Big Island Gazette

06/17/2026

A murder trial is underway in Arkansas for former Big Island man Kacey Jennings, charged with capital murder in the death of ex-girlfriend and Kealakehe High classmate Allison Castro. In opening statements, neither side denied he shot and killed her.

06/17/2026

Hawaiʻi's Nearly Lost Heritage Distilled Spirit Returns

HILO, Hawaii -- More than a century after authentic ʻŌkolehao largely disappeared from commercial availability, Hawaiʻi's heritage distilled spirit is returning to the world stage — and winning. Ola's ʻŌkolehao has earned its seventh Double Gold medal, including a second consecutive Double Gold for its 4-Week Ocean Aged ʻŌkolehao at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The recognition adds to Ola's 78 international distilled spirits medals, helping position authentic Hawaiʻi-made ʻŌkolehao as one of the most-awarded emerging spirits in the world.

Hawaiʻi lawmakers have also passed House Bill 2475, legislation designed to protect the ʻŌkolehao name through clear production and labeling standards.

"For us, a seventh Double Gold is more than a medal count," said Naehalani Breeland, President and Co-founder of Ola. "It is continued validation that ʻŌkolehao belongs on the world stage, and that a spirit rooted in Hawaiʻi agriculture, culture, and history can stand alongside the best spirits being made anywhere."

ʻŌkolehao's story reaches back to the 1790s, when fermented kī root was first distilled in Hawaiʻi into what would become the islands' own native spirit. By 1889, Hawaiʻi had brought ʻŌkolehao to the Paris World Exposition, the same fair where the Eiffel Tower was unveiled and where Napa Valley wine earned landmark international recognition, with Inglenook wines receiving gold medals.

The spirit earned recognition again at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the same year the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown. In the generations that followed, many Hawaiian Kingdom-era industries, products, and cultural practices were disrupted, suppressed, or pushed out of public memory. While Napa Valley wine became one of the world's most celebrated regional categories, authentic ʻŌkolehao largely disappeared from modern commercial availability.

Ola is working to change that.

HB2475 would require ʻŌkolehao to be made with kī root, with a majority grown in Hawaiʻi, and the spirit distilled and bottled in the islands. The bill now awaits Governor Josh Green's signature.

Ola has raised and invested more than $20 million directly into the revival of ʻŌkolehao, including its oceanfront Hilo distillery, now open and positioned to scale authentic Hawaiʻi-made ʻŌkolehao for retail and broader distribution. Supporters can learn more at http://thespiritofhawaii.com .

06/17/2026

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park to Hold 65th Annual Cultural Festival and Fee Free Day

Hōnaunau, Hawaiʻi – On Saturday, June 27, Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park will host its annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival and celebrate the park’s 65th anniversary as a unit of the National Park Service. The park entrance fee is waived for this special day. The theme this year is, “Hoʻolono i ka leo o ka ʻāina,” or “Listen to the voice of the land.”

This event will feature cultural practitioners from Hawaiʻi Island sharing their crafts, hula performances, displays and information tables. The festival starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

The 65th Cultural Festival will be a fun and family-friendly event. Hats, sunscreen, and water are recommended. To protect fragile resources and preserve the historic setting of the park, picnicking, coolers, and chairs are not allowed in the Royal Grounds. No food is available in the park. This free event is co-sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, Friends of Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, and Nā Hoa Aloha o ka Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.

When: June 27, 2026 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Travel Highway 11 to mile marker 104, turn onto Highway 160 for three miles, turn left on Ke Ala o Keawe Road, and proceed to park entrance.

For more information visit the park website at nps.gov/puho or call 808-328-2326 for questions about the event.

06/16/2026

Hawai’i State Hospital Decompression Efforts allow for Additional Civil Commitments

HAWAII - The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) announced today that due to decompression efforts, the Hawai‘i State Hospital (HSH) has admitted the most civil commitments in more than 10 years, allowing the hospital to serve its community purpose of caring for civilly committed individuals.

As admissions of justice-involved individuals – those admitted through court-ordered forensic mental health proceedings related to criminal cases – have increased, HSH’s ability to serve civilly committed individuals has been significantly limited.

Under the leadership of Governor Josh Green, HSH has undertaken a coordinated effort to reduce its census of justice-involved patients, which has allowed HSH to again admit civilly committed residents as it had historically. To date in fiscal year 2026, HSH has admitted 10 civil commitments, which is the most since fiscal year 2014.

“Treating our residents who need advanced mental health care is an essential role of the Hawaiʻi State Hospital,” said Governor Green. “By carefully managing their resources and partnerships, HSH and DOH are taking concrete steps toward improving and expanding behavioral health care in our community by directing patients to the most appropriate level of services. These accomplishments would not be possible without the dedicated physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists and support staff at Hawaiʻi State Hospital, whose commitment to patient care helps improve the lives of some of Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable residents every day.”

These efforts include a renewed focus on ensuring that patients are receiving the most appropriate level of care by placing elderly and medically frail patients at skilled nursing facilities and releasing patients to care on their home islands. Additionally, new approaches to fitness restoration are being developed with positive results and HSH continues to explore new options to place patients who do not require hospital level of care.

HSH is also working with the other divisions of the Behavioral Health Administration to ensure programs and services are available in the community to support discharged patients.

“We are actively breaking down silos and working across the entire behavioral health system to ensure discharged HSH patients and all residents have access to necessary and appropriate mental health and substance use services,” said Dr. Courtenay Matsu, deputy director of the DOH Behavioral Health Administration. “This joint effort between DOH, the Governor’s Office, other state agencies and our community partners will enable us to better care for our most vulnerable community members.”

DOH remains committed to improving the statewide mental health system by incorporating new behavioral health models, expansion of services, and incorporation of best practices from across the country, including the implementation of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/news-release-hawai%ca%bbi-selected-for-behavioral-health-clinic-medicaid-demonstration-program/

06/16/2026

Community Informational Meeting for KOA Master Plan Update

KONA, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT) is holding its third community information meeting for the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) Master Plan Update. The meeting will be held on Monday, June 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway. There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m, with a question-and-answer portion to follow.

The master plan is the long-range planning document used to guide future improvements at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to review the initial master plan alternatives and share questions and feedback with the project team.

Anyone requiring an auxiliary aid or service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for non-English speaking persons, is asked to contact Christina McWhorter, HDOT Project Manager, at (808) 838-8817 or via email at [email protected] as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats.

For project information, please visit: www.koamasterplanupdate.com .

06/15/2026

Who wants to guess how much our Hawaii County Band(s), yes… both east side and west side bands… costs us Big Island residents each year for their once a month two hour gigs???

Six figures alone for just being the head of the band!!!

06/15/2026