Hawaii
Civil Beat In Kona Friday For Hawaii County Mayoral Forum
The Nov. 5 election is less than two months away, and one of the hottest contests in the islands will determine who leads Hawaii County for the next four years.
Mayor Mitch Roth and challenger Kimo Alameda were the top finishers in the Aug. 10 primary, but neither cleared the 50% plus one vote threshold to avoid a runoff.
This Friday, Civil Beat will host a pop-up elections event with both candidates at the Old Airport Pavilion in Kailua-Kona. It’s at 75-5560 Kuakini Highway from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and doors open just after 5 p.m. The moderator is Civil Beat Politics Editor Chad Blair.

More than 200 people have registered to attend, but there’s room at the pavilion for more. Click here to register.
And it’s not a formal debate: There will be no buzzers or 30-second rebuttals. But we will give both candidates the chance to respond to an array of issues important to the Big Island.
And if you have any questions you would like to ask the candidates, please submit them here or bring your questions to the forum.
An added bonus: Spam musubi.
Civil Beat has scheduled other election pop-ups, too. Click here for more information.

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Hawaii
First Alert Forecast: Classic Hawaii trade wind weather
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Partly to Mostly Sunny skies with windward and mauka showers drifting leeward at times. Most of the rainfall will be light and in the overnight to early morning hours with an increasing trend on Tuesday and stronger trends on Thursday and Friday; which is good because we need to beneficial rainfall.
View the latest weather conditions here.
Trade winds will continue blowing from the east all week while a high-pressure system sits north of Hawaii, keeping conditions mostly stable. On Tuesday, a weak weather system moving in from the east will bring some extra showers across the islands, but nothing major. A more significant system arrives Thursday through Friday—it’s actually the leftover remains of a tropical cyclone—and will bring noticeably heavier rain, especially on the windward sides of the islands (the sides facing the trade winds) and on mountain slopes, with humidity increasing as well. The highest rainfall will happen Thursday through Friday, though overall rainfall amounts will stay limited due to large-scale stability in the atmosphere.
A Small Craft Advisory now in effect for all Hawaiian waters (a warning for smaller boats to be cautious). A new long-period swell from the south-southwest is already moving in and will boost south shore surf heights to near-High Surf Advisory levels through Monday before gradually fading. East-facing shores will remain rough and choppy throughout the week from the strong winds, while north-facing shores will stay relatively flat. These windy conditions and Small Craft Advisories will continue through the entire week.
Download the HNN Weather app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for the latest updates from your First Alert Weather Team: chief meteorologist Jennifer Robbins, meteorologist Drew Davis, and weather anchors Guy Hagi, Ben Gutierrez, and Billy V.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Fatal crash closes H-1 West near Aala St. overpass
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A woman has died after a crash that shut down the H-1 Freeway westbound in Honolulu Saturday.
According to the Honolulu Police Department, officers responded to a single-vehicle crash just before 6 p.m. near the Aala Street overpass.
Sources said a woman in her late 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.
First responders remain on scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
The city said via HNL Alert that all westbound lanes of the freeway near the Aala Street overpass are closed and access is restricted to emergency vehicles only.
Officials said those on the H-1 West are being diverted off the freeway at the North School Street cutoff.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
La Hoihoi Ea highlights Native Hawaiian perspective amid 4th of July celebrations
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As the United States marks 250 years as a nation today, another observance is highlighting Hawaiian sovereignty and history.
A Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration is taking place today at Iolani Palace in Honolulu, offering a Native Hawaiian perspective alongside U.S. 250th anniversary observances.
The event highlights Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day), which commemorates the 1843 restoration of Hawaiian Kingdom sovereignty after a brief British occupation. Although traditionally observed on July 31, related events are being held throughout the month.
Today’s program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes protocol ceremonies, a historical reenactment, music, and community speakers. Musicians and speakers begin at 11 a.m. on the bandstand.
The event also includes screen-printing, and discussions on topics such as geothermal energy and RIMPAC.
Organizers say the gathering is meant to create space for Native Hawaiian voices and reflection on history, sovereignty, and the future of Hawai’i.
For more information about events click here.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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