,400 in fines for illegally collecting 550 aquarium fish last year off Kawaihae.
Finally, games go on during pandemic: Vuls ready for action
Let the games begin.
Ohana Food Drops continue
The Food Basket served more than 3,000 people in Hilo Wednesday during its second Ohana Food Drop of 2021.
Obituaries for January 15
Edwin Fernandez Sr., 85, of Hilo died Jan. 2 at home. Born in Papaikou, he was a local telephone installer/lineman for GTE Hawaiian Telcom. Burial services at Hawaiian Memorial Park Cemetery in Kaneohe at a later date. Online condolences: www.ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by sons, Edwin Fernandez Jr., Geoffrey S. Fernandez and Johnathan P. Fernandez; daughter, Edean C. Sua; brother, Virgin Fernandez; sister, Rosaline Sylvester; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Your Views for January 15
Saving UH-Hilo athletics
Police seek leads on missing Hilo teen
Police are seeking the public’s help to find a 13-year-old Hilo boy reported missing as a runaway.
Ethics Board seeks Kern’s client list
The county Board of Ethics, deluged with written testimony about Planning Director Zendo Kern’s fitness for the job, on Wednesday asked Kern for an “exhaustive list” of projects he’s worked on, then delayed a decision until next month.
Vog forecast for North, East Hawaii
Light and variable winds continue to provide West Hawaii areas some relief from the vog produced by the ongoing eruption at Kilauea Volcano’s summit.
DOH reports 106 new COVID-19 cases, seven on Big Island
The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported 106 new cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii, including seven new cases on the Big Island.
Obituaries for January 14
Eduardo Espejo Jr., 73, of Hilo died Dec. 30 at Hilo Medical Center. Born in Pahala, he was a retired heavy equipment operator for Hamakua Sugar Plantation and worked at Ka‘u Sugar Plantation. Private viewing 2-3 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 16) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Cremation to follow. Celebration of life at a later date. Face masks and social distancing required. Survived by chidren, Eddie Espejo of Puna, Edra (Chris) Powell of Wyoming, Ryan (Brittany) Tripple Kanealii of Kona, Michele Kanealii of Wisconsin and Justin (Chiara) Espejo of Oregon; mother, Matilda Espejo of Pahala; brothers, Glenn (Theresa) Espejo and Darren Espejo of Washington, Noel (Jessica) Espejo of Ocean View, Wade (Priscilla) Espejo of Naalehu, Ricky Espejo of Pahala and Darcy (Deborah) Espejo of Kanehoe, Oahu; sisters, Roslyn Miller and Laurie Sand of Washington, Wendy (Mac) Davis of Naalehu, Carlyn Grahn of Seattle, Terrie (Calvin) Louis of Pahala and Brenda (Joe) Brodt of New York; ten grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Tropical Gardening: Global warming means palms in surprising places
Avisit to Hawaii is the treat of a lifetime to millions of people a year, and many folks who come are friends or relatives of those of us who live here. One of the highlights for them is to experience the lush tropical gardens and forests that are unlike any place in the continental United States. Many folks who enjoy gardening go home wishing they lived in a tropical place where they could have yards and homes filled with palms and other exotics. Visitors don’t have to be discouraged. With a little help from Kamaaina gardeners, they too can have a piece of paradise back home.
HCF, county launch Puna Strong grants program
Mayor Mitch Roth and the Hawaii Community Foundation recently announced the launch of the Puna Strong grants program, with funding from the county’s Kilauea disaster recovery funds and HCF’s Hawaii Island Volcano Recovery Fund.
Wailoa Center offers ‘Artists in Action’ opportunity
Are you an artist who wants to work on a specific project but just doesn’t have the space to do so?
Your Views for January 14
Off the fence
Notice of national park flight operations for January
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announces the following upcoming flight plans for January:
Police arrest one man, seek another in brutal assault, car theft
A 28-year-old Pahoa man and another man beat a 52-year-old Hawaiian Beaches man unconscious and stole the man’s car from his carport in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, according to court documents filed by police.
Police seek leads on missing Hilo woman
Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 31-year-old Danielle Alexa Jean of Hilo. She hasn’t been seen since mid-December and family on the mainland are concerned for her welfare.
New Environmental Management director balks at Alii Drive sewer plan
Hawaii County residents who have expressed concern that Mayor Mitch Roth would push a pro-development agenda when he took office may have been reassured last week when his Environmental Management director — who still awaits council confirmation — delayed what seemed a formality accepting a sewer line because he thinks it could be a public health hazard.
Spread a little love: Magician masters new craft to give hope during pandemic
Generations of keiki in West Hawaii have witnessed the magic of Barry “The Great Barusky” Gitelson or have left one of his appearances with a balloon animal, but during the pandemic, unable to perform his craft, he has found another way to spread the magic of love and hope.
