Kauaʻi park among four more state parks to charge nonresidents for parking

Rooted in compassion and opportunity, the Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity will provide direct assistance to University of Hawai'i at Hilo students facing financial hardship, focusing on such basic needs as housing, food, transportation, communication, technology and access to essential resources.

Organization responds to 20% more home fires during the holiday months, many of which are sparked by cooking accidents, unattended candles or unsafe decorations.

Wailuku River State Park (Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots) in Hilo and Kekaha Kai State Park in Kona will begin charging parking fees for nonresidents and commercial vehicles; Hawaiʻi residents, however, will continue to receive free parking.

Hawai‘i joins the nation this year in observing the annual Smokeout today (Nov. 20), and Hawaiʻi Department of Health encourages island residents to use this date to quit — even if it is for a day.

Our kūpuna had an intimate relationship with the elements. They were keen observers of their environment, with all of its life-giving and life-taking forces. They had a nuanced understanding of the rains of their home. They knew that one place could have several different rains and that each rain was distinguishable from another. They knew when a particular rain would fall, its color, duration, intensity, the path it would take, the sound it made on the trees, the scent it carried, and the effect it had on people.

Community members are invited to celebrate the restoration of an ʻĪao Valley cultural facility with the blessing and grand reopening of Hale Hawaiʻi at Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens (below the state park) on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m., the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

Several restaurants at The Shops at Wailea will offer holiday dine-in and take-out menus on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 27. Four restaurants have confirmed special offerings.

During Utility Scam Awareness Week, Hawaiian Electric's security team is urging customers to be on alert for scammers who “threaten” to shut off power immediately to homes and businesses if payment is not made.