Big Island Video News map from the Final Master Plan for the new park in HPP Hawaiʻi - The Department of Parks & Recreation will host a community meeting on Wednesday to discuss plans for the new district park in HPP (BIVN) – Plans for a new district park in Puna’s Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision are in the works with a community meeting set for early October to discuss the project The Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks & Recreation will host a community meeting on Wednesday The gathering will take place at the Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association Community Center at 15-1570 Maku‘u Drive “The new park would be developed on a County-owned 25th Avenue and 26th Avenue,” a County news release stated “The park is principally intended to serve residents of HPP and the Puna District and support healthy lifestyles and healthy families.”  Officials say the public meeting is a continuation of the master planning process for the proposed park The Environmental Assessment for the park project will be discussed and the meeting will “provide opportunities for the public to share feedback on the design and amenities to be offered at the park” To learn more about the project background, visit this website Filed Under: Uncategorized Copyright © 2025 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in Privacy Policy | About Our Ads Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation proposes a new district park in Hawaiian Paradise Park and wants to know what the community thinks about its plans The department is hosting a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m today at the Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association Community Center The new park would be developed on a county-owned 20-acre parcel bordered by Kaloli Drive and mainly serve residents of Hawaiian Paradise Park and greater Puna in support of healthy lifestyles and families Tonight’s community meeting is a continuation of the master planning process for the proposed park It will include discussion about the project’s environmental assessment process and provide community members the chance to share feedback on its design and amenities it will offer Click here to learn more and sign up for project updates including when the draft environmental assessment is published and available for public comment Hawai’i Police DepartmentArea I Vice SectionActing Lieutenant Kelly MonizPhone: (808) 961-2259Report No.: 24-045936 Hawai‘i Island Police arrested a woman and two men in connection with illegal cockfighting in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision members of the Hawai’i Police Department’s Area I Vice Section assisted by members of the Criminal Investigation Section executed a search warrant on a residence on 18th Avenue in Keaau where over 100 people were estimated in attendance at a cockfighting event During the search of the residence and property and a small amount of marijuana.  Taskforce Officers from Homeland Security also seized approximately $20,000 in in US currency All three parties were released pending further investigation The investigation into this operation and its organizers is ongoing at this time.  Police ask that anyone who has information about the event to please contact Detective Scotty Aloy of the Area I Vice Section at (808) 961-2207 or by email at Scotty.Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov The Hawai‘i Police Department is committed to working cooperatively with the community to improve the quality of life of island residents, and provide a safer environment for everyone. Police encourage residents to report suspicious and illegal activity to the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. The Crime Stoppers TV Program is available on-demand from Nā Leo TV. This site is only for accessing historical media releases prior to November 12 Visit our new site for up to date information Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox committed suicide after he was determined to be the source of semen and other DNA found on Ireland’s body and around the crime scene in 1991 Hawaii island police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said police didn’t have probable cause to arrest a new suspect in the 1991 Dana Ireland murder case before he killed himself last week.  was recently confirmed to be the source of semen and other DNA retrieved from Ireland’s body and a T-shirt soaked with Ireland’s blood found near the crime scene.  beaten and left on a fishing trail in Puna on Christmas Eve 1991 She died the next day at Hilo Medical Center.  The DNA evidence that identified Lauro was enough to show that he sexually assaulted Ireland but the statute of limitations had expired to charge him with rape Moszkowicz said. Police lacked probable cause to bring him in on a murder charge.  “We felt then and we continue to feel that the presence of Lauro’s DNA at the crime scene was in and of itself not sufficient to prove that Lauro intentionally or knowingly caused her death,” he said.  Lauro agreed to meet with detectives at the Hilo police station on July 19 and spoke with them for an hour Officers took a court-ordered cheek swab of Lauro before letting him go.  Moszkowicz would not share what was discussed at the police station but said “Nothing from that conversation gave us any additional evidence that we could use to arrest Lauro at the end of the day …  “He did give us some information about what he did or did not remember he did not disclose anything that we felt added to that probable cause threshold.” Moszkowicz declined to say how he killed himself or whether he left a note.  In a motion filed Sunday Hawaii and New York Innocence Project attorneys said police mishandled the investigation by not arresting Lauro the same day they collected his cheek swab.  traced Lauro using the crime scene samples public records and other information like ancestry DNA analysis showed the suspect had 80% Filipino ancestry He also lived about two miles from where Ireland was found Officers later conducted surveillance on Lauro to collect an abandoned DNA sample — a sample discarded in a public place that police can retrieve without alerting a suspect They followed him to a restaurant where they saw him eating a plate lunch before putting his fork in a box and throwing it in the trash Moszkowicz said. Police collected the fork from the trash and compared the DNA to the crime scene samples Moszkowicz said if police had arrested Lauro on July 19 without probable cause they would have risked that any evidence gleaned following his arrest would be excluded from an eventual prosecution.  police hoped he would continue to cooperate Any future decision to indict Lauro would have been made by the prosecutor’s office based on evidence provided by the police department.  But Innocence Project attorneys say the department did have probable cause to arrest Lauro and his suicide has now left investigators with few avenues to find out what really happened to Ireland Hawaii Innocence Project co-director Ken Lawson said Lauro had a wife and police should have known he would be a suicide risk after finding out he was a suspect.  Lauro’s Facebook page is filled almost exclusively with pictures of him fishing with family and friends and showing off his catches.  Moszkowicz said he was arrested on a shoplifting charge in 1987 but has an otherwise clean criminal record.  A message left at a phone number listed for Lauro’s home was not returned Monday evening.  Moszkowicz said police were searching Lauro’s cellphone and interviewing other witnesses He asked anyone with information about the case to contact the department.  “We remain committed as we have since day one to solving this case,” he said it is our responsibility to provide justice for the victim.”  Innocence Project attorneys accuse the department of having a conflict of interest because of its earlier arrest of suspects later exonerated The attorneys represent Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer two brothers who were convicted of Ireland’s murder in 2000 and exonerated last year.  A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Hilo Circuit Court on the motion which asks the court to compel the police department and prosecutor’s office to release all documentation and evidence related to its investigation of Lauro.  Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Madeleine Valera is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at mlist@civilbeat.org and follow her on Twitter at @madeleine_list. Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems Megan currently serves as Only In Your State's Manager of Editorial Megan received a degree in Mass Media in her home state of Minnesota before living in Honolulu escaping into the mountains for long scenic drives Share LinkEveryone In Hawaii Should See What’s Inside The Gates Of This Abandoned ZooParadise Park in Hawaii is a fascinating site reclaimed by nature and featured in the TV series Lost Located in upper Manoa Valley amongst a lush tropical rainforest is this former aviary zoo, once a major tourist attraction. there has been quite a lot of interest in purchasing the land for development but all the potential deals have fallen through It seemingly calls to those of us with an urban explorer's spirit to come closer Doug Anderson/YouTubeIn its more than 20 years of being reclaimed by the rainforest, the park was also used in the filming of the hit television series, Lost. You might even recognize it from the show! Doug Anderson/YouTube…but few things remain as fascinating and terrifying at the same time as the run-down and legendary Paradise Park in Hawaii Have you ever heard of Paradise Park in Hawaii Did you ever visit when it was an operating zoo share your experiences with us in the comments Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... This Airbnb with a fishing pond in Louisiana is an angler's paradise. The two-acre, catch-and-release oasis is stocked with bass, bream, and catfish. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! By Michael Brestovansky Hawaii Tribune-Herald Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz addresses residents Wednesday at a community meeting for Hawaiian Paradise Park’s first district park Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading. Hawaii County officials say the first public park in Hawaiian Paradise Park won’t be finished for another four years at the earliest. The Department of Parks and Recreation held a community meeting in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Wednesday to discuss the subdivision’s long-awaited district park, a project that has been in development since 2018. The project would be built on a county-owned parcel on Kaloli Drive between 25th and 26th avenues. County Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Messina said at the meeting that the project has taken so long because of a lack of resources following years of reduced budgets for his department. Messina said that when he was appointed director, he decided not undertake any new large-scale projects until the department could make progress toward addressing years of deferred maintenance at other park facilities around the island. But even as the project finally begins to move forward, it will still be years before Hawaiian Paradise Park residents can enjoy the park. Parks and Recreation planner James Komata said even the most “favorable timeline” for the park would require 12 months to 18 months to complete a final design, another 12 months to 18 months to complete the permitting process and another two years to complete construction. Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said she hopes the entire park will be completed in a single phase of work, rather than be split into multiple phases that each take years to complete. Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE! “Have you ever seen phase two actually happen?” Kierkiewicz asked, prompting laughter from attendees. However, the project has a steep price tag — more than $80 million, according to preliminary cost estimates. Kierkiewicz said the county will seek federal grants and will appeal to the state Legislature next year to secure funding, and wondered aloud if any philanthropic-minded billionaires happen to live in Hawaiian Paradise Park. When attendees asked why the county hasn’t attempted to secure funding in the years since the project began development, Komata said the county “can’t get funding for a half-baked project.” Until a final design is completed and a final cost is calculated, the county can’t solicit funds. As outlined in a preliminary design, the 20-acre park could include facilities such as a pool, skate park, community center, baseball diamond and more. Meanwhile, the park also would require new water and electrical infrastructure, as well as substantial parking space. The preliminary design includes over 200 parking stalls. Attendees at the meeting were largely positive about the prospect of a new park, with several residents noting they were late attending the meeting because they had to pick up their keiki from the next closest public park, the William “Billy” Kenoi District Park in Pahoa. The biggest concern residents had about the park was security. On one hand, attendees said, with too little fencing, feral pigs will be able to enter the park freely and wreak havoc. On the other, too much fencing could run counter to the park’s goal of being a welcoming public space. “We shouldn’t be designing a fortress,” said one attendee. “We don’t want to design a project to keep the homeless out. How many homeless people do you even see in HPP?” Komata said additional public meetings will take place as the project progresses. A draft environmental assessment for the park is expected to be completed within the next month, which will trigger a 30-day public comment period. A final assessment could be completed by early 2025, which would allow the county to finalize the design. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. #2-200Honolulu, HI 96813(808) 529-4747 Hawai‘i Police DepartmentPuna PatrolOfficer Alipate MoleniPhone: (808) 965-2716Report No.:  24-09845 Hawai‘i Island police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Serenity Cordero who was reported as a runaway. She was last seen Friday, October 25, 2024, around 10:00 p.m., on 22nd Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision wearing a black colored hoodie and long pants. She is described as a local looking female with a medium build and a fair complexion, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 140 pounds, long brown hair and brown eyes. She has a small birth mark on her right bicep area.   Police ask anyone with information on Cordero’s whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311. One person suffered minor injuries following a garage fire in Kea‘au Tuesday evening Hawai‘i Fire Department responded to the blaze located on the 15-1700 block of 29th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park crews saw heavy smoke coming from the left side of a 2,302-square-foot single-story double-wall wood house with a metal roof which was attached to a garage that was fully engulfed in flames one of whom suffered minor injuries but declined medical treatment Firefighters began an offensive attack on the fire in the 461-square-foot garage It was extinguished before spreading into the main structure and living areas Hawaiian Electric disconnected power to the residence as fire crews overhauled the scene Hawai‘i Island police and the Red Cross responded Estimated losses due to the fire are $50,000 Hawaiʻi - A concerned citizen reported an active burglary at a home on 21st Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision on Saturday afternoon (BIVN) – A 33-year-old Hilo man was arrested over the weekend and charged with various property and traffic offenses stemming from an incident that began in Hawaiian Paradise Park and charged on Sunday afternoon with the following offenses: Police described the incident in a news release: Responding to a report of an active burglary at residence located on the 15-1500 block of 21st Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision officers observed a heavily tinted silver Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with no front license plate parked near a warehouse on the rear of the property As an officer exited the passenger side of a police subsidized vehicle the operator of the truck revved its engine and accelerated at a high rate of speed towards the officer and police vehicle the officer jumped back into the police vehicle before the truck veered to its right The truck then reversed aggressively towards the police vehicle striking the driver’s side door causing damage The front driver’s side tire of the truck was observed to be deflated after running over the fence officers attempted a traffic stop on the truck utilizing their blue lights and siren The truck refused to stop and led police on a slow pursuit out of the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision The truck eventually came to a stop on Road 6 a male party carrying a black back pack was exited the driver’s door and female party carrying a gray back pack exited the passenger’s door Both parties then fled on foot and ran into the nearby bushes dropping the backpacks just before entering They were both apprehended by police approximately 10 feet in the bushes and the female party was identified as Carolyn Samson Both were arrested and transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Facility for booking The truck and backpacks were recovered as evidence and secured pending the execution of search warrants Officers then conducted a registered owner check on the pick-up truck using the Vehicle Identification Number which revealed that the truck was stolen from a residence located on the 20 block of Ka’apuni Street in Hilo sometime during the late evening of July 27 search warrants were executed on the truck and backpacks which resulted in the recovery of small amounts of methamphetamine and a blue round pill imprinted with “M30” which tested for the presence of fentanyl The officers within the vehicle struck by Mata were not injured Mata was unable to post the $240,000 bail and made his initial court appearance on Monday afternoon Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or via email at jeremy.kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov Overgrown grass and brush is seen on June 7 around the house that was built on the wrong lot in Hawaiian Paradise Park A construction company that mistakenly built a house on a Hawaiian Paradise Park lot owned by a California woman has been ordered to pay for the demolition of the structure and removal of debris Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim issued the order Monday in response to a request for a preliminary injunction by Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds The contractor who built the house for Keaau Development Partnership is Patrick John Lawrence Jr. Kim denied Reynolds’ request seeking to restore her 1-acre lot — which she purchased for $22,000 at a county tax auction in 2018 — to its original deeming it “impossible to return the real property to its original state.” Reynolds will be able to present a case at trial for any and all damages if appropriate,” the judge noted in his order The judge also ruled that Reynolds is entitled to “reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.” Kim ruled that PJ’s can seek reimbursement in court for the demolition from KDP KDP sued PJ’s and Rey­nolds after learning the house had been built on her 8th Avenue lot rather than an adjacent lot owned by KDP The civil litigation came after Reynolds rejected KDP’s offer of the adjacent lot in a proposed land swap and made a counter-offer the developer found unacceptable and KDP is seeking general damages of $307,318 and special damages between $200,000 and $300,000 for lost profits had the home been sold The judge heard evidence on Reynolds’ motion for injunction in his Kona courtroom on three dates in April He ruled that Reynolds is likely to prevail at trial “on the merits as she is an innocent victim in this case.” but an entire house was built (on the wrong lot),” Kim wrote “This included complete grading of (Reynolds’ lot) installation of a septic tank and construction of a catchment system.” Kim ruled that both the developer and contractor “intentionally took a big risk” by proceeding with the lot-clearing and construction without having a survey done “By taking a chance they assumed the risk that a negligent mistake could be made,” he noted Both Lawrence and Rey­nolds said they learned the house was built on the wrong property from Dana Kenny of Savio Realty after Kenny sold the completed home for the developer and ran a title check for the prospective buyer The developer and contractor argued that Reynolds didn’t have clear title to the property because Leora White the prior lot owner who had defaulted on the tax bill hadn’t been found and given notice by the county Kim ruled PJ’s and KDP “failed to present sufficient evidence … to establish that Ms Reynolds’ deed was defective.” County Planning Director Steven Pause testified that the home had the proper building permits but they were issued for the adjacent property owned by KDP “The public interest supports the granting of injunctive relief caused by the negligence of KDP and PJ because the structures violate the law based on the sworn testimony of Director Pause,” Kim found “are restrained and enjoined from entering or conducting any activities or operations on the real property” owned by Reynolds to present to the court three licensed contractors not previously associated with KDP or PJ’s to remove the unauthorized structures on her lot Those companies are to submit estimates for the demolition of the structures and removal of debris with the court selecting a contractor and approving the budget proposal “All other claims involving damages are to be reserved for trial,” Kim wrote A trial scheduling conference is set for July 29 because he is retiring from the bench Monday A Hilo woman and two Kea‘au men were arrested last weekend after law enforcement busted an illegal cockfight in Puna All three were released pending further investigation Members of the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Vice Section with assistance from members of the Criminal Investigation Section and Puna Patrol as well as U.S May 18 at a residence on 18th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park where it’s estimated more than 100 people were attending the cockfight During their search of the residence and property police recovered 25 dead birds; four injured birds; cockfighting paraphernalia including gambling records; and a small amount of marijuana Homeland Security officers also seized about $20,000 in cash The investigation into this operation and its organizers is ongoing Anyone who has information about the cockfight last weekend in Hawaiian Paradise Park is asked to contact Detective Scotty Aloy at 808-961-2207 or by email at Scotty.Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 The Hawai‘i Police Department encourages Big Island residents to report any suspicious and illegal activity via the department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 Haunting holiday happenings continue around the Big Island today and tonight with more Halloween festivities There’s trails that will scare your socks off and plenty of family fun to be had at pumpkin patches and fall fests Even the residents of Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens in Hilo are getting into the spooky spirit Check out all the frightfully festive events below Big Island Now news reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story Anthony Booker continues to be a busy bee as he develops a new agribusiness on the Big Island while still learning the ropes of sustainable farming and beekeeping The former Petty Officer Second Class dental hygienist in the Navy did not begin as a natural beekeeper making many mistakes in the beginning before discovering Hoʻola Farms and its programs for veterans But through the nonprofit’s classes and guidance, Booker became a quick study. Last year, he entered his bright, yellow honey in the annual Big Island Beekeeper Associationʻs Hawaiian Honey Challenge and during his first year of producing honey he earned first place in the Peopleʻs Choice for Light Liquid Honey.  