Edition: ALOHA FRIDAY February 3, 2023

Officer-involved Shooting in Hilo

HILO -- A portion of Mohouli Street in Hilo is closed due to an officer-involved shooting. The suspect is in custody and both the officer and the suspect are alive. Kumukoa Street between Mohouli and Ho'opuni Streets will be closed for the next 4 hours and motorists are advised to use Mohouli or Ponahawai Streets. Hawaii police will provide more information later in the day.

Hawai'i Energy Reintroduce Rebate Program

Hawaii Energy has introduced the state's renewed rebate program for electric vehicle charging stations. The program aims to expand Hawaii's public charging network and promote installations and upgrades across the state. The state-funded initiative, administered by Hawaii Energy, the state's Public Benefits Fund administrator, will provide a total of $592,000 in rebates for eligible installation projects that are completed between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. According to Caroline Carl, executive director of Hawaii Energy, the adoption of electric modes of transportation depends on having a robust EV charging infrastructure. The rebates will allow more businesses and facilities to install charging stations, thereby promoting EV usage and reducing carbon emissions in the state.

23 Suspected for DUI

During the week of January 23, 2023, through January 29, 2023, Hawai`i Island police arrested 23 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Eight of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Three of the drivers were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 95 DUI arrests compared with 83 during the same period last year, an increase of 14.45 percent.

After a review of all updated crashes, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services found 76 major accidents so far this year compared with 68 during the same period last year, an increase of 10.5 percent.

To date, there have been three fatal crashes, resulting in three fatalities, compared with 4 fatal crashes, resulting in 6 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 25 percent for fatal crashes, and a decrease 50 percent for fatalities.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

Public Hearing Notices:

County Council Notice of Public Hearing Date: 02/07/2023 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

• Location: Hawaiʻi County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 6:00 p.m. County Council Notice of Public Hearing - Bill No. 230 Draft 2: County of Hawaii Downtown Hilo Business Improvement District No. 2

County Council's Committee Meetings Date: 02/07/2023 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: Hawaiʻi County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720

• 9:00 a.m. Finance Committee

• 10:30 a.m. Policy Committee on Planning, Land Use, and Development

• 1:00 p.m. Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee

• 3:30 p.m. Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee

County Council Meeting

• Date: 02/08/2023 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

• Location: Hawaiʻi County Building 25 Aupuni StreetHilo, Hawaii 96720 9:00 a.m. Council Agenda

Leeward Planning Commission meeting Date: 02/16/2023 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Location: West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building AKailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

The meeting end time will be determined based on the items on the agenda and discretion of the Chair. Date and venue of the meeting is subject to change. Please contact the Planning Department at (808) 961-8288 to confirm.

Police Request Locating M

Hawai‘i Island police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating 26-year-old Khiara Lavinia Henry. She was reported missing on the island of Maui in late July 2019; however, her family recently received a tip of a possible sighting of her in Pahoa town on January 13, 2023.

Henry, who is from San Diego, California, traveled to Maui in July 2019 for a vacation. Her rental vehicle was later located along with some of her personal belongings at the Waiʻānapanapa State Park on July 21, 2019. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Henry is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, 120 pounds, with wavy brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone who may have seen Henry or has information on her whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Police Ask Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing Kona Woman Miriam Miller

Hawai‘i Island police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 53-year-old Miriam Miller of Kona, who was reported missing on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

Miller was last seen in the Kona area on November 23, 2022. She is described as a local woman with a medium build, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black shoulder-length hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with any information on her whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311, or Officer Joshua Flores at the Ka‘ū police station at (808) 939-2520.

Big Island Calendar for Week of Sunday, January 29 - Saturday, February 4

• February 2 - Windward Planning Commission Meeting on 02/02/2023 at 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Location: Hawaiʻi County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720

• February 2 - Liquor Commission Meeting on 2/2/2023 at 10:00am - 12:00pm, at the West Hawaii Civic Center Building G Meeting Room.

• February 3 - Food Truck Friday on 2/3/2023 between 4pm - 8pm at the Kona Target Parking Lot.

• February 4 - Cherry Blossom Festival on 2/4/2023 between 9am - 3pm at Church Row in Waimea.

• February 4 - The Hawai'i County Department of Environmental Management is hosting two household hazardous waste collection events. They are planned for February 4 in Kona and February 11 in Hilo and will run from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The acceptable waste includes items like automotive fluids, batteries, and pesticides. To ensure safety, residents are asked to remain in their vehicles and to follow physical distancing rules.

East Hawai‘i Lane Closures:

Volcano Road/Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11)

Between Hilo and Keaau (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 3-6 (E. Palai Street to Kipimana St.) on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

North of Pahala: Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 42-44 on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

North of Pahala (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 43-45 on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19)

Papaikou to Pepeekeo: Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 8-11 (Hanawi St. & Old Mamalahoa Rd.) on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM for vegetation cutting.

Hakalau: Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 13-14 (Kolekole Beach Park) on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM for vegetation cutting.

Hakalau to Ninole (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 14-20 (Kolekole Beach Park to 34-1122 Hawaii Belt Road) on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

Laupahoehoe: Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 23-28 (Kapehu Rd. to Stevens Rd.) on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 3 PM for paving.

West Hawai‘i Lane Closures:

Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190)

Kailua-Kona (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 30-32 (Makalei Golf Club to Makalei Dr.) on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

Honaunau to Captain Cook (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 105-109 (Filipino Clubhouse Rd. to Kiloa Rd.) on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

Kuakini Highway (Route 11)

Honalo: Single lane closure possible in either direction near mile marker 114 (West Honalo Rd.) on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 3 PM for Kuakini Drainage Improvements.

Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250)

Kamuela (Weekend work): Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 0-6 (Kawaihae Rd. to Koaiʻa Tree Sanctuary) on Sat. & Sun. (Jan. 28-29) from 8:30 AM to 5 PM for vegetation cutting.

Kohala: Single lane closure possible in either direction between mile markers 2-9 (past Kohala Ranch Rd.) on Mon-Fri (Jan. 30-Feb. 3) from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

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