Hawaii Island reports 238 new COVID-19 infections as omicron variant fuels surge in coronavirus cases.
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Accessed pm 03 January 2021, 1116 UTC.
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Big Island reports 238 new COVID cases as surge continues
State health officials reported 238 new COVID-19 cases Sunday on the Big Island as the omicron variant continues to fuel a surge in coronavirus infections.
Arson suspected in South Kona structure fire
Officials say a structure fire Saturday in Captain Cook was the result of arson.
No injuries reported after residential fire in Hilo
Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Saturday evening residential fire in Hilo.
Maunakea crash leaves girl dead, 7 injured
A 9-year-old girl is dead and seven injured following a single-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Maunakea Access Road.
Another blow against Honua Ola
The state’s Consumer Advocate has filed a document with the Public Utilities Commission saying “due to remaining questions and concerns, it is unable to recommend approval” of Honua Ola Bioenergy, the nearly completed biomass power plant in Pepeekeo.
‘Hop on the bus and take a seat’: Bill would make Hele-On rides free thanks to grants
Hele-On bus rides may be free for the next two years if a bill being discussed by the Hawaii County Council passes.
Volcano woman to be sentenced for robberies, brazen parking lot incident
A 26-year-old Volcano woman will be sentenced later this month for multiple robberies and a brazen daylight parking lot incident in which two police officers discharged their service weapons.
Hawaii ends 2021 with record surge of COVID-19 cases
HONOLULU — Hawaii has reported another day of near-record coronavirus cases, ending the year with a surging infection rate and hospitals on edge.
Ringing in the New Year: Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission carries on mochi-making tradition
Mochi production at temples around Hawaii are usually a cooperative event with members before New Years, however with cases of COVID rising, missions have scaled back the annual event to a handful of individuals.
Navy needs more time to flush Pearl Harbor drinking water
HONOLULU — Military officials say they need more time to flush jet fuel from their Pearl Harbor water system, but some of the 4,000 military families who were displaced because of contaminated drinking water could begin returning by the end of next week.
Not ready yet: Public participation in meetings to continue remotely
A new law setting stricter rules for governmental bodies holding remote meetings, including a requirement to provide a physical location for the public to testify, is supposed to go into effect Saturday, but Gov. David Ige has delayed that part of the new law in an emergency proclamation effective through Feb. 28.
High court ruling could carry Maunakea ramifications
A Hawaii Supreme Court verdict regarding a Maui telescope protester could have implications for Maunakea protesters.
Hawaii reports explosion of COVID cases
Both Hawaii County and the state set records Thursday for the most new COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Goodbye, 2021
As we bid a perhaps not-so-fond farewell to 2021, the novel coronavirus pandemic continued to be the most important story of the year, as it had been in 2020 — locally, statewide, nationally and worldwide.
Better late than never? 23 years later, property owners seek sewer fee refund
After paying their two sewer bills for more than two decades, owners of two contiguous lots on Alii Drive are arguing they should have had to pay only one sewer bill because the structure on one of the lots is an outbuilding, not an unoccupied unit as defined by the county.
County expects today will have highest daily case count since the start of the pandemic
Today may have the highest number of COVID cases in a single day on the Big Island since the beginning of the pandemic, county officials believe.
Surge in cases fuels demand for booster shots in E. Hawaii
Big Island health care providers are reporting an influx of people getting their vaccine booster shots as the omicron variant of the novel coronavirus continues to sweep through the state.
Tourism continues rebound
Despite stronger than expected visitor numbers in 2021, state officials on Wednesday said 2022’s tourism outlook is hazy.
Char ‘very concerned’ about New Year’s celebrations
The state’s health director said Wednesday she’s “very concerned about New Year’s” celebrations and hopes people will act accordingly to minimize the risk of spreading novel coronavirus infections.
DOE: In-person learning to resume following winter break
The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that full in-person learning will resume during the second semester that begins next week.
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsdigest.net).