the 52-year-old is keeping two types of bees that produce two types of honey and has officially started his own agribusiness – Big Bʻz Hawaiian Honey It all started when he moved from Washington to Hawaiʻi during the COVID-19 pandemic After Booker saw the high price of honey in stored he began beekeeping on his property in Hawaiian Paradise Park But the tutorials he watched and read online did not bode well for the bees in his four hives that were living on the islands “I bought hives before I took a class and “Hawaiʻi is one of the places you donʻt have to feed your bees you donʻt have to winterize them and it rains enough here that water isnʻt necessary When my instructor found out I was feeding them but he learned from his mistakes through education and guidance at Ho’ola Farms a place he said was a perfect match for him “A big part of me moving to Hawaiʻi was that I knew I wanted about an acre of land to grow edible plants that I could forage and use to live sustainably,” Booker said “I started taking classes with Ho’ola Farms and really enjoyed the things I learned They gave us the opportunity to get out there and see what other people were doing and how they were going about farming on the island.”  Hoʻola Farms provides educational training in agriculture and hands-on experiences for the community with an emphasis on military veterans and first responders as well as their families and caregivers While growing food can be a great therapy for veterans and first responders Hoʻola Farms also hopes to create a more sustainable future for the people of Hawaiʻi Island.  Financial for Farmers and the Art of Beekeeping which was helpful because he already had four hives on his property in Hawaiian Paradise Park Hoʻola Farms’ four-week course is taught by Susan Collins, a beekeeper, educator and founder of Bird and Bee Hawaiʻi and includes virtual classes and field days at local Collins is able to teach students about the importance of pollinators and the honey bee for Hawaiʻi Booker has nurtured his hives to a healthy place but I really enjoy it and I thought the bright yellow honey the bees were making was so good,” Booker said “My four hives quickly turned into six hives and I’m now at eight hives and have two more to put together.” While he has not sold much honey in Hawaiʻi Booker found there is demand for it on the mainland.  “I have some things in the works and family members in Florida interested in selling the honey there which is great for me,” Booker said “I have sent both types of honey to friends and family back home on the mainland and everyone loves it There is definitely a demand for Hawaiian honey there While he is pursuing beekeeping and his honey business Booker is also studying massage therapy and will be finishing school in December “Massage therapy is just the complete opposite of dentistry in that people actually want to go to their massage appointments and are sad when Iʻm booked,” Booker said “Massage therapy is great for many reasons This will help open my time to taking care of the hives growing my own edible garden and working on my other goals.” Many of Bookerʻs long-term goals are ideas that would increase the access to healthy foods that are produced sustainably for everyone on Hawaiʻi Island “Since being here and learning more about agriculture one of the things I personally want to do is find a way to plant fruit trees every 50 to 100 yards in downtown Hilo so people donʻt have to worry about starving,” Booker said imagine if every house had just one fruit tree outside their property that produced fruit for everyone to share Booker is excited to dedicate more time to working toward a future of living sustainably by growing food for himself and his community He also hopes to encourage the people who move to Hawaiʻi about the importance of growing food “Food sovereignty is a big part of Hoʻola Farms and I really appreciated the education surrounding the idea of making Hawaiʻi Island sustainable for Hawaiʻi Island,” Booker said we need to be able to stand by ourselves while also sharing with one another.” For anyone interested in starting a business and learning the basics of sustainable agriculture in Hawaiʻi Booker highly recommends the programs through Hoʻola Farms meet several people doing what I wanted to do use a commercial kitchen in Hilo and learn how to maintain a sustainable garden,” Booker said “College classes donʻt aways give you that hands-on experience and this was what really helped me start my own agribusiness.” he has only one piece of advice for anyone interested in pursuing it as a small business or hobby: “Take a beekeeping introduction class before getting hives A Puna man faces several charges including burglary and auto theft after being caught on surveillance breaking into a Hawaiian Paradise Park business and taking a company truck without permission Hawai‘i Police Department reports that 32-year-old Dylan Jessen Gapp of Kea‘au is charged with: Gapp was also charged with failure to appear and discharge of sureties Gapp remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance this afternoon in Hilo District Court The charges stem from an incident reported shortly before 3:30 p.m The owner of a business located on 33rd Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park reported to police that Gapp was seen on video surveillance breaking into the business and taking a company vehicle without permission Responding Puna patrol officers immediately saw the vehicle in the business’ driveway upon their arrival — with Gapp in the driver’s seat Gapp fled the area in the truck at a high rate of speed as officers approached Puna patrol officers proactively patrolling shortly before 11 a.m 23 in Hawaiian Paradise Park saw the stolen truck in the driveway at a 14th Avenue residence Officers went to confirm the truck’s identity and saw Gapp standing next to it Gapp fled the area on foot with a backpack as officers approached Gapp later stumbled into a small ditch and was arrested without further incident The backpack he was carrying was also recovered Officers saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the truck which was recovered and towed to the Hilo Police Station evidence cage Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Vice detectives later served a search warrant on the Dodge Ram and the backpack resulting in the recovery of a small amount of cocaine Anyone with information relative to this investigation is asked to contact Detective David Po’ohina at 808-961-2385 or via email at David.Poohina@hawaiicounty.gov You can also call Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311 Greggor Ilagan continues to host his “12 Days of Puna Town Halls.” The holiday season meetings are an effort to reach out to and engage with the residents of the lawmaker’s district Ilagan represents District 4 of the Hawai’i House of Representatives which includes Black Sands Beach Subdivision “My office and I will be engaging with constituents reviewing projects and discussing priorities for the 2025 legislative session,” he said “It’s a perfect opportunity for residents to share topics important to their community.” Ilagan hosted three meetings so far the first week of December Here is the schedule for the rest of the “12 Days of Puna Town Halls”: For more information about the town hall meetigns and stay up to date, click here Weather This color-enhanced satellite image shows rainy weather over the Hawaiian islands this morning A flash flood warning for Hawaii island has been issued until 10:45 p.m leading to the opening of three emergency shelters radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain over primarily windward southeast and interior portions of the Big Island Rain was falling at a rate of up to 3 inches per hour,” the National Weather Service warning said “This is leading to significant rises in water levels in streams and rivers with stream gauges at Honolii Stream and Wailuku River exceeding minor flood stage of 15 feet and 18 feet respectively Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.” Areas that will experience flash flooding include Hilo Evacuation shelters have been opened in Kau District/Robert N A flood watch through Tuesday afternoon covers the island and Maui “Deep tropical moisture associated with a trough of low pressure will continue to progress westward across the state through Tuesday,” officials said in the flood watch “This combined with a disturbance aloft will maintain the threat for heavy rain especially over windward portions of the Big Island and Maui.” The flash flood warning for Hawaii island has been extended until 7:30 p.m radar indicated heavy rain over primarily windward southeast and interior portions of the Big Island,” National Weather Service officials said “Rain was falling at a rate of up to 3 inches per hour and up to 7 inches of rain has fallen since this morning in some areas This is leading to significant rises in water levels in streams and rivers “Highway-11 near Kawa Flats is now closed between mile markers 57 and 62 due to flooding Evacuation shelters are open at the Keaau Armory in Keaau and Ka‘u District/Robert N All of Hawaii island and Maui are under a flood watch through Tuesday afternoon A flash flood warning is in effect for Hawaii island through 5 p.m Puna and south Hilo falling at a rate of up to 4 inches per hour Honolii Stream and Wailuku River are continuing to rise Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly Public road closures are possible in some areas Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Hilo A flood advisory has been posted through 1 p.m showed heavy rain over south and east areas of Hawaii island at rates of up to 2 inches per hour Some locations that will experience flooding include Residents and visitors are warned to stay away from streams drainage ditches and low-lying areas prone to flooding The advisory may need to be extended if flooding persists A flood watch remains in effect for the island of Maui and Hawaii island through Tuesday with the National Weather Service warning of flash flooding risks strong surf and hazardous conditions for small craft Weather officials say that heavy rainfall is expected mostly affecting the windward areas of Maui and Hawaii island due to an influx of tropical moisture This could lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas and urban zones resulting from elevated runoff Residents and visitors are advised to avoid flood-prone roads and monitor local forecasts A high surf advisory also continues through 6 p.m covering north and west-facing shores across Niihau Molokai and the north-facing shores on Maui Waves reaching 12 to 16 feet on north shores and 8 to 12 feet on west shores will create dangerous swimming conditions Beachgoers are urged to follow guidance from ocean safety officials A small craft advisory is in place for Maui County’s windward waters Maalaea Bay and channels around Hawaii island with east winds up to 25 knots creating challenging conditions through early Tuesday morning Forecasters expect locally heavy rain and thunderstorms across Maui and Hawaii island through Tuesday a cold front will approach the islands Wednesday stalling and dissipating as a new high builds northward The shift is expected to bring wetter tradewinds and breezy to