Hawaii Island

A week from Monday, Hawai‘i County will swear in a new Mayor. But until noon that day, Billy Kenoi remains the chief executive of Hawai‘i County.  He spoke with HPR contributing reporter Sherry Bracken about his 8 years in office.

Since 2009, the current administration has completed more than 160 major projects on Hawai'i Island.  That’s more than 630 million dollars on roads, parks, sewers, housing—even rodeo arenas. Mayor Kenoi says he’s proud of the transformative nature of that spending.

The last time the United States put an astronaut on the moon, Richard Nixon was president and Elvis Presley played a concert in Honolulu. That was 1972—and while moon shots are part of history, a mission to Mars is still in the future. NASA is working on it—and Hawai‘i Island is playing a role. HPR contributing reporter Sherry Bracken has more on the story from Kona. 

Five time space shuttle astronaut Jeff Hoffman once helped repair the Hubble Telescope in space. Now he’s spending some time at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park….representing NASA.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been taking a closer look at some of the candidates and issues involved in Hawai‘i County’s mayoral race. As Saturday’s election nears, we bring you the story of Marlene Hapai. As HPR’s Sherry Bracken explains, this candidate’s background does not include time in local government or politics.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a better way to forecast vog….help may be on the way.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a $750,000 grant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop Vog sensors on Hawai‘i Island.  Volcanic Smog or “Vog” is a mixture of sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter which has negative impacts on human health, as well as agriculture.

Hawai'i County has a contentious race for Mayor, with 13 candidates running for the office.  Between now and Saturday’s primary election day, we’re taking a closer look at some of the candidates and their priorities.  One of the candidates has held the job before.  From Kona, HPR’s Sherry Bracken reports.

While national politics are centered on the presidential race, here in Hawai‘i the attention is focused on local contests—including mayoral races.  In Hawai‘i County, 13 candidates are running to succeed Mayor Billy Kenoi.  We continue our reports on some of the candidates and issues with a closer look at Wally Lau, who served as the county’s Managing Director for 7 years. Sherry Bracken has more from Kona. 

Hawai'i County has a contentious race for Mayor, with 13 candidates vying for the job.  Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll take a closer look at some of the candidates and their priorities.  First up, former Hawai'i County Council Member Pete Hoffmann, who served Kohala in that job for 8 years.  From Kona, HPR’s Sherry Bracken reports.

Tropical Storm Darby rumbled ashore Saturday afternoon on Hawaii Island. Sustained winds were 40 miles an hour, but gusts were higher--and the impacts began before the storm ever hit land. HPR's Sherry Bracken has an update from Kona.

Restoration work has begun on the Kuamoʻo battlefield and burial grounds on Hawai‘i Island.  The 47 acres of land south of Kona was purchased earlier this year through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and managing group- Kuamoʻo ʻĀina.

Native Hawaiians In Support of TMT; Aloha International Piano Festival; Chair of the Hawai‘i LGBT Caucus on Orlando Shooting; Cabaret on Kauai

Native Hawaiians Support TMT: PUEO Keahi Warfield

US Congress Debates School Lunches; Pianist Thomas Rosenkranz; Business of Organic Farming; Okinawan Heritage Festival

Debate in US Congress over cutting funding for school lunch programs; Dexter Kishida

State Legislature Caregiver Act; New Novel from Hawaiian Author; Hawaii County GET Increase

HB 2252, Designated Caregiver Act: Barbara Kim Stanton of AARP

The state Department of Health has confirmed 4 more people have dengue fever. That brings the total up to 15 cases on Hawai‘i Island. It’s prompted Hawai‘i County to close Hookena Beach Park in Captain Cook. Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira says it’s the first time the county has closed a beach in response to dengue fever.

Hawai‘i is ground zero when it comes to tackling invasive species. Nowhere is that more apparent than on the Big Island, where residents deal with everything from little fire ants to coqui frogs. And as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, it’s the focus of an upcoming community forum.

All this week we’re taking a closer look at ‘ōpala across the islands, in a series we call “Trashing Paradise.” Today we shift our focus to the Big Island of Hawai‘i—where earlier this year, Mayor Billy Kenoi announced a change in plans for the island’s future. HPR’s Bill Dorman reports.

You can find our entire "Trashing Paradise" series here.

It’s been three months since Pāhoa’s Mālama Market closed its doors. Back in December, lava crept within a couple hundred yards of the store. But now, with the lava stalled, the supermarket has reopened. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

Hawai‘i County residents who smoke e-cigarettes will soon find fewer places where vaping is allowed. Hawai‘i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi signed the bill Tuesday, making it the only county in the state to ban electronic cigarettes from public places where smoking is already prohibited. HPR’s Molly Solomon has more.

  The lava front closest to Pahoa Village has now stalled and cooled, with breakouts around 3 1/2 miles upslope.  With no immediate threat to homes or businesses, Hawaii County officials have reopened Pahoa Village Road.  But starting last August, local residents had to prepare for lava inundation.  Many moved.  Every family has their story, and HPR's Sherry Bracken has one.

  Crews on the Big Island of Hawaii are on track to complete work on the Chain of Craters Road through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park later this year.  Last week, officials at the National Park said "significant progress" has been made on the project.  But plans to control access are stirring some controversy.  HPR's Sherry Bracken reports.

  As the lava flow has been creeping through Puna, some have expressed concern about the potential for rising crime rates in the areas affected by lava.  Police do have concerns, but not in Puna.  HPR’s Sherry Bracken talked with police to find out more.

  As lava continues its relentless advance through the Puna District of the Big Island, there has been a lot of emphasis on physical preparation.  But for everybody whose lives are going to be touched one way or the other by the advancing lava flow, dealing with the emotional fallout is also important.  HPR’s Sherry Bracken talked with a psychologist about some of the issues.

  There's a very cool car traveling around the state right now, and it has a very special purpose.  HPR's Sherry Bracken Reports.

  Although Hawai'i County Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are dealing daily with the issues surrounding the lava advancing on Pāhoa Village.  But  they haven't lost sight of other hazards that can impact Hawai'i Island and the state.  HPR’s Sherry Bracken talked with scientists from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory about earthquakes here in the state.

  With the lava from Kilauea Volcano steadily advancing towards Pahoa, less than a mile from Apa’a Street and the Pāhoa Transfer Station, the need to provide emergency access has become even more urgent.  And now it looks like a solution has been reached.  HPR’s Sherry Bracken has the story.

  An annual migration is underway as thousands of athletes and volunteers are heading to the west side of Hawaii Island. It's time for the annual Ironman Triathlon. And as HPR's Sherry Bracken reports, this year there's something different in one of the preliminary events. 

One of the concerns of Hawaii County officials and residents is how the recent and current disasters —Tropical Storm Iselle and the lava flow —will affect Hawaii Island's economy.  HPR's Sherry Bracken has an update.