“Big Island Year in review: 2022 started with tragedy and ended with erupting volcanoes.”
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Accessed on 31 December 2022, 2047 UTC.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022
Speaking of which, take a look at the year that was with our Year in Review. Also, if you’re planning to celebrate the New Year by ringing in 2023 with a blast, safety is key. Fireworks are fun and festive, but also can be dangerous. Big Island police also urge holiday revelers to not drive impaired. We have stories today that include tips to celebrate safely.
The weather seems to be calming down a little, too, for the holiday weekend, with the National Weather Service in Honolulu canceling a high surf advisory that was in effect through today.
The University of Hawai’i at Hilo recently announced the schedules for the 2023 baseball and softball season, the search for a California man who went missing in waters off Kaua’i ended earlier this week and more than 20 Big Island teens in foster care recently had a chance to rub shoulders with officials and learn about their rights and the services available to them during the Teen Day event.
We hope you have a safe and very happy New Year’s holiday. See you in 2023!
Big Island Year in review: 2022 started with tragedy and ended with erupting volcanoes
2022 is coming to a close. Reflecting on the past 12 months, the Big Island community experienced extreme weather, earthquakes, fires and two erupting volcanoes; mourned tragedies and the death of a revered kumu hula; and witnessed the loss of historic buildings, including the Hōlualoa Theater.
This year, with the COVID-19 pandemic more under control, events and gatherings that had been canceled have returned.
Big Island backyard fireworks are popular, but be safe while ringing in 2023 By Nathan Christophel
Thousands of people have descended upon Big Island fireworks vendors this week in preparation for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Pikake Kahele, manager at J. Hara Store in Volcano, estimates more than 3,000 fireworks customers have come to the store since fireworks and fireworks permits went on sale Monday on the Big Island.
Police urge motorists to drive safely and sober during New Year’s weekend
Impaired driving is a problem on Big Island roadways. With the New Year’s holiday right around the corner, the Hawaiʻi Police Department is urging motorists to ring in 2023 by driving safely and sober.
As of Thursday morning, there had been 34 traffic fatalities on Big Island roads in 2022 compared to 26 by the same time in 2021. That’s the highest level of traffic fatalities the island has seen in a decade; the last time there were more was in 2012, when 38 people died in traffic-related incidents.
UH-Hilo softball squad set to storm the West in 2023
The Vulcan softball squad will play 10 non-conference West regional teams as part of its 47-game slate in 2023, which is set to begin in February in Irvine, Calif.
The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo team will play six schools from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, three from the California Collegiate Athletic Association and one from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as part of those non-conference matchups in addition to its eight-team Pacific West Conference schedule.
UH-Hilo baseball team faces challenging 2023 slate
Nothing like kicking off your season with facing off against a defending conference champ.
That’s exactly what the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo baseball team faces as it begins a challenging 2023 slate with back-to-back series Feb. 1 against Augustana out of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which finished 47-13-1 overall a year ago with an appearance in the NCAA Super Regional round.
High surf advisory for west-facing shores canceled
Update at 7:31 a.m. Dec. 31: The National Weather Service in Honolulu reports that surf has fallen below advisory levels. The high surf advisory that was in effect for west-facing shores of the Big Island has been canceled.
Update at 4:25 p.m. Dec. 30: The high surf advisory issued for west-facing shores of the Big Island has been extended until 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.
Hawai‘i Police releases weekly outstanding warrants list for Dec. 30, 2022
DISCLAIMER: This list is active as of Dec. 30, 2022. Interested parties reading this list in the future should be aware that some individuals will have cleared up the matters of an outstanding warrant with the police department by then. They may no longer have a warrant out for their arrest, and the circumstances for which the original warrant was issued may be resolved absent serious penalties.
