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“Kane from O’ahu capture overall win at Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition in Hilo.”

Views expressed in this Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 13 April 2026, 0017 UTC.

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In Case You
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Kings’ Shop culinary event raises thousands for Waikōloa conservation initiative

State urges residents to remain vigilant as flood watch continues

Election notification cards should arrive soon in mailboxes of Big Island voters

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Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority accepting proposals for events, festivals, experiences

Tree trimming, maintenance scheduled throughout Lili‘uokalani Gardens in Hilo

‘It’s a revival’: Merrie Monarch group contest begins with beloved hula…

17 lane closures scheduled during week of April 11-17 on Big Island state roadways

IRS issues tax relief for Hawaiʻi individuals, businesses affected by flooding, mudslides

Volcano Watch: Caldera clues; tephra deposits from Kīlauea’s past

Maui dancer captures title of Miss Aloha Hula at 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival

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Big Island News 

April 12, 2026 · 1:00 PM

Hawaiʻi is new member of global effort to improve public health emergency response

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green said as a premier international travel destination, the Aloha State occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of Asia, the Pacific and continental United States, so “it is certainly in Hawaiʻi’s interest to help safeguard the health and well-being of our neighbors and frequent visitors to our islands.”
April 12, 2026 · 11:44 AM

26-year-old Big Island man dies in possible drowning at End of the World in West Hawai‘i

The man was identified as Mathen Jackson of Kailua-Kona; a witness at the beach said Jackson decided to jump off the cliff and subsequently became distressed in the strong current.
April 12, 2026 · 11:00 AM

Small World Preschool marks 45th anniversary with community celebration

Small World Preschool in Waimea is set to celebrate 45 years of enriching early education with a vibrant hoʻolauleʻa on April 25.
April 12, 2026 · 10:44 AM

Magics Beach Grill authorized to reopen after correcting multiple critical violations

The oceanfront restaurant, located at 77-6452 Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona and operated by Mattson Davis, was shuttered April 9 after being issued a red “closed” placard following an inspection conducted by a food safety specialist with the state Department of Health.
April 12, 2026 · 9:12 AM

Partial monitoring network outage continues at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

The outage started about 1:45 p.m. Saturday, April 11; despite the partial outage, remaining data coming into the observatory are sufficient to allow the observatory’s researchers to detect major changes at Hawaiian volcanoes.
April 12, 2026 · 8:00 AM

Don’t miss your chance to apply for Cohort 8 of Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance program

The program is a partnership between the alliance in partnership with the state, Leeward Community College in Honolulu and Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center in Wahiawā; it is aimed at taking value-added products from concept to business plan and pitch in just 12 weeks.
April 12, 2026 · 4:00 AM

Big Island weather update for Sunday: Flood watch issued until 6 p.m. Monday

But the chance of rain on the Big Island for Sunday is only 40%, with the heaviest rain expected over Molokaʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
April 12, 2026 · 3:00 AM

Big Island’s Rhoda Magbitang tests her creativity on national TV’s ‘Top Chef’

The executive chef at the Mauna Lani resort’s CanoeHouse is taking on one of the biggest creative challenges of her career as she competes with other high-level chefs in Season 23 of the popular national television show.
April 12, 2026 · 1:41 AM

Kāne from O‘ahu capture overall win at Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition in Hilo

The second-place overall winner was also a kāne group from Wailuku, Maui, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes
, with 1,212 points.
April 12, 2026 · 1:00 AM

Big Island state Rep. Jeanné Kapela co-hosts this year’s 17th annual Art at the Capitol

The free, family-friendly event is open to the public and celebrates local art, performances and culture; this year’s theme is “Urban Canvases; Culture in Motion.”

Merrie Monarch 

Kāne from O‘ahu capture overall win at Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition in Hilo
PHOTO GALLERY: Sights and pageantry of 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Royal Parade
‘It’s a revival’: Merrie Monarch group contest begins with beloved hula kahiko night
UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS:
Every Monday · 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Weekly Hula

Every Thursday · 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The Queens’ Culinary Market

Sat, Apr 18, 2026 · 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

KTA Puainako’s Customer Appreciation Day

Local Entertainment 

April 12, 2026 · 3:00 AM

Big Island’s Rhoda Magbitang tests her creativity on national TV’s ‘Top Chef’

The executive chef at the Mauna Lani resort’s CanoeHouse is taking on one of the biggest creative challenges of her career as she competes with other high-level chefs in Season 23 of the popular national television show.
April 12, 2026 · 1:00 AM

Big Island state Rep. Jeanné Kapela co-hosts this year’s 17th annual Art at the Capitol

The free, family-friendly event is open to the public and celebrates local art, performances and culture; this year’s theme is “Urban Canvases; Culture in Motion.”
April 11, 2026 · 6:08 PM

