“Letter carriers gathered donations for Hawai’i Island’s largest food drive.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai news update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 13 May 2026, 0304 UTC.
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Hawai’i State NewsKaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami officially files for Lt. Governor race
Hawai’i State NewsBusiness briefs for May 12: Hilo business owners awarded, Fairmont Orchid has a new…
Letter carriers gather donations for Hawaiʻi Island’s largest food drive
The 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected thousands of pounds of nonperishable food items to combat food insecurity, which affects 40% of island residents.May 12, 2026 · 5:00 AM HST
Hawai’i State NewsAmount of jobs in Hawaiʻi decrease by 1,700 on average each year
East Hawai‘i NewsSecond monthly meeting promotes safety awareness for Puna’s kūpuna
In Case You
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Health officials warning about potent kratom-derived products called 7-OH in Hawaiʻi
Florida woman dies after snorkeling incident at Hōnaunau Bay
Business Monday: Meals in a HeartBeet opens storefront in Kona
Missing child reported endangered after disappearing in the Pāhoa area
Big Island boy fighting severe health conditions and insurance company
New affordable workforce rental housing community is dedicated in Waikōloa Village
Big Island mother navigates death of teen daughter by writing book about grief
Celebrate Mom: Things to do and places to eat for Mother’s Day on the Big Island
Police seek information about Big Island fisherman who went missing a year ago
School bus used for disabled students stolen from Ocean View
UPDATE: Hawai’i Island police locate missing Eden Roc woman in good health
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for May 8-14: Charity walk, chocolate fest, spring…
2,000 acres in lower Puna transformed by 2018 lava flow now on a path to preservation
Mauna Kea telescope helps researchers reveal changes in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
Hawaiian monk seal Kaʻiwi gives birth to 7th pup at Kaimana Beach on O‘ahu, prompting…
Associate Justice Vladimir Devens becomes new Hawaiʻi Supreme Court chief justice
UPDATE: Hawai‘i Island police ID second victim in fatal head-on collision on Daniel K…
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Big Island News
May 12, 2026 · 3:46 PM
Kaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami officially files for Lt. Governor race
No other candidate has officially filed to run for the No. 2 elected post in the state, but five other candidates have pulled papers, including former Deputy Attorney General John Choi.
May 12, 2026 · 1:00 PM
Business briefs for May 12: Hilo business owners awarded, Fairmont Orchid has a new manager, Hawaiʻi Island Health Center CEO to start in the fall
Big Island businesses experience success and leadership changes.
May 12, 2026 · 10:24 AM
Fountaining episode at Kīlauea predicted to start this week
The forecast window for episode 47, based on tilt data, suggests that lava fountaining will occur again sometime between Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14, with later today or tomorrow most likely.
May 12, 2026 · 10:00 AM
Amount of jobs in Hawaiʻi decrease by 1,700 on average each year
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March unemployment rates in Hawaiʻi increased slightly to 2.4%.
May 12, 2026 · 8:00 AM
Second monthly meeting promotes safety awareness for Puna’s kūpuna
The Hawaiʻi Police Department is hosting the second Kūpuna Watch meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 14 in Mountain View.
May 12, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Letter carriers gather donations for Hawaiʻi Island’s largest food drive
The 33rd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected thousands of pounds of nonperishable food items to combat food insecurity, which affects 40% of island residents.
May 12, 2026 · 3:00 AM
Friends, family raise funds to bring remains of Virginia man home after fatal Big Island crash
Money raised will go toward helping the victim’s parents travel to the Big Island to bring their son and his belongings back to Virginia.
May 12, 2026 · 1:00 AM
Health officials warning about potent kratom-derived products called 7-OH in Hawaiʻi
Big Island residents are being cautioned about the dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine known as “7-OH,” a potent opioid-like substance marketed as “enhanced kratom,” which poses serious health risks.
May 11, 2026 · 3:17 PM
Florida woman dies after snorkeling incident at Hōnaunau Bay
Authorities are investigating a tragic snorkeling incident at Hōnaunau Bay in South Kona that resulted in the death of Mindy Morris, 65, of Panama City, Florida.
May 11, 2026 · 2:42 PM
UPDATE: Search ends safely after Dillon Parent located in good health
Dillon Parent was found safe on May 11, marking the successful conclusion of a community-assisted search effort.
UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS:
Every Wednesday · 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Ukulele Lessons with Kris Fuchigami
Every Thursday · 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Queens’ Culinary Market
Every Friday · 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
*Couples Lomilomi Massage* with Malama Honua Massage Therapy.
Local Entertainment
May 8, 2026 · 3:00 AM
Celebrate Mom: Things to do and places to eat for Mother’s Day on the Big Island
There are plenty of ways to celebrate moms on the Big Island this weekend, including surfing, lei-making, shopping and plenty of wining and dining. Check out our list.
