“PGA Tour Champions tourney at Hualalai celebrates 30 years, with inaugural champ Hale Irwin as ambassador.”
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Hawai’i State NewsMaui’s recovering tourism industry receives boost from return of the humpback…
CommunityAnnual statewide survey finds affordable housing still top concern for many residents
PGA Tour Champions tourney at Hualālai celebrates 30 years, with inaugural champ Hale Irwin as ambassador
The tournament, now called the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai, started with 17 professionals, and this year’s pro field is at 42, including defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa.January 18, 2026 · 8:32 AM HST
NewsIndivisible of East Hawaiʻi holding ‘Rebirth of Freedom’ rally on Martin…
NewsHawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation honors Hilo resident with health care scholarship
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Enhanced DUI enforcement continues as crashes rise on Hawai‘i Island
Hawaiʻi House Majority outlines top priorities for 2026 state legislative session
Defending champ Ernie Els leads 42-player field at Mitsubishi Electric Championship at…
American Medical Association grants University of Hawaiʻi medical school $1.1M
Scholarships available for Native Hawaiians to attend Kūlana ʻĀina Culinary program
Man dies following 2-car crash in Hilo
Hawaiʻi County to host reopening event for Arthur L. Greenwell Park playground
KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa returns to Downtown Hilo for 29th annual music festival
University of Hawaiʻi offers small business owners new series of free cybersecurity…
Military’s economic impact in Hawai‘i detailed by recently released state factbook
Governor releases $450K in grant funds for Boys & Girls Club youth center upgrades
University of Hawaiʻi President Hensel delivers inaugural systemwide address
Six opportunities this month to have Coffee With a Cop in West Hawai‘i
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Jan. 16-22: 29th KWXX Ho‘olaule‘a, Kenny…
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Big Island News
January 18, 2026 · 12:44 PM
Acoustic tracking of tiger sharks 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.
January 18, 2026 · 10:00 AM
Congressional delegation introduce legislation to establish new national veterans cemetery in Hawaiʻi
The only national cemetery in Hawaiʻi is running out of space, and has been functionally closed for in-ground burials since 1991 — and it is expected to stop taking cremated remains by 2036.
January 18, 2026 · 8:00 AM
Maui’s recovering tourism industry receives boost from return of the humpback whales
Watching the majestic humpback whales has become a tradition woven into the tourism economy of Maui Nui ever since they started coming back from near extinction in the 1970s due to successful conservation efforts.
January 18, 2026 · 5:00 AM
PGA Tour Champions tourney at Hualālai celebrates 30 years, with inaugural champ Hale Irwin as ambassador
The tournament, now called the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualālai, started with 17 professionals, and this year’s pro field is at 42, including defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa.
January 18, 2026 · 3:00 AM
Annual statewide survey finds affordable housing still top concern for many residents
The winter 2025 edition of Hawai‘i Perspectives reveals 71% of residents surveyed agree the state should build more housing as quickly as possible; survey also finds 89% of respondents say military is ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ important to state’s economy.
January 18, 2026 · 1:00 AM
Indivisible of East Hawaiʻi holding ‘Rebirth of Freedom’ rally on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
Monday’s event celebrates the legacy of King, who led a broad coalition of civil rights groups, and pushed for the passage of The Civil Rights Act, The Voting Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act.
January 17, 2026 · 1:00 PM
Hawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation honors Hilo resident with health care scholarship
Samantha Oliveira Gasmen Goodman of Hilo is among the 22 dental or dental hygiene students to receive a scholarship this year from the Hawaʻi Dental Service Foundation.
January 17, 2026 · 10:11 AM
Enhanced DUI enforcement continues as crashes rise on Hawai‘i Island
During the first two weeks of 2026, Hawaiʻi Island police intensified their crackdown on impaired driving, arresting 25 drivers for DUI.
January 17, 2026 · 8:33 AM
Free tribute concert for Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir set for Sunday at Rainbow Room in Hilo
The free show features the band PunaKat, which will be joined by Steve Fundy of Uncle Charlie, and there will be a special “Grateful Grill” menu.
January 17, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Calling all Hawai‘i high school seniors: Applications now open for travel industry scholarship
The scholarship will be awarded to five incoming University of Hawai‘i freshmen this year, majoring in travel industry management.
UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS:
Every Monday · 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Weekly Hula
Thu, Feb 5, 2026 · 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Groundation Live in Hilo
Sat, Feb 7, 2026 · 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
One of a Kind
Local Entertainment
January 17, 2026 · 8:33 AM
Free tribute concert for Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir set for Sunday at Rainbow Room in Hilo
The free show features the band PunaKat, which will be joined by Steve Fundy of Uncle Charlie, and there will be a special “Grateful Grill” menu.
January 16, 2026 · 7:00 AM
Hawaiʻi County to host reopening event for Arthur L. Greenwell Park playground
The new playground features all new play equipment — including spinners, a large basket swing and various challenging climbing structures; a new synthetic turf safety surfacing system also was installed.
January 16, 2026 · 3:00 AM
KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa returns to Downtown Hilo for 29th annual music festival
The free, family-friendly festival Saturday night (Jan. 17) features four stages, more than 20 bands and more than 40 food and craft vendors; among highlights of this year will be the first KWXX Hoʻolauleʻa performance by High Watah and return of legendary duo Ho‘onu‘a.
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.
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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
Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea to host Maui Job Corps Center marketing specialist
The Rotary Club of Kīhei-Wailea will welcome a representative from the Maui Job Corps Center during a meeting at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at Kīhei Lutheran Church. Marketing specialist Hiʻilani Bush will share program information, eligibility requirements and career options for students seeking guidance on their career goals. The Maui Job Corps Center offers programs that […]
UH John A. Burns School of Medicine awarded $1.1M from American Medical Association
The medical school was one of 11 teams selected to receive funding from the association’s Transforming Lifelong Learning Through Precision Education Grant Program.
One lane closed on Piʻilani Highway for shoulder work
The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is advising highway users that the makai southbound lane on Pi‘ilani Highway (Route 31) in the vicinity of Keonekai Road, will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in between milepost 5.6 and 5.8. One southbound lane will remain open for through traffic.
Legislation introduced to establish new national veterans cemetery in Hawaiʻi
US Sen. Mazie Hirono and Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda have introduced the Hawaiʻi National Cemetery Act, legislation that would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a new national veterans cemetery in the state. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the burial site for approximately 53,000 veterans from World War I, […]
HDS Foundation awards $21,000 in scholarships to 7 Maui dental hygiene students
The HDS Foundation, the state’s only philanthropic organization solely dedicated to improving access to oral health care, promoting oral health education, and reducing oral health diseases, recently awarded a total of $21,000 in scholarships to seven dental hygiene students from Maui.
Kaua‘i Now
Tiger sharks mate during Maui’s whale season, new study shows
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.
Federal legislation introduced to establish new national veterans cemetery in Hawaiʻi
The only national cemetery in Hawaiʻi is running out of space, and has been functionally closed for in-ground burials since 1991 — and it is expected to stop taking cremated remains by 2036.
High surf advisory in place for areas of Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau
Surf heights are expected to rise to 14 to 20 feet.
Affordable housing remains top concern for many residents, finds annual statewide survey
The winter 2025 edition of Hawai‘i Perspectives reveals 71% of residents surveyed agree the state should build more housing as quickly as possible; survey also finds 89% of respondents say military is ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ important to state’s economy.
Return of the humpback whales helps boost Maui’s recovering tourism industry
Watching the majestic humpback whales has become a tradition woven into the tourism economy of Maui Nui ever since they started coming back from near extinction in the 1970s due to successful conservation efforts.
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