“Top 10 things to do on Big Island for January 16-22, 2026.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 15 January 2026, 2359 UTC.
Content and Source: “Big Island Now.com.”
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsjournal.com).
CommunityGovernor releases $450K in grant funds for Boys & Girls Club youth center upgrades
CommunityUniversity of Hawaiʻi President Hensel delivers inaugural systemwide address
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 16-22: 29th KWXX Ho‘olaule‘a, Kenny Tagavilla, Bob Weir tribute, ‘School of Rock the Musical’ and more
If you’re looking to be serenaded or just want to listen to some great live music, several Big Island venues — including all of Downtown Hilo for one night — have you covered during the upcoming week.January 15, 2026 · 5:00 AM HST
ActivitiesSix opportunities this month to have Coffee With a Cop in West Hawai‘i
CommunityUPDATE: Closure of Kīlauea Overlook area lifted at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
In Case You
Missed It:
Missed It:
High surf advisory in effect through Friday for west-facing shores of Big Island
Third earthquake swarm rumbles beneath Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kīlauea caldera
WATCH: Hayashi talks uncertain fiscal landscape with state Board of Education
Hawaiʻi Island Police confirm identity of man found deceased on Kaiwi Street
Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health propose new partnership to…
Big Island man sentenced to 4 months prison after filing false tax returns
ACLU of Hawai‘i files lawsuit for release of Big Island resident detained for…
New interactive Economic Justice Data Dashboard launched by Hawai‘i Appleseed
Hawai‘i Senate leaders announce priorities for this legislative session
Intro of University of Hawaiʻi AI chatbots transforming student support systemwide
Zonta Club offers total of $20K cash assistance through 5 awards, scholarships
Big Island ends extremely dry 2025 with a mostly dry December
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Big Island News
January 15, 2026 · 11:00 AM
Governor releases $450K in grant funds for Boys & Girls Club youth center upgrades
The capital improvement funds announced by Big Island state Sen. Lorraine Inouye will be used for construction, improvements and maintenance at the Big Island center in Hilo, helping ensure a safe and supportive space for keiki and families in East Hawaiʻi.
January 15, 2026 · 9:00 AM
University of Hawaiʻi President Hensel delivers inaugural systemwide address
Wendy Hensel, who began her tenure Jan. 1, 2025, as the university’s 16th president, framed the speech as an opportunity to reflect on progress while charting a clear path forward for the university.
January 15, 2026 · 7:00 AM
Six opportunities this month to have Coffee With a Cop in West Hawai‘i
These popular events — part of ongoing police community outreach — are intentionally informal with no agenda; conversation topics can range from sharing personal stories to discussing neighborhood issues.
January 15, 2026 · 6:57 AM
UPDATE: Closure of Kīlauea Overlook area lifted at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
The temporary closure was put in place earlier this month In an effort to protect a nesting family of nēnē, the Hawaiian goose.
January 15, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 16-22: 29th KWXX Ho‘olaule‘a, Kenny Tagavilla, Bob Weir tribute, ‘School of Rock the Musical’ and more
If you’re looking to be serenaded or just want to listen to some great live music, several Big Island venues — including all of Downtown Hilo for one night — have you covered during the upcoming week.
January 15, 2026 · 4:11 AM
High surf advisory in effect through Friday for west-facing shores of Big Island
The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu expects surf building to 7 to 10 feet along western shorelines of the Big Island, bringing with it strong breaking waves and strong currents that will make swimming and other ocean activities dangerous.
January 15, 2026 · 3:00 AM
Kaiser Permanente responds to proposed Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, Hawai‘i Pacific Health partnership
“We want to better understand how this proposed merger will meet the needs of Hawai‘i’s communities,” says a statement from the healthcare organization about the proposed partnership.
January 15, 2026 · 2:00 AM
Third earthquake swarm rumbles beneath Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kīlauea caldera
It is yet to be determined if temblor swarms following Episode 40 of the Big Island volcano’s ongoing episodic eruption that began Dec. 23, 2024, will impact lava fountaining activity at the surface.
January 15, 2026 · 1:00 AM
WATCH: Hayashi talks uncertain fiscal landscape with state Board of Education
State superintendent of schools reports to board that changes at federal level are an unknown variable in the budget equation for state heading into the 2026 legislative session, causing difficulty for Hawai’i education officials to find a solution.
January 14, 2026 · 7:17 PM
Interim Police Chief addresses arrests of two Hawaiʻi Island officers
Officers Blane Kenolio and Noah Serrao pled not guilty Wednesday to charges stemming from a May 2023 case involving alleged unconstitutional searches of an arresteeʻs belongings.
UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS:
Sat, Jan 17, 2026 · 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Free Sample Saturday at KTA Puainako
Sat, Jan 17, 2026 · 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Free Sample Saturday at KTA Downtown, Hilo
Every Monday · 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Weekly Hula
Local Entertainment
January 15, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 16-22: 29th KWXX Ho‘olaule‘a, Kenny Tagavilla, Bob Weir tribute, ‘School of Rock the Musical’ and more
If you’re looking to be serenaded or just want to listen to some great live music, several Big Island venues — including all of Downtown Hilo for one night — have you covered during the upcoming week.