As of Friday, Dec. 30, the following individuals are wanted by the Hawai‘i Police Department because of outstanding warrants:
Big Island youth in foster care revel in Teen Day activities
More than 20 Big Island teenagers in foster care ranging from 12 to 17 years old had the chance last month to rub shoulders with judges, attorneys, social workers and others while learning about their rights and the services available to them.
The activities were part of Teen Day on Nov. 17. The event was sponsored by the East Hawai‘i Youth Leadership HI HOPES board. HI HOPES, an acronym for Hawai‘i Helping Our People Envision Success, is led by Raquel Gali.
Congressional spending bill has provisions to help Hawaiʻi small businesses, tourism
Congress recently passed a $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill that includes several initiatives to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s dominant tourism and small business economies and assist Hawai’i workers with their retirements, according to US Rep. Ed Case (D-HI).
“This measure will strengthen our top-generating tourism sector, promote small business development and assist in economic diversification as our state’s economy continues to recover from the lingering effects of COVID 19,” said Rep. Case, a member of the US House Committee on Appropriations that is responsible for all federal discretionary spending.
After four days, search ends for man who went missing while swimming in waters off a Kaua‘i beach
The multi-agency search for a California man who went missing on Christmas Day while swimming in waters off Kaua‘i has ended.
The Kaua‘i Police Department reported the search for 56-year-old Prakash Shroff was suspended Wednesday afternoon after a four-day effort by land, air and sea to find him. Shroff is being reported as Kaua‘i’s 12 drowning in 2022.
Gov. Green appoints state’s first director of Wellness and Resilience, 6 others
Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, M.D. appointed on Dec. 30 a third round of nominees for state department positions, including the state’s first director of the Office of Wellness and Resilience.
“These exceptional and experienced individuals will work to advance our community’s quality of life, sustainably develop our economy, and modernize our systems to increase government efficiency and cross-collaboration,” Gov. Green said in a news release. “I am confident that today’s nominees and appointments will serve the people of Hawaiʻi wholeheartedly and hit the ground running to produce these promised results.”
$2.7 million in grants to help small-scale agriculture throughout Hawaiʻi
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture has awarded 579 grants totaling $2.7 million for small-scale agriculture, including home gardening, herding and livestock operations in areas that face food insecurity. Of the nearly 600 grants, 133 are coming to the Big Island.
More than 7,400 applications were received this fall under the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. The applications and project proposals were evaluated and ranked by the state Department of Agriculture Market Development Branch, with final approval received last week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Swim clubs, community jump in to revitalize Kona Aquatic Center
For four years, swimmers with Kona Aquatics and Kona Dolphins have not been able to host meets at their home Kona Aquatic Center because of starting blocks that had been “condemned.”
The swimmers have had to travel to pools around the county and off-island for all their competitions — and they have not had been able to practice with starting blocks, which are platforms used by swimmers to dive into the pool to start races.
Re-ZOO-venation Days begin in 2023 at Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
The Pana’ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens in Hilo will have some extra time in 2023 for a little R&R in an effort to enhance its grounds, facilities and animal areas.
Re-ZOO-venation Days will begin Jan. 5, and be observed the first Thursday of each month thereafter next year. Re-ZOO-venation Days will allow zoo staff the time to undertake larger enhancement projects and the opportunity to participate in professional development to increase their skills.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide collects toys and food for families in need on Maui
Owners, guests, and associates of Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club raised more than 7,000 pounds of food for local families, while the Hyatt Residence Club Maui, Kā’anapali Beach collected and donated more than 500 pounds of food.
AARP Hawaiʻi offers free online Zumba classes in January
AARP Hawaiʻi’s Zumba Gold online exercise classes are on Thursdays at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. starting Jan. 12 through Feb. 25.
National Weather Service cancels high surf advisory for portions of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau
The National Weather Service in Honolulu reports that surf has fallen below advisory levels.
Kauai Weather Forecast for December 31, 2022
Moderate trade winds will will hold around the Big Island, while a nearby surface ridge produces lighter east to southeast winds across the rest of the…
