“Hawai’i Life Flight, community mourn loss of fallen members during Big Island vigil.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii Island News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 23 December 2023, 2216 UTC.
Content provided by email subscription to “BigIslandNow.com.”
Source: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGrblVHvwZjNSLcGNLltkzvHfML
Please click link or scroll down to read your selections.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022
Last night a sunset vigil was held for the three Hawai’i Life Flight crew who were headed to Waimea when their aircraft disappeared over water off the coast of Maui. They were not found after an extensive search.
In other stories, a Hilo man was indicted for a 2019 murder; power outages from the recent storm to continue past Christmas in Hāmākua District; Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park brush fire 70% contained on Thursday; and Maunakea Access Road remains closed due to snow (and we have a video of crews plowing it).
Good news, Hilo is the first metro area on the Big Island to have gas prices average below $5. But the bad news, that is still nearly $2 more than the national average.
Enjoy your holiday weekend! If you have videos or photos of the holidays on the Big Island you would like to share, please send them to editor@bigislandnow.com. Please include any pertinent information about the photo (where it was taken, what it is) and whom to credit for the video or photo.
Mahalo for your readership.
Hawaiʻi Life Flight, community mourn loss of fallen crew members during Big Island vigil By Tiffany DeMasters
As the sun set Thursday, Hawaiʻi Life Flight crew and members of the Big Island community gathered at Old Kona Airport Beach Park to say goodbye to a flight nurse, a paramedic and a pilot.
The three crew members went missing after their medical transport aircraft apparently crashed on Dec. 15 in waters off the ʻAlenuihāhā Channel between Maui and the Big Island. After an extensive search by the Coast Guard and others, they were never found.
Hilo man indicted in 2019 murder case
A Hilo Grand Jury indicted a Hilo man in connection to a murder that occurred in 2019.
Twenty-nine-year-old Ekolu Keolanui was indicted on charges of second-degree murder in connection to a domestic incident on July 19 at Malama Park in Panaewa where he allegedly strangled his girlfriend, 24 year-old Sable Keffer-Young.
Update: Power outages in Hāmākua District to go on past Christmas
Approximately 650 Hawaiian Electric customers will remain without power past Christmas as crews continue to work toward restoring service following a severe storm earlier this week.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park brush fire 70% contained
A five-acre wildfire sparked by lightning in a remote wilderness area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was 70% contained as of Thursday afternoon.
A 15-person National Park Service wildland firefighting team, assisted by a helicopter, continued to douse flames and mop up today in steep, rocky terrain below the Hilina Pali Lookout.
Hilo first metro area in Hawai’i to average below $5 per gallon of gas in nine months
A few gas stations on Oahu and Maui are now charging close to $4 a gallon for regular unleaded gas, with Hilo on the Big Island becoming the first state metro area in nine months to post an average price below $5 a gallon.
The Hilo average gas price is $4.98, which is two cents lower than last week and 64 cents higher than on this date a year ago.
WATCH: Crews plow Maunakea Access Road
Maunakea Rangers from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo for Maunakea Stewardship plowed snow on the road to the summit today.
All weather advisories lifted; Maunakea Access Road remains closed
The National Weather Service canceled all weather advisories after a cold front battered Hawai‘i Island earlier this week with rain, wind, high surf and snow.
Maunakea Access Road remains closed as Mauanakea Rangers work to clear the road for the holidays. Check out www.Malama Maunakea.org for the latest road updates.
Big Island hotels’ occupancy rate at 71% for November 2022
Hotels on the Big Island reported revenue per available room at $266 with the average daily rate at $372 and occupancy of 71.4% for November 2022, according to the Hawai‘i Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.
Residents make waves to extend beach access at one of Maui’s busiest surf spots
An earlier opening for Ho’okipa gates may seem small for some, but it’s a big deal for beach access, Surfrider Foundation said.
Gov. Green releases $10.3M in CIP funds for Maui County
Funds include: $5.83M for Baldwin High School athletic facility improvements; $3.026M to improve aging athletic facilities at Molokaʻi High School; $1M for campus fencing and gates at Haʻikū Elementary; and $500,000 to finance design to determine gym improvements for Lānaʻi High and Elementary School.
Kauai Weather Forecast for December 23, 2022
Light to moderate southwest winds will deliver a few clouds and a shower or two through Saturday, mainly to leeward portions of Kauai and Oahu. From…
Big Island vigil for Hawaiʻi Life Flight crew members who were never found
At Old Kona Airport Beach Park on the Big Island, a flight nurse, a paramedic and a pilot were mourned during a sunset vigil.
