Kauai News
High surf advisory in effect for north and south shores
A west-northwest swell is expected to peak tonight at advisory thresholds, bringing large breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet to those shorelines of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
‘Your local government cares for you’: Kawakami delivers State of the County Address
Mayor outlines $488.1 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget proposal that prioritizes infrastructure, affordable housing and improved customer service, starting with investing in the right equipment for county employees to do their jobs.
Kaua‘i streams flowing at record low levels
Less water means less availability for drinking water supplies, for traditional and customary practices and for agriculture. Recent rainfall helped the situation, but drought conditions are expected to persist.
Volcano Watch: All in a day’s work; determining magma storage depths at Kīlauea on the Big Island
By measuring the density of carbon dioxide trapped in bubbles formed in crystals as magma is under pressure underground, scientists can determine the depth at which the gas became trapped, and hence the depth of magma storage before eruption.
$21B biennium budget focused on core services, safety net approved by state House
After passing its third reading on the floor of the state House of Representatives on Wednesday, the state budget bill, House Bill 300, now goes to the state Senate for its consideration.
Voluntary pause on interisland transport of poultry, other bird species extended 90 days
State’s surveillance of avian influenza, or bird flu, continues, and while no other birds have become ill from the virus, it has been detected in waste water on the Big Island and Kauaʻi. So state officials, out of an abundance of caution, said extending the pause is prudent at this time.
Some Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex courts to be closed for resurfacing
The work is part of Kaua‘i County’s $3.1 million Playcourt Resurfacing Project, which also includes improvements at Wailua Homesteads, Wailua Houselots Park and Pūhi Park.
Kava Kaua‘i, Storybook Theatre team up for evening of peace, freedom in Hanapēpē
Rich tradition of kava — “The Drink of Peace” — and liberation found in ecstatic dance will combine tonight in Storybook Theatre’s new Arts In Motion Studio for a truly flowing evening.
Celebrate all things ʻukulele during the 2025 Kauaʻi ʻUkulele Festival
Free festival in Līhuʻe is more than just a festival though. It’s a community of music lovers, artists and volunteers who come together to create a unique and unforgettable experience, where you can discover the cultural significance the ʻukulele plays as Hawaiʻi’s ambassador of aloha and more.
UHERO report: Increase in construction lawsuits are factor in spike in housing costs
“Housing affordability in Hawaiʻi is already a serious challenge. As lawsuits become more frequent and larger in scale, they add financial uncertainty for developers, insurers and homebuyers alike.” — Trey Gordner, report lead author and a policy researcher at University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.
Update: Episode 13 of ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption ends as lava fountains stop abrubtly
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported geysers of molten rock ceased from north vent at 3:11 p.m. March 11 and then just 2 minutes later from south vent after just 12 hours and 37 minutes of eruptive activity in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.
Volunteers clean site more than 60 years after a missile’s crash landing
The missile was uncovered after years of grazing by a herd of feral goats before it was discovered in 2022 on a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands parcel by a lessee who was exploring the region.
Garden Isle sees little rain in the month of February
All of the gauges on Kauaʻi had near- to below-average rainfall totals for 2025 through the end of February.
Big Island teacher focusing on biodiversity leading voting in America’s Favorite Teacher competition
Kiane Prietto from Kanu o ka ʻĀina hopes to end Hawaiʻi’s tenure as the extinction capital of the world as she vies for the title of: “America’s Favorite Teacher.”
Kaua‘i High students collaborate to showcase art, agriculture, other elective programs
One class project at Kauaʻi High School expanded into a school-wide event that will offer performances, tours and interactive demonstrations.
Swim at your own risk: How EPA cuts could turn beach days into sick days
Significant loss in staff and subsequent budget cuts would cripple the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Clean Water Act and other critical environmental regulations.
Creating Kaua‘i’s ‘field of dreams for future generations’
Kaua‘i County Parks and Recreation hosts groundbreaking ceremony and blessing March 7 to kick off phase one of $12.2 million county improvement project at Vidinha Stadium in downtown Līhuʻe.
‘Ready, set, go!’: New playgrounds open at Pacific Missile Range Facility Child Development Center
The playgrounds — one for preschool children and another for toddlers — feature a popular treehouse-style theme. New fencing, extra-large canopies for shade, new bike paths and fall protection also were part of the project.
Update: High surf advisory remains in effect for north, west shores of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau
A moderate, medium- to long-period northwest swell is forecast to hold near peak level into tonight before slowly declining into early next week, keeping surf above advisory levels through Saturday night.
Protestors to fight discrimination, push for equity today at Hawaiʻi state Capitol
Pride at Work-Hawaiʻi protest in honor of International Women’s Day seeks future where everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, is treated respectfully and equitably.