PHOTO GALLERY: Sights and pageantry of 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Royal Parade

SunRa Adziyaomamawu, a senior at Connections Public Charter School in Hilo, photographs the sights and pageantry of the parade that marched through downtown Hilo on Saturday morning, April 11, 2026.
April 11, 2026 · 3:00 PM

Kings’ Shop culinary event raises thousands for Waikōloa conservation initiative

A culinary fundraiser on Hawaiʻi Island raised about $18,000 to benefit the Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative.
April 11, 2026 · 12:00 PM

From humble slices or cuts to global culinary sensation, don’t miss ‘The Story of Poke’

No matter which way you make it — with Hawaiian salt, shoyu, mayonnaise or whatever, even if it’s not with tuna — the classic raw fish dish is spreading Hawaiian culture and aloha around the world; learn more in a 30-minute documentary debuting Sunday, April 12, on Spectrum OC16 Channel 16.

Hawai‘i Business 

Magics Beach Grill authorized to reopen after correcting multiple critical violations
Don’t miss your chance to apply for Cohort 8 of Hawaiʻi Ag & Culinary Alliance program
Kings’ Shop culinary event raises thousands for Waikōloa conservation initiative
Annual gala celebrates leaders in hospitality and travel, raises money for scholarships

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 

Partial monitoring network outage continues at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

April 12, 2026 · 9:12 AM HST
Volcano Watch: Caldera clues; tephra deposits from Kīlauea’s past

April 10, 2026 · 6:59 AM HST
UPDATE: Episode 44 of lava fountaining at Kīlauea ended Thursday night; Highway 11 reopens

April 9, 2026 · 8:03 PM HST

Ocean Blog 

26-year-old Big Island man dies in possible drowning at End of the World in West Hawai‘i

April 12, 2026 · 11:44 AM HST
Soggy situation: 12 Big Island locations already recorded 2 or more inches of rain, including 2 with more than 11 inches

April 8, 2026 · 9:09 AM HST
Sound Bytes: Synchronous swimming (with robots); behind the Hawaiʻi Glider Challenge

April 6, 2026 · 3:00 PM HST
Upcoming Kiaʻi o ke Kai focus groups seek ocean users, stewards to participate, talk story

April 6, 2026 · 1:00 AM HST

Maui Now 

IRS issues tax relief for Hawaiʻi individuals, businesses affected by flooding, mudslides

Some Hawaiʻi taxpayers in disaster areas taxpayers now have until July 8 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

Annual gala celebrates leaders in hospitality and travel, raises money for scholarships

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Travel Industry Management is celebrating its 60th anniversary with plans to continue teaching future leaders in travel and hospitality.

New dates set for MEO’s Kamp Kaohi for Molokaʻi youth

Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services invites Molokaʻi sixth to 12th graders to the 4th Kamp Kaohi ‒ on its new dates of May 1 and 2 ‒ for an overnight of fun while learning and discovering the inner strength to handle the difficulties of teenage life on the island.

Maui Weather Forecast for April 12, 2026

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will spread over the western half of the state becoming heavy over central portions of the state through tonight. The…

Maui Council hears appeals for agriculture and animal shelter relief

Local farmers told Maui County Council members Thursday that the government is falling short of providing island agriculture the help needed to sustain operations. Representatives of the Maui Humane Society also warned that the island’s only open-admission shelter is facing a “perfect storm” of rising costs and record demand.

Kaua‘i Now 

Plan for the future: Attend next GoFarm Hawaiʻi webinar to learn about farm succession, more

Participants will be introduced to key concepts in farm succession planning, including family and non-family transition options, tools for transferring land and farm businesses as well as resources available to Hawaiʻi farmers and landowners.

Kauai Weather Forecast for April 12, 2026

Showers will continue for the entire day over Kauai and Oahu with the heaviest rain and greatest flooding potential over Oahu. LIght trades return at the end of…

Kauai Weather Forecast for April 12, 2026

Showers will continue for the entire day over Kauai and Oahu with the heaviest rain and greatest flooding potential over Oahu. LIght trades return at the end of…

Kauai Surf Forecast for April 12, 2026

A moderate, short to medium-period north-northwest swell (340 degrees) will arrive along north and west facing shores today and maintain small to moderate…

Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters extinguish structure fire in Kapa‘a

No injuries were reported; all occupants of the single-family residence on Kualono Street were accounted. Its cause is considered unintentional and remains under investigation.

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kh6jrm@gmail.com

I am the retired news director of Pacific Radio Group stations on the Island of Hawaii. I am a retired Lt. Col., USAF Reserve. I am a FCC-licensed Amateur Radio Operator, holding the Amateur Extra Class License. I am a substitute teacher for the state of Hawaii Department of Education.

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