Community

Preston Chong has been with Kaua‘i County’s Department of Parks and Recreation since 2020, serving as the department’s fiscal officer.

Due to the challenging Halekō Road design, workshops aimed at fostering community input are set for Tuesday, Jan. 13 and Thursday, Jan. 15.

One nation. Infinite pets. Only one baller-in-chief. Enter now for a chance to win the $3,000 grand prize and earn your furry family member the title of America’s Cutest Pet baller.

The Kauaʻi native portrays Kamehameha I in the Apple TV+ series and is co-founder and executive director of West Kauaʻi nonprofit and social enterprise Kumano I Ke Ala, where he leads initiatives dedicated to restoring ancestral relationships to ʻāina through education, food systems revitalization and Hawaiian language immersion.

Understanding SAR11 marine bacteria is vital because they are one of the main drivers of the global ocean’s life-support system; they move and recycle the carbon and nutrients that sustain all other marine life.

The choice is meant to highlight the enduring value of human-centered thinking, creativity and interpretation in an age of rapidly growing artificial intelligence.

The deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23; final determinations about which nonprofit organizations will receive funding will be made as Council on Revenue forecasts in January and March are published.

Officers Kevin Kamakahi and Branden Barroga were named October 2025 Employees of the Month, Public Safety workers Ernest Ganiron and Ronald Aceret were honored as November 2025 Employees of the Month and Officer Desmond Thain received the award for December 2025.

A holiday lane closure restriction continues through Jan. 4, 2026. Only closures with demonstrated need — such as those necessary for safety or to avoid lengthy construction delays — are approved.

Happy holidays from Kauaʻi County Office of Economic Development. The staff and administration wish you and your ʻohana a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026. Check out these updates about programs, grants and events happening around the island.

The traditional Hawaiian sporting events took place on Friday. Kumano I Ke Ala Executive Director Kaina Makua said the games are for everyone, and they bring the community together.

Vacancies for these officer positions are located across the state.

Kauaʻi Emergency Management Agency will continue wildfire preparedness efforts to give residents evacuation strategies and safety tips with an outreach event in Anahola on Jan. 13.

Each of the panel members bring deep experience in water resource management, ethics, agriculture and community development to critical areas of state service.

She might be from another island, but Theresa Chang’s lifetime defined by breathtaking resilience, including an incredible journey from addiction to academic success, is one that can and should inspire others; she even just recently accepted her bachelor of arts degree in communication from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo during the Dec. 20 fall commencement ceremony.

Holiday wishes were fulfilled for a total of 16,435 youth and seniors throughout The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division, but the need is growing and continues beyond the holidays; consider setting up your own Virtual Red Kettle campaign before the end of the year to help.

Trees must be bare and free of flocking, tinsel, stands and ornaments when brought to any of the recycling locations; also keep in mind that green waste sites are closed during inclement weather.

County issues reminder that the deadline to file an appeal is Dec. 31; a new online Real Property Tax Appeal application system also now live on county’s website.

Casey Watabu of Līhuʻe and teammate Matthew Ma of Pearl City, Oʻahu, are second alternates for the championship in the event the 2 Big Island men and second-place finishers in the qualifying round can’t make it for any reason.

And since it’s Christmas Eve, NORAD once again is tracking Santaʻs journey around the world to deliver toys to children.