January 11, 2026 · 3:00 AM
21st Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day launches this month at University of Hawai‘i at Hilo
The event returns to celebrate and honor Hawai‘i’s first astronaut, who died in January 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, and give all ages the chance to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics during a fun day filled with science.
January 8, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 9-15: Science comedy, speakeasy dinner show, art stroll and more
There is an eclectic emulsion of events coming next week around the Big Island, each promising an exciting escape from the everyday bustle. Check out our top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!
January 4, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Kona Brewers Festival announces redesigned website, featured artist, expanded impact
The festival announced the key updates as momentum builds for the 31st annual event slated for March 14 at King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona; tickets go on sale Jan. 10.
January 4, 2026 · 3:00 AM
Progress now underway for project to create new $85,000 Kailua Bay Regatta Course
3 Kona canoe clubs lead construction effort and launch GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the project.
Hawaii Public Housing Authority
Housing Public Housing Supervisor V
Hilo · 1 month ago
Housing Public Housing Supervisor V
Hilo · 1 month ago
Island Fish and Chips
Island Fish and Chips FOH & BOH Positions – FT & PT
Kona · 1 month ago
Kona UPS Center
Warehouse Worker – Package Handler
Kona · 3 days ago
Warehouse Worker – Package Handler
Kona · 3 days ago
Big Island Polls
Big Island Now poll results: County garage is answer to downtown Kona’s parking woes
June 1, 2025 · 3:00 AM HST
Big Island Now poll: What is solution to parking woes on Ali‘i Drive in Kailua-Kona?
May 18, 2025 · 3:00 AM HST
Reminder: Permanent restrictions remain on the transport of ʻŌhiʻa
April 19, 2025 · 1:55 AM HST
Hawai’i Volcano Blog
Third earthquake swarm rumbles beneath Halemaʻumaʻu Crater within Kīlauea caldera
January 15, 2026 · 2:00 AM HST
UPDATE: Episode 40 ends after nearly 10 hours of lava fountaining
January 12, 2026 · 7:19 PM HST
Kīlauea revving up for Episode 40 as dome fountaining, lava spattering increase
January 10, 2026 · 11:09 AM HST
Ocean Blog
UPDATE: High bacteria count advisory canceled at Kolekole Gulch in East Hawai‘i
January 14, 2026 · 3:55 AM HST
Maximum penalties lobbied against fisherman seen illegally longline fishing in waters off Kona Coast
January 11, 2026 · 4:00 AM HST
2026 proclaimed ‘Year of Our Coastal Kuleana’
January 10, 2026 · 9:00 AM HST
University of Hawaiʻi study reveals critical new details about diversity of ocean’s most abundant bacteria
January 3, 2026 · 1:00 PM HST
Maui Now
Valley Isle Softball Little League celebrates first opening day
Valley Isle Softball Little League will open its inaugural season with an opening day ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex.
Credit Unions of Maui raise $8,000 for Maui Food Bank
The Credit Unions of Maui recently raised $8,000 and collected more than 1,800 pounds of non-perishable food for the Maui Food Bank through their annual Food and Funds Drive.
Third earthquake swarm at the summit of Kīlauea reported since the end of episode 40
Most of the earthquakes are volcano-tectonic earthquakes that accompany crack opening due to magmatic pressure, according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Acoustic tracking of tiger sharks at Olowalu finds they mate during Maui’s whale season
The findings challenges the conventional understanding of tiger sharks as purely solitary animals, revealing a predictable seasonal convergence of mature males and females that coincides with the humpback whale calving season in Hawaiʻi.
HomeAid Hawaiʻi on Housing: Deeply Affordable Housing
Our mission is to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.
Kaua‘i Now
‘There are tremendous opportunities’: Hensel addresses University of Hawaiʻi community
Wendy Hensel, who began her tenure Jan. 1, 2025, as the university’s president, framed her inaugural systemwide speech as an opportunity to reflect on progress while charting a clear path forward for the university.
Residential trash pickup delayed in Kōloa and Po‘ipū due to staffing issues
Kauaʻi County said if trash in these areas has not been serviced by 3:30 p.m., leave the bin out.
New factbook released by state details economic impact of military in Hawai‘i
The publication offers data about defense spending, workforce trends and local business participation, plus more, throughout Hawai‘i.
Surfrider Kaua‘i to host annual Martin Luther King Day of Service this weekend
Event is set for Sunday (Jan. 18) at Anahola Beach Park, where volunteers will clean up Anahola Beach and the rocky coastline south of Anahola Bay.
Kauaʻi Veterans Museum reopens with celebration and new murals
Local artist Trysen Kaneshige helped transform the Kauaʻi Veterans Museum with three large, vibrant murals that preserving the stories of those who served on the Garden Isle.
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