News in Hilo
HECO customers weigh in on proposed rate increase
The state Public Utilities Commission is gathering public input on an application by Hawaiian Electric to raise base rates over the next two years, and comments including opposition from ratepayers are piling up.
Essential water use only notice replaced with water restriction notice for several Kaʻū communities
Water restriction measures are necessary to maintain adequate water levels in storage tanks while the Department of Water Supply continues repairs to water infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Lala.
2 Big Island residents appointed to state panels
Cyrus Johnasen was selected to join the state Land Use Commission while J. Elise Hannigan joins Kristen Lum Brummel of Honolulu chosen as a new members of the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board.
Lālāmilo water-use restrictions lifted after Hurricane Nolo outages
The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply has lifted the water-use restrictions for the Lālāmilo and South Kohala areas after power was restored following Hurricane Nolo.
New rates for state Health Department’s deposit beverage container program take effect Oct. 1
The most significant change is the adoption of a new single rate for plastic.
Papa‘ikou resident files appeal challenging cell tower
Patrick Ferreira, who lives next to the intended site of a new Verizon Wireless cell tower in Papa‘ikou, has filed an appeal challenging the project and requesting construction be halted.
How to improve the HI-5 recycling program?
State lawmakers are seeking ways to improve the HI-5 recycling program, which has shown a steady decline in recovery rates over the past 10 years.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health deposit beverage container program to update rates
Rates are periodically updated because beverage container sizes and weights change with time; all certified redemption centers are required to use the revised rates beginning Oct. 1.
Big Isle braces for Hurricane Nolo
At Hawaii County Civil Defense’s Hilo headquarters Friday, Mayor Kimo Alameda, Acting Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and dozens others prepared for Hurricane Nolo’s approach to the Big Island.
President approves emergency declaration for Hurricane Nolo; storm ‘nearly stationary’ south of Big Isle
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that President Trump has approved federal disaster assistance for the state of Hawaiʻi beginning last Wednesday for impacts from Hurricane Nolo, which stalled while maintaining Category 2 strength south of the Big Island…
$2.3 million improvement project has begun at 8 neglected state cemeteries in Hawaiʻi
The new state cemetery office in Hawaiʻi recently completed a $200,000 project at Waiʻanae Japanese Cemetery that included removal of trash, cutting down trees that were uprooting graves and installing fencing.
Green: Four natural disasters that hit Hawaii this year will cost $1B
As Tropical Storm Nolo headed toward the Big Island with a hurricane watch in effect, Gov. Josh Green on Wednesday outlined recovery efforts for four different disasters that hit Hawaii earlier this year