May 7, 2026 · 5:00 AM
Top 10 things to do on Big Island for May 8-14: Charity walk, chocolate fest, spring concert, classic piano and more
Treat the woman who gave birth to you with an event that has a more personal touch; when you saw it, Mom was the first person who came to mind. This week’s top 10 has some great ideas!
May 6, 2026 · 10:00 AM
Mauna Kea telescope helps researchers reveal changes in interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
Observations suggest the comet’s chemistry changed as it passed near the sun, providing new clues to how materials in interstellar comets differ from those in comets formed in this part of the cosmic neighborhood.
May 4, 2026 · 1:00 AM
Hawaiʻi Community College celebrates success of inaugural E ʻImi Pono fundraiser
The event, highlighting the institution’s role in preparing the Big Island’s workforce, drew more than 100 supporters on April 18 to the I Ola Nō Ke Kino Dining Room at the Manono campus in Hilo.
May 3, 2026 · 1:00 PM
Severe weather washes away more than quarter of million dollars in state tourism revenue
Number of visitors statewide in March decreased 1.7% from the same month a year before, with Big Island visitor stats following same downward trend; visitor spending throughout islands falls 1.6% from March 2025.
Tiare Room Service Massage
Mobile Massage Therapists Wanted – West Hawaii
Kohala · 2 weeks 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
Volcano Watch: Do you think Hawaiʻi has many volcanoes? Think again, El Salvador says
May 9, 2026 · 1:00 AM HST
2,000 acres in lower Puna transformed by 2018 lava flow now on a path to preservation
May 6, 2026 · 10:01 AM HST
Research from 2022 Mauna Loa eruption helps predict, understand future eruptions
May 6, 2026 · 5:00 AM HST
Ocean Blog
‘Big Mama’ back in Salish Sea after winter humpback whale migration in Hawaiʻi
May 7, 2026 · 1:43 PM HST
Hawaiian monk seal Kaʻiwi gives birth to 7th pup at Kaimana Beach on O‘ahu, prompting coordinated safety response
May 6, 2026 · 8:00 AM HST
Search suspended for fishing vessel crewman more than 1,200 miles offshore of Hawai‘i
April 30, 2026 · 6:51 PM HST
Study reveals robust seasonal cycles among vast diverse ocean microbial communities
April 30, 2026 · 8:00 AM HST
Maui Now
State targets Japan tourism gap as Maui seeks big-spending visitors
Japanese visitors have been drawn more to Waikīkī than to Maui’s resorts, and a new state report calls for changing that by rebuilding and diversifying Japanese visitor demand.
State championship to return to Hoʻokipa in 2031; inaugural location called world-class ‘surf stadium’
The County of Maui’s Hoʻokipa Beach Park lived up to its billing as a world-class surfing venue with solid waves both days, being labeled by several spectators and officials as the perfect “surf stadium” for the historic Hawaiʻi High School Athletic Association’s inaugural state surfing championships on May 1 and 2, 2026. HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun said the event will return to Hoʻokipa in 2031 as part of a five-year rotation.
New 24-passenger MEO bus traveling Molokaʻi roads
A new 24-passenger Maui Economic Opportunity bus with two-wheelchair capacity is in service on Molokaʻi, following a blessing last month.
Making Maui safer for visitors; presentation at Kīhei-Wailea Rotary, May 13
Information on a new program to improve safety for visitors to Maui will be shared during a presentation at the Kīhei-Wailea Rotary on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Hawaiian Electric seeking renewable energy proposals for Lāna‘i
Hawaiian Electric is beginning the process to seek proposals of a large-scale renewable energy project for the island of Lāna‘i to reduce the use of imported fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and stabilize rates. The company is hosting a community meeting to discuss these procurement efforts and collect community feedback on Tuesday, June 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Lāna‘i Filipino Clubhouse, 450 Jacaranda Street, Lāna‘i City.
Kaua‘i Now
Mechanical problem forces closure of Kapa’a pool
Due to mechanical issues, the Kapaʻa swimming pool will be temporarily closed starting May 13.
Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami officially files to run for lieutenant governor of Hawaiʻi
No other candidate has officially filed to run for the No. 2 elected post in the state, but five other candidates have pulled papers, including former Deputy Attorney General John Choi.
March unemployment rates increase slightly to 2.4%
According to the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, jobs decrease by 1,700 year over year.
Hawaiʻi DOH warns public about potent opioid-like substance known as 7-OH
Kaua’i residents are being cautioned about the dangers of 7-hydroxymitragynine, a potent opioid-like substance marketed as “enhanced kratom,” which poses serious health risks.
Sunset Adoption Nights aims to connect more Kauaʻi families with rescue pets
Starting May 15, the Kauaʻi Humane Society will launch its “Sunset Adoption Hour,” extending adoption hours to 7 p.m. and lowering adoption fees.
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