Big Island County, Hawaii Local News

County considers buying 2,000 acres of Kapoho coastal land for preservation

County eyed nearly 2,000 acres at Kumukahi, where public access now runs through private land and a rough 4-wheel-drive route.

James Thompson•2 min read•06:36 AM

Read Full Article →

Stay Connected

Get the latest Big Island, HI news delivered directly to your inbox.

Free weekly newsletter · Unsubscribe anytime

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy

About Big Island, HI

Local News

Comprehensive local news coverage for the Big Island of Hawaii. Stay informed about government decisions, community events, business developments, and civic matters affecting residents of Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Captain Cook, Pahoa, Waimea, and surrounding communities.

Local Updates

Active

Newsroom monitoring local Big Island, HI developments. Next update cycle in 58 minutes.

Watch

Watch: Big Island, HI

3 videos · Hover to preview, click to read · Swipe to explore

Video

Hilo baseball, softball surge as BIIF playoffs near on Big Island

Watch now

Video

Run for Hops 5K and 10K finally hits Kona after storm delay

Watch now

Video

UHERO: LNG would offer limited power savings for Hawaii ratepayers

Watch now

More Local News

Education

Hilo schools reopen after sudden water outage forces closures

A sudden tank failure shut down three Hilo schools, forcing parents to scramble and exposing how quickly one water break can disrupt daily life in central Hilo.

Marcus Williams2m read

Government

Big Island police report 23 DUI arrests, 13 tied to crashes

Thirteen of 23 DUI arrests on Hawaii Island were tied to crashes, putting collision scenes at the center of the week’s enforcement tally.

Marcus Williams2m read

Healthcare

Hilo wellness event will celebrate health, volunteers and county outreach

Hilo residents can get health resources, volunteer leads and county contacts in one stop at 75 Aupuni Street on April 24.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez2m read

Government

Forest Service closure threatens vital ōhia research in Hilo

If Hilo’s ōhia labs close, Big Island forests could lose the local warning system tracking a disease that has already killed over one million trees.

Marcus Williams2m read

Community

Hilo caregiver charged in alleged $10,000 elder credit card theft

A Hilo caregiver was charged with stealing more than $10,000 from a 92-year-old man, and the charges kept coming even after his card was replaced.

Marcus Williams2m read

Community

Police seek missing Ocean View teen Lily Amor, may be headed to Kona

Police are looking for 17-year-old Lily Amor, last seen in Ocean View on April 8 and believed to be in Kona. She is 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, and has a nose piercing and braces.

Marcus Williams1m read

Community

Captain Cook Post Office unveils mural honoring Hawaiian culture and Kua legend

A post office wall in Kealakekua now carries the legend of Kua, turning an everyday federal stop into a public showcase for Hawaiian mo‘olelo.

Marcus Williams2m read

Education

Former Kamehameha employee indicted in $20,000 theft, computer fraud case

A grand jury says a former Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i employee routed card payments to his own entities for years, raising questions about campus oversight.

Sarah Chen2m read

Community

Food Basket plans $86 million Hilo campus to fight hunger

Hilo’s new $86 million Food Basket campus could add markets, storage and processing power to an island where more than 40% of households are food insecure.

Sarah Chen2m read

Business

Hilo fire investigation closes, cause remains unknown after downtown blaze

Five months after the downtown Hilo blaze, the fire probe is closed but the cause is still unknown, and displaced merchants are leaning on SBA loans and temporary spaces to survive.

Sarah Chen3m read

Government

Big Island rental rules advance, proposal targets vacation homes, B&Bs

Bill 147 would pull many more Big Island rentals under county control, with unhosted units pushed mostly into Kona, Waikoloa Beach and the Kohala Coast.

Marcus Williams3m read

Government

Bill to lower Daniel K. Inouye Highway speed limit dies in Legislature

A Kona mother and her 3-week-old infant died on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, yet the speed-limit rollback that could have slowed the road never made it out of committee.

James Thompson2m read

Government

Rebuilt Highway 137 nears finish, easing long isolation in lower Puna

After eight years of detours, lower Puna’s main link is nearing return. Deb and Stan Smith have hauled groceries and supplies by bike and foot to reach Kapoho Farm Lots.

James Thompson2m read

Education

Hilo Zonta award helps UH marine biologist win international STEM honor

A $2,000 Hilo Zonta award helped Danielle Bartz reach a global STEM honor, lifting Hilo Bay shark research onto an international stage.

Marcus Williams2m read

Government

Japan quake prompts Hawaii tsunami monitoring, no threat to Big Island

A 7.4 quake off Japan pushed Hawaii’s warning network into full monitoring mode, but PTWC said no tsunami threat reached the Big Island.

Marcus Williams2m read

Community

Vibrant Hawaii seeks more Big Island sites for summer food program

More than 9,500 families have already sought summer meal support, but Big Island delivery still depends on local sites stepping up in every district.

Lisa Park5m read

Education

Konawaena stars sweep BIIF honors after unbeaten title run

Konawaena and Kohala turned BIIF honors into a showcase of depth, coaching and continuity, with both programs rewarded after title runs.

Sarah Chen2m read

Education

Hilo baseball, softball surge as BIIF playoffs near on Big Island

Hilo baseball went 3-0 and Hilo softball kept rolling as BIIF teams closed the regular season with playoff seeding and state berths on the line.

Marcus Williams2m read

Government

Hawaii firearm permit applications jump, imports hit record high in 2025

Permit applications rose 14.7% statewide, but registrations slipped and imported guns hit a record 56.5% share.

Marcus Williams2m read

Community

Run for Hops 5K and 10K finally hits Kona after storm delay

Storm-delayed Run for Hops finally filled Kona's roads, with 198 finishers and a post-race crowd that sent runners to local businesses around Old Airport Park.

Lisa Park2m read

Community

Kīlauea summit eruption pauses, next lava-fountain episode forecast for next week

Kīlauea is quiet for now, but USGS is forecasting episode 45 between April 20 and 25 as flames, tremor and inflation continue at Halemaʻumaʻu.

Sarah Chen2m read

Business

Hawaiʻi Coffee Association names Abigail Munoz executive director to advance industry plan

Abigail Munoz will lead Hawaiʻi coffee’s push to defend Kona and Kaʻū’s premium value after a 26% drop in state production and new pressure on farms.

Sarah Chen2m read

Community

Kansas man charged with attempted murder after Kona boat stabbing

A snorkel tour off Kona turned violent when a Kansas visitor was charged with attempted murder after police said he stabbed the captain with a filet knife.

Sarah Chen2m read

Community

Bridge repairs begin at Nāhuku, visitor access limited through June

Visitors will still reach Nāhuku during bridge work, but only from the east end, with parking tight and trail access narrowed through June.

Marcus Williams2m read

Business

Kona Walmart wins regional honor, leads U.S. fundraising for children’s hospital

Kona Walmart raised $117,747 for Kapiʻolani, the most of any U.S. Walmart, as it won Region 57’s Hometown Store of the Year.

Sarah Chen2m read

Government

Mountain View man gets 40 years for sexual assault, child abuse charges

A Mountain View man got 40 years after admitting to abusing two minor relatives, a case that drew ICAC, police and federal investigators across Hawaiʻi Island.

James Thompson2m read

Government

USDA waives SNAP hot-food ban statewide through May 16 after storms

About 13,300 Big Island households on SNAP can buy hot food through May 16, a temporary lift for families still recovering from Kona Low flooding and outages.

Marcus Williams2m read