windy conditions by late week Tuesday update: Kimberly Edwards was found in good health in Pāhoa Original post: Hawai‘i Island police are seeking the public’s help finding a woman from Puna last seen this morning was last seen on the 13th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park Edwards was last seen wearing a white tank top shirt and blue jeans She is considered endangered and may need medical attention Police ask anyone with information about Edwards’ whereabouts is urged to call the department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-3311 Monday update: All weather advisories for Hawai‘i Island are canceled following Hurricane Hone which brought rain and flooding over the weekend Sunday update: A flash flood warning is canceled for portions of East Hawai‘i as Hurricane Hone A flood advisory is in effect till 2:15 a.m The flood advisory was issued for all of Hawai‘i Island radar at the National Weather Service in Honolulu indicated periods of heavy rain overthe Big Island Rain was falling at a rate of up to 1 inch per hour along a shower band moving through the Kona District Water ponding remains over some Big Island roadways and water levels remain high in local streams due to recent heavy rainfall Sunday update: A flash flood warning for portions of Hawai‘i Island is once again extended till 12:30 a.m radar showed bands of moderate to heavy rain moving into the windward slopes and southeast flank of the Big Island Rain rates are falling around 1 inch per hour with the potential for heavier showers developing in the 1 to 2 inches per hour range later tonight Periods of heavy showers over the windward and southeastern slopes on already saturated ground may quickly lead to additional flash flooding Water levels in area rivers and streams will likely continue to run high through the night Some areas along the affected windward and southeastern slopes remain flooded at this time Sunday update: The flash flood warning for portions of the Big Island was extended till 9:15 p.m radar showed bands of heavy rain moving into the windward slopes and southeast flank of the Big Island Rain rates have briefly increased with rates of up to 3 inches per hour The heaviest rain was generally falling over the slopes of South Hilo and Puna districts and Wood Valley Road and Cane Haul Road remain closed near Pāhala Rainfall rates have decreased in these areas and emergency management reported that water is receding but roads still remain closed Bands of heavy rainfall will continue through the evening hours but rainfall should gradually decline tonight Sunday update: Hone is moving west away from the islands and all tropical storm warnings have been discontinued according to the National Weather Service Sunday The flash flood warning for portions of the Big Island was extended till 6:15 p.m radar showed bands of moderate to locally heavy rain moving into the southeast flank of the Big Island Rain rates have generally decreased during the past few hours but radar continues to show pockets of rain rates of up to 2 inches per hour There have been reports of flooding across the roads ofNā‘ālehu Bands of heavy rainfall will continue through the afternoon hours as Hurricane Hone moves westward and away from theBig Island Northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph with localized gusts over 50 mph are anticipated Sunday update: A tropical storm warning remains in effect throughout the Big Island as Hurricane Hone passes by A flash flood warning for portions of Hawai‘i Island remains in effect till 9:15 a.m radar showed heavy rainfall continuing to impact the southeast flank of the Big Island The highest rain rates were 1 to 2 inches per hour over the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Wood Valley Heavy rainfall will continue through the morning hours as Hurricane Hone moves westward to the southwest of the Big Island A high warning was canceled but a surf advisory is in place for all east-facing shores as a large and disorganized short period swell associated with Hurricane Hone will bring elevated surf today Original post: Tropical storm Hone strengthened to a hurricane Saturday night as it passed south of South Point according to the National Hurricane Center several weather advisories have been extended A hurricane warning is in effect through Sunday A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Hawai‘i County portions of the Big Island continue to see sustained surface winds around 30 to 40 mph and gusts over 50 mph while a few sites in and around Kohala Ranch have gusted over 60 mph Strong winds will continue through the morning hours and will likely become locally damaging Sustained winds over 40 mph and gusts above 60 mph are expected for portions of the Big Island especially for areas downslope from higher terrain and through passes This includes areas like the Humuula Saddle a flash flood warning is now in effect till 3:15 a.m rainfall over the Ka‘ District has intensified with rain rates up to 2 inches per hour occurring between Nā‘ālehu and South Point Heavy rainfall also continued over the windwardslopes of the Big Island The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency reported that North Kulani Road has been closed due to the overflow of a nearby flood retention basin Heavy rainfall will continue through the night as Hurricane Hone passes south of the Big Island Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Hilo rain bands started moving over the Ka‘ū District Heavy rainfall also continued over windward slopes with peak rates of 1 inch per hour over the South Hilo and Puna Districts Heavy rainfall will continue over the windward slopes and are expected to intensify over the slopes of the Ka‘ū District over the next several hours Some locations that will experience flooding include Hilo A high surf warning remains in effect for east-facing shores until 6 a.m Large and disorganized surf is expected to peak this evening at 14 to 18 feet then steadily decline late tonight Expect very strong breaking waves and powerful currents Waves breaking in channel entrances may make navigating the channels dangerous Hawaiʻi - Police have identified the body found in Orchidland Estates as well as the individual who died of an apparent suicide in Hawaiian Paradise Park during the missing person investigation (BIVN) – The body that was found last week in the vacant lot of a Puna subdivision has been identified as 38-year-old Ashley Michelle Kuregian who was reported missing on May 21st.Police also said that the man who reported her missing – her boyfriend 38-year-old Matthew Adrian Poole – was the individual who died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound on May 24th at a home on 15th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park The gunshot from the apparent suicide occurred as police arrived at the location prompting the activation of the Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team in the Puna subdivision.Hawaiʻi island police say they are now investigating the missing person case as a murder-suicide police provided a detailed summary in a news release: members of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant on a residence located on the 15-2000 block of 15th Avenue in relation to an ongoing missing person investigation involving 38-year-old Ashley Michelle Kuregian Kuregian was reported as a missing person by her boyfriend Matthew Adrian Poole had reportedly not been seen for approximately a week police personnel immediately made numerous announcements identifying themselves and their intention of executing a search warrant a loud “pop” was heard from within the residence which resembled a gunshot Police personnel then set up a secure perimeter and began checking on nearby residences to ensure their safety the department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated as it was believed there may be an armed barricaded subject personnel located the body of a deceased male with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Police have identified the deceased male as 38-yeard-old Matthew Adrian Poole An autopsy was performed on Poole on May 24 where it was determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head police personnel processed the scene in regards to the deceased male party and missing person investigation police discovered information which lead them to conduct a check for Kuregian’s body in the Orchidland Estates Subdivision members of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division followed-up on the information for Kuregian and located a body found to be in advanced stages of decomposition The human remains were located on a vacant undeveloped property located on the 16-200 block of 36th Avenue Police secured and maintained custody of the scene overnight and recovered the human remains at about 9:40 a.m. An autopsy was performed Friday afternoon; however the forensic pathologist deferred the cause and manner of death pending additional forensic examination and testing A follow-up examination of Kuregian’s remains was performed on May 31 where it was determined that she died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head and her manner of death was ruled as a homicide Police have identified the human remains as those of Ashley Michelle Kuregian Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel are continuing this investigation and ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Amy Omaya of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2381 or via email at amy.omaya@hawaiicounty.gov or the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential Filed Under: Puna Tagged With: Ashley Michelle Kuregian Hawai‘i Police DepartmentOffice of the ChiefChief Benjamin T The Hawai‘i Police Department announces the identification of a suspect via DNA evidence in the 1991 murder of Dana Ireland and murdered in the Kapoho area of Hawai‘i Island on December 24 She died the next day at the Hilo Medical Center our Department has been resolute in investigating the Dana Ireland case,” said Hawai‘i Police Department Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz As part of the Hawai‘i Police Department’s investigation DNA was recovered from a swab taken from Ireland’s body from a sheet used to transport Ireland to the hospital and the person whose DNA was found at the scene became known as “Unknown Male #1.” the DNA evidence was sent to the Forensic Analytical Crime Lab in California as part of a cooperative agreement with the Innocence Project.  DNA technology has evolved significantly. Additional DNA evidence was collected from the t-shirt and found to match the other samples from the scene. In addition experts are now able to take data from a DNA sample and build a family tree based on the known DNA from relatives an FBI agent from the Honolulu Field Office contacted police investigators with the names of some people who could potentially be identified as “Unknown Male #1.”  One of the names provided was that of 57-year-old Albert Lauro Jr. who lived in the Kapoho area at the time of the murder attempting to gather further evidence. In early July they collected a utensil that he had been using after he discarded it. The DNA from the utensil was analyzed and found to be a match to “Unknown Male #1.” While the DNA at the scene and from the victim certainly established probable cause that “Unknown Male #1” had committed the offense of rape the statute of limitations for that charge ran out several years prior. The only remaining crime still within the statute of limitations was murder Based on what the investigators knew at the time there was not enough information to establish probable cause to arrest Lauro Jr Investigators obtained a court order to obtain a buccal swab from Lauro’s cheek as confirmation that the DNA taken directly from him matched the DNA collected at the crime scene 33 years earlier was asked to come to the station and talk with investigators and he was not in police custody at the time. After speaking with investigators asked to leave and was allowed to do so after the court-ordered buccal swab was collected The buccal swab was sent to Forensic Analytical Crime Lab in California along with a request to rush the analysis and return the results as soon as possible. Based on that analysis the Hawai‘i Police Department can now confirm that the DNA collected at the crime scene matched Lauro Jr. a resident of Hawaiian Paradise Park.  “The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals from unwarranted search and seizure,” explained Chief Moszkowicz investigators would have to have established probable cause for the crime of murder and explained specifically what evidence it was seeking.” There is still a lot about this case that we do not know and our investigation into this case continues to push forward Our search for the truth is not over,” added Chief Moszkowicz People with information relative to this investigation should contact Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Division Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins at (808) 961-2251 or via email at Rio.Amon-Wilkins@hawaiicounty.gov. Pictured: Dana Ireland, Albert Lauro Jr. 2017 driver’s license photo. A house mistakenly built on the wrong plot of land in Hawaii is set to be knocked down after a developer got it confused with the neighboring lot A judge ordered the construction company that made the mistake to foot the bill for the demolition Annaleine "Anne" Reynolds bought the one-acre plot of land in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Hawaii's Big Island for $22,500 at a tax auction in 2018 previously told Business Insider she'd planned to use the land for a home for her children and to host women's retreats She said in legal filings that she discovered in June last year that a house worth roughly $500,000 had been built on the plot which was contracted by Keaau Development to build twelve properties in Hawaiian Paradise Park mistakenly built the property on the wrong plot after using telephone poles to try to identify Lot 115 — it built the house on Lot 114 said he was first made aware that the property had been built on the wrong lot when he was informed by the real-estate agent after the house was sold claiming she was "unjustly enriched" by the property that PJ's Construction had to pay for the demolition of the house on Reynolds's property The company may seek contribution or indemnity from Keaau Development at a subsequent trial or hearing Reynolds had also asked for the court to order Keaau Development and PJ's Construction to restore the plot of land to its original state which "removed all of the previously standing native vegetation," Kim wrote there was a "long period of neglect," during which invasive Albizia trees were able to "infest" the lot PJ's Construction also installed a septic tank and a catchment water system But Kim wrote that it was '"impossible" to return the property to its original state The companies had "seriously disturbed the peaceable use and possession of real property," Kim wrote Reynolds had testified that her property taxes for the plot shot up after the house was constructed and that she found signs of squatting such as empty drink containers and human waste in the toilet and on the floor Keaau Development and PJ's Construction excavated the lot and built the house without a survey as part of a plan to "cut corners to reduce construction costs," Kim wrote in Monday's filing He added that because the construction permits were approved for Lot 115 with a trial scheduling conference set for the end of July "We are thrilled with the court's decision that PJ's Construction must bear the costs of demolishing the unauthorized structure on Anne Reynolds' property," Reynolds' lawyer "This ruling not only preserves Anne's property rights but also sets a precedent for accountability in the construction industry While it's regrettable that the land cannot be restored to its original state the judgment underscores the importance of meticulous adherence to property and zoning laws." BI wasn't immediately able to contact lawyers for PJ's Construction and didn't immediately receive a response from Keaau Development's attorney Editors' PicksHurricane SeasonWeather CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM Mike Thulen takes a picture today amid grey skies from the lookout at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific as Hurricane Hone churns to the southeast of Hawaii island The five-day forecast track for Hurricane Hone as of 11 p.m This color-enhanced satellite image shows Hurricane Hone as it passes south of the Hawaii islands Sunday The five-day forecast track for Hurricane Gilma as of 5 p.m The five-day forecast track for Tropical Storm Hector as of 5 p.m Hone has been downgraded to a tropical storm and forecasters expect it to continue weakening as it moves away from the Hawaiian islands Hone was centered 180 miles southwest of Honolulu and 185 miles southeast of Lihue with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and moving west at 14 mph Tropical storm-force winds extend up to 90 miles from Hone’s center which lashed the Big Island with heavy rains and strong winds is expected to continue moving away from the main Hawaiian islands and pass well north of Johnston Island Tuesday night into Wednesday “Trailing rain bands from Hone which have been producing flash flooding on the Big Island on Sunday will continue to diminish overnight,” Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters said The flash flood warning for Hawaii island has been extended to 12:30 a.m radar showed bands of moderate to heavy rain moving into the windward slopes and southeast flank of the Big Island,” forecasters said “Rain rates are falling around 1 inch per hour Periods of heavy showers over the windward and southeastern slopes on already saturated the ground may quickly lead to additional flash flooding Some areas along the affected windward and southeastern slopes remain flooded at this time.” Ka’u High & Pahala Elementary and Na‘alehu Elementary schools will be closed to students and staff on Monday due to hazardous road conditions Hawaii Department of Education officials said Highway 11 has been shut down by emergency crews All other Hawaii public schools are scheduled to open as usual Monday Hurricane Hone is moving away from the Hawaiian islands but the Big Island remains under a flash flood warning Hone has brought high winds and heavy rainfall to Hawaii island A flash flood warning is in effect for Hawaii County until 9:15 p.m the radar showed heavy rainfall moving into the windward slopes and southeast flank of Hawaii island Rainfall rates have increased with rates of up to 3 inches per hour with the heaviest rain falling over the slopes of South Hilo and Puna Districts Highway 11 remains closed at Kawa Flats along with Wood Valley Road and Cane Haul Road near Pahala Rainfall rates have declined in these areas and Emergency Management Agency reported that water is receding but roads will remain closed Heavy rainfall is expected to resume through the evening hours Hone remained a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph winds and was centered 175 miles west of Kailua-Kona and 160 miles south-southwest of Honolulu Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles from Hone’s center and tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph or more extend up to 90 miles according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center “Weakening is forecast during the next couple of days and Hone is expected to become a tropical storm by early Monday,” CPHC forecasters said Hurricane Gilma was maintaining its strength as it nears the Central Pacific but was expected to dissipate before it nears the Hawaiian islands Gilma was centered about 1,310 miles east of Hilo packing maximum sustained winds of 105 mph with higher gusts while moving west near 9 mph A westward to west-northwestward motion at a similar forward speed is forecasted over the next several days “Although gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days Gilma is forecast to remain a hurricane as it approaches the Central Pacific Basin,” according to forecasters Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center The latest five-day forecast has Gilma weakening to a post-tropical remnant low by Friday as it moves far to the northeast of Hawaii island Tropical Storm Hector has formed heading westward about 980 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California Hector was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with higher gusts while moving west at 12 mph Hector is expected to slowly strengthen over the next day or two Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center Hector is expected to weaken to a post-tropical remnant low soon by Friday after it enters the Central Pacific The flash flood warning has been extended for Hawaii County until 6:15 p.m the radar indicated bands of moderate to locally heavy rain moving into Hawaii island’s southeastern flank Bands of heavy rainfall are expected to continue through the afternoon as Hurricane Hone moves westward and away from Hawaii island Some locations expected to experience flash flooding include Hilo even if they are currently dry,” forecasters said in a statement “Do not cross fast-flowing or rising water in your vehicle The wind advisory remains in effect for portions of Oahu A high surf advisory has been issued for the east-facing shores of Oahu Surf of 7 to 10 feet is forecasted for the eastern shores with strong breaking waves and currents that will make swimming dangerous The tropical storm warning for Hawaii island has been canceled but the flash flood warning remains in effect until 3:15 p.m today as Hurricane Hone moves further away from the island Hone is expected to deliver persistent and widespread rainfall to portions of the Big Isle through tonight and high swells across the Hawaiian Islands the radar showed bands of moderate to locally heavy rains moving into the southeast flank of Hawaii island While rainfall rates have been decreasing in the past few hours the radar continues to show pockets of rain of up to 2 inches per hour Flooding has been reported across the roads of Naalehu Hone was located about 130 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona and about 160 miles south of Honolulu Hone was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph with higher gusts moving west-northwest at 14 mph and expected to continue well south of the smaller Hawaiian islands through Monday morning Hone is forecasted to pass well north of Johnston Island around midweek Hone is expected to weaken over the next couple of days and become a tropical storm by Monday a high wind warning is in effect for portions of Maui Northeast winds of 20 to 40 mph with localized gusts up to 60 mph have been forecasted “Damaging winds may blow down trees and power lines and damage roofs especially for high-profile vehicles,” according to the forecast A wind advisory is in effect for portions of Oahu Expect northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph with localized gusts over 50 mph “Winds this strong can tear off shingles blow away tents and awnings and make it difficult to steer especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” forecasters said “Watch out for falling tree branches when walking or driving Make sure tents and awnings are secure or take them down The tropical storm warning for Hawaii island remains in effect as heavy rain and wind gusts continue to pound the island while Hone passes south >> Highway 11 in the Kau District between Whittington Park and Punaluluu remains closed due to roadway flooding >> The Kau Gym in Pahala and Naalehu Community Center in Naalehu are open >> All other public shelters that opened Saturday have been closed as of noon today >> Hele On Bus routes that were suspended for