Newsletter Schedule:

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday

• Thursday & Sunday - No Newsletter

Here is your fast news headlines:

Hilo man indicted for theft of three Toyota Tacomas and attempted ATM theft

A Hilo man named Wayne Emch, 41, was indicted by a grand jury for three separate incidents involving the theft of three Toyota Tacomas and the attempted theft of an ATM. The incidents occurred in different districts of Hawaii, between February 9 and March 2, 2023. Emch faces charges of Theft in the First Degree, Unauthorized Control of a Propelled Vehicle in the First Degree, and Attempted Theft in the Second Degree, among others. If convicted, he will face a mandatory prison term and will not be eligible for probation. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Soong, and anyone with information about the case should contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

Hilo Man Reported Missing: Mervin Nihau

The Hawaii Police Department seeks your help in locating a missing "at risk" person: Mervin Nihau, M-56, 175 lbs., gray hair, bro eyes. Last seen: Amau Road in Hilo, on 03-11-23 at 7:00 A.M. He is in need of medication. If you have information that can assist in helping safely locate Mervin Nihau, please call 911 or contact police dispatch at 808-935-3311.

HPD Requests Public Assistance Looking for Runaway

Ronald Patrick Keahonui Kahihikolo, a 44-year-old resident of Ocean View, has been charged with a number of crimes, including attempted murder, abuse of a family member, car theft, and firearms violations, after being apprehended in the Hāmākua district on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Kahihikolo had been the subject of a five-day manhunt following a domestic disturbance shooting on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The suspect was a wanted fugitive with numerous outstanding bench warrants.

In a related incident, 26-year-old Jacqueline Keana‘aina, a resident of Kailua-Kona, has also been charged with several felony and misdemeanor offenses following an officer-involved shooting incident on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Kona. Keana‘aina was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 32-year-old Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, who was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. The detectives had attempted to stop the vehicle, which was suspected to be stolen, and discovered two firearms, ammunition, and stolen credit cards during a subsequent search.

Following a multi-agency search involving land and air assets, Kahihikolo was eventually arrested on March 11th in the Hāmākua district, where he had abandoned a white Dodge sedan. He has been charged with several offenses, including second-degree attempted murder, and remains in custody with a bail of $263,000. Meanwhile, Keana‘aina has been charged with a litany of offenses, including attempted burglary, and is being held on $323,000 bail.

The Hawai‘i Police Department has expressed its gratitude to the public for their assistance in this matter. Both Kahihikolo and Keana‘aina are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, March 13th.

USGS Update: Kilauea No Eruption, Small Swarm of Quake

According to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Kīlauea volcano is not currently erupting. However, geophysical signals recorded by the observatory indicate that there was a magmatic intrusion beneath the summit of Kīlauea between approximately 11:00 a.m and 12:00 p.m. HST on March 11, 2023. Although seismicity has returned to background levels and ground deformation has stabilized as of 5:30 p.m. HST, there has been no observed lava on the surface. It is unlikely that eruptive activity will resume soon, but the possibility of another intrusion or resumption of activity in the near future cannot be ruled out.

A shallow earthquake swarm was detected beneath the summit of Kīlauea on March 11 between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. HST, followed by a Magnitude-3.4 earthquake located 4 km SW of Volcano, Hawaii, at a depth of approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) at 11:50 a.m HST. This earthquake was felt locally and caused a rockfall near Uēaloha in Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park. Seismicity returned to normal levels at around 12:00 p.m. HST.

Since March 7, the HVO tiltmeters have been recording an inflationary signal at Kīlauea summit, indicating that magma has been accumulating beneath the surface. Tilt excursions also coincided with the earthquake swarm on March 11. Although summit tilt has stabilized since approximately 12:00 p.m. HST, there is still some slow inflation.

Kīlauea remains at Alert Level WATCH and Aviation Code ORANGE, and there has been no unusual activity noted along the East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is continuously monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes for any changes.

County Calendar:

Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission-Regular Meeting - 03/13/2023 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Standardization Committee Meeting - 03/13/2023 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

ROAD WORK FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 11 – MARCH 17

PLEASE NOTE:

Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice.All projects are weather permitting.

— MAMALOHA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) PAHALA

Single lane closure on Mamaloha Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 53 and 55, on Akaka Fall Road and Kaupakuea Homestead Road, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) CAPTAIN COOK

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 108.9 and 109.3, on Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for installation of a new waterline. 

3) PAHALA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 44 and 46, on Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— MAMALOHA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 190) —

 1) WAIKOLOA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 17 and 19, Mamalahoa Highway and Waikoloa Road, on Monday March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) WAIKOLOA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 17.9 and 26.2, on Monday March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for installation of shoulder extension.

3) KALAOA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 26 and 28, on Monday March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

4) WAIKOLOA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 7 and 11, in vicinity of Waikoloa Road, on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

 — KEAAU-PAHOA ROAD (ROUTE 130) —

 1) KEAAU

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 2 and 5, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting. 

2) KEAAU (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 3 and 6, between Keaau-Pahoa Road and Orchid Land Drive on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— HONOMU ROAD (ROUTE 220) —

 1) HONOMU

Single lane closure on Honomu Road (Route 220) possible in either direction between mile markers 0 and 1.5, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— HAWAII BELT ROAD (ROUTE 19) —

1) HAKALAU

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 15 and 17, vicinity Old Mamalahoa Highway on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tree-trimming, vegetation cutting, and removal.

2) HAKALAU

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 17 and 19, vicinity Old Mamalahoa Highway and Hanamalo Lane, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tree-trimming, vegetation cutting, and removal. 

3) PAPAALOA TO LAUPAHOEHOE

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 23.09 and 27.68 for road resurfacing, between Kapehu Road and Stevens Road, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

4) KAMUELA

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 52 and 55, between Kekehau Street and Kakanihia Road, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for emergency tree-trimming work.

5) HAKALAU (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 14 and 16, on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tree-trimming, vegetation cutting, and removal. 

6) HAKALAU (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 14 and 17, on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tree-trimming, vegetation cutting, and removal.

— KOHALA MOUNTAIN ROAD (ROUTE 250) — 

1) KAMUELA

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 9 and 13 for road resurfacing, between Kapehu Road and Stevens Road, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

— KUAKINI HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) KAILUA-KONA

Single lane closure on Kuakini Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction in the vicinity of mile marker 113.9, near West Honalo Road, on Monday, March 13, through Friday, March 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for Kuakini Drainage Improvements.