Welcome to the West Hawaii News update from Hawaii News Digest.
Top Story: Because of staff shortages, the Department of Environmental Management will reduce solid waste collection services around Hawaii Island.
Views expressed in this Hawaii News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Content provided by “West Hawaii Today.”
Accessed on 09 January 2020, 1515 UTC, Post 20101.
Source:
https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/category/hawaii-news
Please click link or scroll down to read your selections.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="426" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Staffing shortages disrupt more solid waste services
HILO Its a new year, but closures of some of the countys solid waste facilities continue to plague the Department of Environmental Management.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="435" width="469" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Puna stabbing suspect a former Army sergeant
HILO A 30-year-old man police believe stabbed an elderly man to death with a cane Tuesday evening in upper Puna is a former Army sergeant from Northern California.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="467" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Council fails to override herbicide ban veto
HILO After almost six hours of testimony and debate Wednesday, the County Council came up one vote short of overriding Mayor Harry Kims veto of a bill banning the use of herbicides by county workers.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="360" width="360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
DHHL looking to build homes in Kealakehe
KAILUA-KONA The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands this year plans to award handful of vacant lots and start construction on more than a hundred homes for beneficiaries at the Villages of Laiopua in Kealakehe.
Flash Flood Watch in effect
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Hawaii Island for all districts from Thursday through Saturday.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="640" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Council fails to override mayor’s herbicide veto
The Hawaii County Council voted today not to override Mayor Harry Kims veto of Bill 101.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="300" width="432" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Police seek assistance locating missing woman
Hawaii Island Police are asking for the publics assistance with locating a 48-year old Puna woman who was reported missing.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="188" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Police ask for public’s help identifying identity theft suspects
Hawaii Island Police are asking for the publics assistance in identifying two persons of interest for identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card that occurred in Hilo after they were caught on video surveillance. The investigation stems from the theft of a wallet from a motor vehicle in August 2019.
Man held in custody for mental evaluation after police chase
On Friday January 3, Hawaii Island Police Detectives charged a 34-year-old Puna man with various offenses after evading police on an unlicensed motorcycle. After conferring with prosecutors, Christopher K. Lucrisia was charged with felony Resisting an Order to Stop, Resisting Arrest, Defacing Serial Numbers on a Motor Vehicle, No Motor Vehicle Insurance, Driving without a Driver License, third-degree Promoting a Dangerous Drug, fourth-degree Theft, and Habitual Property Crime offender.
Suspect arrested in Puna fatal stabbing incident
Hawaii Island Police have arrested a Hilo man in connection with a stabbing incident in Puna.
Lava property buyouts mulled
HILO Voluntary housing buyouts will be a priority for a portion of federal funding the county is set to receive for recovery efforts related to the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano in lower Puna.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="480" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Contract awarded for road and trail repairs in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
HILO Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announced Tuesday that it has awarded a $3.3 million contract to a construction company to repair roads and trails that were damaged during the 2018 eruption of Kilauea.
High winds expected through today
HONOLULU A high-wind warning remains in place for Hawaii islands north and east sides, as well as Kohala, through 6 p.m. this evening.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="331" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Making housing affordable: Council panel advances resolution to reach solution
HILO Government officials agree Hawaii County needs to construct more affordable housing, and theres also agreement on the steps that can be taken to do it. But how to pay for it is open to debate.
HMSA settles Hilo discrimination case
HILO Hawaii Medical Service Association, the states largest health insurance company, has agreed to pay $180,000 and provide injunctive relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency announced Tuesday.
Council members give thumbs down to Kim nominee
HILO A Hawaii County Council committee voted against recommending a nominee to the Leeward Planning Commission Tuesday after a vetting process failed to discover a disciplinary complaint against him.
DUI arrests drop slightly for the year
For the year 2019, there were 1,085 DUI arrests compared with 1,095 in 2018, a decrease of 0.91 percent, the Hawaii Police Department reported.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="600" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Friends remember researcher Syd Kraul, who leaves behind an ocean-sized legacy
KAILUA-KONA He was the master of mahimahi, the man many in the aquaculture community knew as the go-to when it came to rearing any impossible-to-raise fish.
Hawaii bankruptcies in 2019 hit highest level in 5 years
HONOLULU The U.S. stock market had a record bull run in 2019.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="474" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Routes canceled as Hele-On bus shortage intensifies
HILO The wheels on the bus arent going round the island as frequently as before, as the county Mass Transit Agency struggles with a shortage of Hele-On buses to cover all the routes.