the weekend will resume operations Monday morning >> The Department of Education schools are scheduled to remain open Monday morning For families with children attending charter or private schools please check with the school administration on the opening status For Hawaii County residents whose properties suffered damage due to Hurricane Hone, please report damages online on the Civil Defense website at this link or call Civil Defense at 808-935-0031 A tropical storm warning remains in effect and along with a flash flood warning until 12:15 p.m for Hawaii County as Hurricane Hone gradually moves away from the island A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area the radar indicated a band of heavy rainfall over the southeast flank of the Big Isle The highest recorded rainfall was 1 to 2 inches with up to 3 inches per hour between South Point and Volcano “Paauau gulch stream gauge is showing another spike in stream flow as of 10 am and Wood Valley Road and Cane Haul Road remain closed near Pahala Heavy rainfall will continue through the rest of the morning hours as Hurricane Hone moves westward to the southwest of the Big Island,” forecasters said Hone was located about 100 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona on Big Isle and about 175 miles south-southeast of Honolulu packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph with higher gusts while moving west-northwest at 12 mph Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles “Tropical Storm conditions will continue on the Big Island into the early afternoon with gradually diminishing wind and rainfall through the evening Winds will strongest downslope of higher terrain and through passes,” according to the forecast Some areas affected by flash flooding include Hilo Hone is expected to produce an additional 3 to 5 inches of rainfall mostly over the windward- and southeast-facing slopes of Hawaii island while an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is possible mostly over the windward areas of the smaller islands Heavy rain and gusty winds are lashing Hawaii island which remains under a tropical storm warning this morning as Hurricane Hone passes just south of the island Hone was centered about 90 miles south-southwest of Kona and 210 miles south-southeast of Honolulu with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and moving west at 8 mph Hurricane-force winds extend up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 115 miles “Hone is expected to gradually weaken the next couple of days,” forecasters said which strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane overnight and weaken back to a tropical storm by Monday as it travels further from the state The passing tropical cyclone is still expected to deliver “strong and gusty easterly winds and periods of heavy rain” through Monday as Hone passes south of the islands The Big Island is feeling the brunt of Hurricane Hone’s rain and winds A flash flood warning is in effect for the island until 9:15 a.m radar showed heavy rainfall continuing to impact the southeast flank of the Big Island,” the warning said “The highest rain rates were 1 to 2 inches per hour over the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Wood Valley Heavy rainfall will continue through the morning hours as Hurricane Hone moves westward to the southwest of the Big Island.” Hone reached its closest point of approach to the island passing about 45 miles south-southwest of South Point “Rainfall of 6 to 10 inches has already fallen across windward Big Island over the past 18 to 24 hours and shower bands continue to move into the east and southeast slopes as Hone brushes past the Big Island,” forecasters said at 5 a.m “Bands of additional heavy showers will keep a moderate to high threat of flash flooding today over Hawaii County The greatest potential for flooding will be across the eastern and southeastern windward slopes of the Big Island; including the Hamakua Additional rainfall estimates over these areas through Monday will range from 3 to 6 inches.” >> Ka‘u Herkes Gym and Naalehu Elementary School Cafeteria >>Honokaa High School and Intermediate School Cafeteria Gusty winds from Hone were already being felt on the smaller islands this morning county officials said Olinda Road was closed fronting Seabury Hall due to a large tree down with utility lines Paki Avenue was closed in the eastbound direction from Monsarrat to Kapahulu avenues due to a downed utility pole The National Weather Service has issued a slew of advisories watches and warnings for the entire state due to Hone >> A wind advisory for portions of Kahoolawe Monday with northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts over 50 mph especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” the advisory said >> A high wind warning is in effect until 6 a.m and Molokai with ortheast winds 20 to 40 mph and gusts up to 70 mph >> And a small craft advisory for Kauai Channel Kaiwi Channel and Maui County Leeward Waters until 6 a.m Meanwhile in the East Pacific this morning Category 3 Hurricane Gilma maintained its strength overnight but is still expected to weaken and dissipate when it reaches the Central Pacific Gilma was centered 1,415 miles east of Hilo Hawai’i Island police arrested and charged 33-year-old Gilbert K and traffic offenses following a recent incident in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision After conferral with the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office Area I Criminal Investigation Division detectives charged Mata with the following offenses: officers responded to a report of an active burglary at a Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision residence and observed a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with no front license plate parked near a warehouse the truck operator revved its engine and accelerated at high speed towards him then reversed aggressively towards the police vehicle striking the driver’s side door causing damage however the truck refused and led police on a slow pursuit then into the Ainaloa Estates Subdivision and then into the Hawaiian Acres subdivision a male carrying a black back pack exited followed by a female carrying a gray back pack Both parties then fled on foot and ran into nearby bushes while the female party was identified as Carolyn Samson Officers conducted a registered owner check on the pick-up truck which revealed it was stolen from a Hilo residence sometime during the late evening of July 27 Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jeremy Kubojiri of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378, or via email at jeremy.kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov Hawaiʻi - Police say over 100 people were estimated in attendance at a cockfighting event on Saturday at a residence on 18th Avenue (BIVN) – Three people have been arrested for their alleged participation in a cockfighting event in Puna this weekend Police say they executed a search warrant on a residence on 18th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Saturday afternoon Law enforcement recovered “25 dead birds and a small amount of marijuana.” $20,000 in in US currency was also seized The warrant was executed by members of the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Area I Vice Section who were assisted by members of the Criminal Investigation Section Police say all three individuals were released pending further investigation The investigation into this operation and its organizers is ongoing at this time Police ask that anyone who has information about the event to please contact Detective Scotty Aloy of the Area I Vice Section at (808) 961-2207 or by email at Scotty.Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov The Hawai‘i Police Department is committed to working cooperatively with the community to improve the quality of life of island residents and provide a safer environment for everyone Police encourage residents to report suspicious and illegal activity to the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID Filed Under: Puna Tagged With: cockfighting, Hawaiian Paradise Park Hilo Judge Peter Kubota questioned why police need to protect records pertaining to a suspect who is now dead The question of whether the Hawaii County Police Department will have to turn over records of its investigation into new developments in the Dana Ireland case will now go to the state Supreme Court Judge Peter Kubota last week granted the lawyers’ motion and ordered that a subpoena be issued to the department for multiple items emails and written communications regarding taking the swab from Lauro on July 19 Police said they spoke to Lauro at the station for about an hour when they took the swab but lacked probable cause to arrest him for Ireland’s murder The department was going to have to hand over the records on Wednesday A hearing regarding the Schweitzer brothers’ bid for actual innocence was scheduled for Friday Lawyers for the police department argue that disclosing the records could compromise their investigation In the petition filed with the court Wednesday they also state that the investigation is “in its infancy” and some of the records requested are incomplete or unavailable “Given the new developments in the underlying case HPD is currently in the midst of completing interviews of witnesses and/or subjects and awaiting autopsy and toxicology reports,” the petition says “Releasing incomplete records during this ongoing investigation would categorically disrupt the criminal investigation and could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.” president and executive director of the Public First Law Center During Wednesday’s hearing, Kubota asked the attorney for Hawaii County how the police investigation could still be going on “Are you going to prosecute this dead guy?” he said He also said he thought the county’s motions were ways to delay the Schweitzers’ civil case The Schweitzers were exonerated in Ireland’s death last year after Ian Schweitzer spent 25 years in prison But they have not been declared actually innocent which needs to happen for them to seek compensation from the county “These guys were convicted 23 years ago and they’re seeking a determination of actual innocence and in my view Black said there are other weaknesses in the police department’s argument The department says it should not have to release the records under an exemption of the Uniform Information Practices Act that allows government records to remain private when their release would frustrate a “legitimate government function.” But Black said UIPA doesn’t apply in this case “Innocence Project didn’t ask them for the records under UIPA they asked them for records under litigation,” he said “That’s got a completely different standard … It’s just a completely different framework for how you look at what the obligations are what you have to disclose and what reasons you have for not disclosing.” it is up to the judge overseeing the case to decide if the police department will have to give up the records It could take anywhere from weeks to months for the Supreme Court to decide on what to do about the police department’s petition Lawyers with the New York and Hawaii Innocence Projects partnered with a private DNA identification company earlier this year to track down the source of semen recovered from Ireland’s body after she was found nearly dead on a fishing trail in Puna Investigators were able to narrow down the results to identify Lauro as the suspect and Innocence Project lawyers say Big Island police mishandled the case by failing to take him into custody.  Madeleine Valera is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at mlist@civilbeat.org and follow her on Twitter at @madeleine_list Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter A 33-year-old Hilo man faces a slew of charges after being caught at the scene of an active buglary Sunday at a warehouse on a Puna property before ramming a police vehicle leading officers on a slow-speed chase in multiple subdivisions and a short foot chase He made his initial court appearance Monday in South Hilo District Court The charges against Mata stem from an incident reported by a concerned citizen who reported an active burglary Sunday at a residence in the 15-1500 block of 21st Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park Responding officers observed a heavily tinted silver Toyota Tacoma with no front license plate parked near a warehouse at the rear of the property As an officer exited the passenger side of a police vehicle revved its engine and accelerated at a high rate of speed toward the officer and police vehicle The truck then reversed aggressively toward the police vehicle striking the driver’s side door and causing damage The front driver’s side tire of the truck was deflated after running over the fence but Mata refused to stop and led police on a slow pursuit into ʻĀinaloa Estates and into Hawaiian Acres Both parties fled on foot and ran into the nearby bushes They were apprehended about 10 feet inside the bushes Both were arrested and taken to the East Hawai‘i Detention Facility in Hilo Hawai‘i Police Department detectives continued to investigate Officers conducted a registered owner check on the Tacoma that revealed the truck was stolen sometime during the late evening of July 27 or early morning of July 28 from a residence in the 20 block of Ka‘apuni Street in Hilo Search warrants were executed Sunday morning on the truck and backpacks resulting in the recovery of small amounts of methamphetamine a methamphetamine-smoking pipe and a blue round pill imprinted with “M30,” which tested positive for the presence of fentanyl Anyone who might have information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jeremy Kubojiri at 808-961-2378 or via email at jeremy.kubojiri@hawaiicounty.gov. Hawaiʻi Police DepartmentPuna PatrolOfficer Trenton AurelloPhone: (808) 965-2716Report No.: 24-046694  Hawaiʻi Island Police are searching for 38-year-old Ashley Kuregian. She was last seen at a residence on 15th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision the evening of Tuesday, May 14, 2024, however, not reported missing until recently. Kuregian is described as having a fair complexion, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 125 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes. She is known to frequent the Pahoa and Kalapana areas. Police ask anyone with information on Kuregian’s location to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Big Island police are again renewing their request for information about the disappearance of 76-year-old William Romeo Bishop Sr who has been missing since the beginning of this year The Hawai’i Police Department says Bishop was last seen the afternoon of Jan 22 in the area of his home on 22nd Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park His family is deeply concerned for his well-being and is offering a cash reward for information that could lead to finding him weighs about 170 pounds and has a light complexion with gray hair and green eyes Detectives with the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigation Section continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s discovery They also have conducted countless interviews and follow-ups during the past several months in connection with Bishop’s disappearance Anyone who might have information about Bishop’s whereabouts is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311 or contact Detective Scotty Aloy with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2381 or via email at Scotty.Aloy@hawaiicounty.gov “Our local government should determine dates when certain beaches and sites are closed just so they can recover like how they manage Hanauma Bay on Oahu.” Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot What is the biggest issue facing your district One of the top three priorities of my campaign involves the need to update and expand the district’s current infrastructure There is a need for county wastewater connectivity as many of the homes in the district still have cesspools or septic systems Over the years these aged systems can affect our water quality there is also a need for water connectivity systems because many homes in the district continue to be on water catchment systems alternate and emergency routes from lower and upper Puna leading into Hilo and more wastewater treatment plants are needed Other priorities of the campaign include the need to assess property taxes that are fair to the elderly on fixed incomes and the expansion of renewable energy such as geothermal and solar power contribute to wear and tear on infrastructure generate traffic and disrupt neighborhoods What do you think about the amount of tourism on the Big Island and how it’s managed I do not feel that tourism is managed very well Many visitors visit Hawaii with a shallow understanding of what our people and islands are about They will automatically expect their visit to be something like that of the continental U.S Hawaii island has historical trails and sites that still exist and visitors need to be educated of those and other sacred areas Probably the only way tourists can be “managed” is when they are part of a tour group when visiting sites We depend on our local tour bus drivers and tour company narrators to provide an educational briefing on the history uniqueness and sacredness of our island sites and provide warnings to visitors It was impactful to see how sites flourished during Covid-19 when areas were left alone and provided a break from visitors the fish were more plentiful and the environment thrived Our local government should determine dates when certain beaches and sites are closed just so they can recover What needs to happen to relieve traffic congestion in and around Kailua-Kona and along the Puna-Keaau-Hilo corridor Alternate routes need to be designed coupled with road expansion and contra-flow measures which maximize the use of existing roadways that meets the needs of commuters Creative measures to get people to where they need to go when they need to go should be allowable during peak commuter time periods state and federal governments need to collaborate and invest in routes that continue to be improved and expanded anticipating the growing number of commuters on the roads The cost of living on Hawaii island is rising rapidly How are working and middle-class people expected to buy a house or pay the rent as well as take care of other expenses Zoning changes that allow more density in developments smaller lot sizes that are more affordable and county building codes that meet the relevant characteristics of the island can help make housing more affordable the bureaucracy and unnecessary requirements imposed upon developers need to be lessened to stop disincentivizing projects but to promote public and private partnerships If the county can provide the expensive site work and the developers can do the vertical work of building affordable units coupled with the use of local labor — then success can be experienced within the building industry Affordable housing units only happen when market units are built but if government continues to impose unreasonable barriers to market units the affordable units will never be built affordable units and market units need to be constructed in the same phase thereby ensuring affordable units are made I also feel financial literacy and a basic understanding of real estate needs to be a curriculum offered in primary and secondary education the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the military needs to build units thereby increasing the local stock of housing availability Do you support the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea There was opposition because of the breach of trust between the state institutions coupled with the astronomy community versus the residents and indigenous population The astronomy community paid dollar-a-year leases and treated the local community as subordinates to their science There were defunct astronomy facilities that needed to be decommissioned and removed and the astronomy industry did not want to be held accountable for the costs and mandates of removal monies from the astronomy industry were expended hoping that would quell the injustices experienced by the indigenous and local communities I believe it will take some time to regain the trust between the opposing groups Trust can be built when the astronomy community develops astronomy pathways that begin in our local elementary schools that track students throughout their educational tenure that will lead them to advanced degrees to be in the highest positions within the astronomy community There are opportunities to develop astronomy pathways with Hawaiian charter schools to reach and identity students to prepare them for the rigors of the profession There should be a checklist of mandates required for new telescope developments and the astronomy community needs to fulfill those obligations What would you do to come to grips with this persistent problem Homelessness requires intervention at different junctures We must turn off the spigot that leads to homelessness It is not feasible to react and focus only on the homeless but our local and state government needs to assist those who are on the brink of becoming homeless Foster teens who are aging out of the system those who were recently released from being incarcerated and those with addiction and mental health problems are who we need to pay attention to It is much more expensive to manage those that are homeless than to assist those who are threatened to become homeless like how we are trying to recruit and retain medical doctors through the Rural Residency Program of JABSOM and Hilo Medical Center we need to recruit and retain mental and behavioral health social workers and nurses to provide treatment with wraparound services to those in facilities or shelters There are new medicines like long-acting injectables that stabilize a patient from addiction or behavioral/mental health episodes over a longer period so they can make logical decisions on their personal health the homeless can mend their familial relationships that have been damaged through addiction and behavioral episodes Half of Hawaii’s cesspools are on the Big Island Seepage from cesspools can make people sick harm coral reefs and lead to a variety of ecological damage cesspools must be upgraded to septic systems by 2050 What can be done to help people who may not be able to afford the conversion the investment into wastewater treatment systems for large areas is needed Water and wastewater systems are required before affordable housing projects can even be considered Local and state governments need to collaborate and acquire federal funds to build multimillion-dollar systems and these projects should be ongoing acquisitions for our island communities We should have wastewater systems that replace the former plantation systems and gang cesspools that currently exist What is the first thing Hawaii County should do to get in front of climate change rather than just reacting to it Hawaii County needs to have a curriculum that is taught in middle and high schools to educate families and adults There needs to be an aggressive campaign of education via our news stations nonprofit cable companies and consistent county community outreach that provides the education The curriculum needs to illustrate the changes in coastal and shore areas to anticipate when land areas will be lost to sea level rising The setbacks need to be enforced to prevent the crisis that is currently being experienced on the North Shore of Oahu responsible development needs to take these considerations into account when developing projects Should the Hu Honua biomass energy plant be allowed to start operating If Hu Honua meets the requirements mandated by oversight agencies they should be allowed to operate and not continue to be held hostage by those with NIMBY perspectives Large projects that will provide diversification in making Hawaii island’s power more accessible and stable should not be prevented by those who want to hold these projects up through our judicial system that is already overtaxed Diversification in power needs to begin to allow employment and labor a means to make a living for their families and allow them to stay on island and not be forced to move outside the state due to lack of skilled labor How would you make the county administration more transparent and accessible to the public Technological systems exist and should be implemented so that users of the system will know where their permits are within the queue those in the industry that play a role in having their clients’ plans submitted into the county system which may be flawed or below standards need to also be held accountable for repeated submittals of documents that require county staff unnecessary time to review or correct There are numerous instances when plans and permits are submitted by outside professional into the system knowing their plans may not meet the required standards but place blame onto the county departments when informing clients of why plans are requiring a longer review period Technological applications can be incorporated into county processes that will take the burden from limited county staff time as well as filter less complicated applications quicker through the review queue Many county processes can be tracked using modern technological applications Hawai’i Police DepartmentArea I Criminal Investigation DivisionCaptain Rio Amon-WilkinsPhone: (808) 961-2251Report No.: 24-036379 Hawai’i Island police have initiated an attempted murder investigation following a shooting incident in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Friday morning that left a 32-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Vasiliy Viktorovich Trubachev Puna patrol officers responded to an unknown type disturbance at a residence on 7th Avenue Responding officers learned that a male acquaintance of Trubachev had come to the residence where an altercation ensued; he reportedly threatened several individuals while armed with a knife and glass bottle The acquaintance then reportedly assaulted several individuals at the residence that there was a male on the ground in the area of 6th Avenue and Makuu Drive they located the man who reported he had been shot multiple times by Trubachev Officers immediately began providing first aid to the man until Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel arrived and transported the victim via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room He remains hospitalized in stable condition Trubachev was arrested at the 7th Avenue residence without incident and was transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Center pending investigation Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives responded to the scene to continue this investigation which is classified as second-degree attempted murder Police detectives are currently working on obtaining a search warrant for Trubachev’s residence.  Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Christopher Jelsma of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or via email at Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov. Hawai’i Island police have charged 31-year-old Vasiliy Viktorovich Trubachev following the Hawaiian Paradise Park shooting incident on Friday morning after conferral with Hawai’i County Prosecutors detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section charged Trubachev with: Trubachev’s bail has been set at $1,100,000 The charges against Trubachev stem from an incident reported on Friday morning when Puna patrol officers responded to an unknown type disturbance at a residence on 7th Avenue officers received information that a man had reportedly been shot during the altercation officers learned that a male acquaintance of Trubachev had come to the residence where an altercation ensued; he reportedly threatened several individuals while armed with a knife and a glass bottle that there was a male on the side of the roadway in the area of 6th Avenue and Makuu Drive Officers immediately began providing first aid to the man until Hawai’i Fire Department personnel arrived and transported the victim via ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room he remains hospitalized in stable condition Trubachev was arrested at the 7th Avenue residence detectives served a search warrant at the 7th Avenue home and recovered miscellaneous evidence related to this incident.  Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Christopher Jelsma of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or email at Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov. Hawaiʻi Island is the only place in the state where a fee-simple house can still be had for less than $500,000 the median price of a single-family home on Hawaiʻi Island was $500,000 according to data from Hawai‘i Island Realtors the islandwide association of real estate agents The median condo price for the first half of this year was $585,000 “What we’re seeing in the market right now is the prices haven’t necessarily come down a lot, but we are seeing that they’re staying steady,” says Darla Hartvigsen, Realtor-Broker with Equity Hawaii Real Estate and 2023 president of the association of Hawaiʻi Island Realtors Another trend Realtors are seeing is appraisals coming in lower than asking price especially for homes priced above the median of $500,000 Darla Hartvigsen is Realtor-Broker with Equity Hawaii Real Estate and the 2023 president of the association of Hawaiʻi Island Realtors “One of my agents received an appraisal on a property that they offered $400,000 on and the appraisal came in at $430,000,” she says “But if someone’s trying to sell something for $750,000,” the appraisal is likely “going to come in at maybe $675,000 or $705,000 Lenders typically approve mortgages based on the appraised value and buyers and sellers have three options if there is a gap between the price offered by the buyer and the appraisal One is the buyer can make a larger down payment to cover the difference Or the buyer and seller can split the difference “We’re seeing a lot of that,” Hartvigsen says the seller can simply accept the lower appraised price “We’re seeing a little bit more of that because we’re past Covid,” she says “It’s still a seller’s market by far Hartvigsen says the rural Puna District south of Hilo is still an affordable area – perhaps the most affordable in all of Hawaiʻi except for the even less expensive but limited market in Kaʻū on the southern end of Hawai‘i Island “Before Covid you couldn’t really touch anything in Hilo for under $500,000,” she says you could buy a brand-new home for $245,000.” She also notes the many vacant lots for sale on Hawaii Island, where a buyer could build a new packaged home from HPM Building Supply for that same $245,000 The Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision alone has more than 8,000 lots The median price in Puna in June for an existing home was $410,000 that means half of the 78 single-family homes sold in June were for less than $410,000 “I sold many in the ʻĀinaloa area for $240,000 to $245,000 Those homes now are going for $320,000 to $385,000,” she says “We’re just still affordable for a lot of folks.” 90 Companies and Nonprofits Where Employees Thrive you reduce the homeless population,” says HomeAid Hawai‘i’s executive director Hawaiʻi - 38-year-old Brandon Blye has been charged in connection with an array of alleged property (BIVN) – A Kea‘au man has been charged with an array of property and violent offenses following several incidents that occurred in Hawaiian Paradise Park in recent weeks 38-year-old Brandon Blye was arrested on Sunday morning The charges against Blye stem from several different incidents dating back to late August 2023 when he was arrested on 23rd Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) subdivision in Keaʻau following a brief foot pursuit with Puna patrol officers Puna patrol officers responded to a residence on 25th Avenue called police to report observing a male on video surveillance attempting to break into his residence and damaging the surveillance system As officers arrived on scene and began searching for the suspect a male was observed hiding in a storage shed the male ran away and into a heavy forested area due to the heavy vegetation and poor lighting conditions Upon officers reviewing the video surveillance they were able to positively identify Blye as the suspect based on prior police contacts One of those prior contacts was an incident on Friday when Puna patrol officers responded to a reported burglary at a residence on 29th Avenue in HPP The victim told police that the suspect had removed numerous items and damaged several doors within the residence as well as tampered with video surveillance cameras The homeowner in this incident also provided officers with video surveillance which ultimately lead to Blye being identified as the suspect Puna patrol officers responded again to HPP after a woman reported being assaulted at a residence on 24th Avenue The victim reported to police that upon arriving to work at her client’s residence she observed a male attempting to break into the home through the disabled elderly woman’s bedroom window she reported that he grabbed her hair and forcibly slammed her head and face against the residence causing pain and temporarily losing consciousness continued to strike her and attempted to sexually assault her Blye was positively identified as the suspect in this case as well Blye made his initial court appearance on Tuesday Police say Blye was charged on Monday with the following offenses: Police say he was also arrested and charged “on the strength of a circuit court bench warrant for the offense of revocation of bail or supervised release.” Bail for the warrant was set at $2,000 Filed Under: Puna Tagged With: Hawaiian Paradise Park Hawaiʻi - The Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team was activated due to the possibility of an armed barricaded subject in Hawaiian Paradise Park (BIVN) – The search for a missing woman in Puna led police to a residence in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Thursday where a man appears to have committed suicide upon their arrival who was found in the 15th Avenue home with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Police at the scene confirmed they are looking for Ashley Kuregian Police say the 38-year-old female was last seen at a residence on 15th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision the evening of Tuesday Kuregian is described as having a fair complexion She is known to frequent the Pahoa and Kalapana areas Photo of missing Ashley Kuregian courtesy Hawaiʻi Police in relation to an ongoing missing person investigation a loud “pop” was heard which resembled a gunshot and began checking on nearby residences to insure their safety The department’s Special Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated as the residence may have contained an armed barricaded subject An autopsy will be performed early next week to determine the exact cause of death The victim’s identity is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin Police say Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel are continuing this investigation They say anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Detective Amy Omaya of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2381 “Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000,” police added “Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.” We wanted to reach Haena before the noon tide swamped the beach hiding its photogenic black and white sand the only sandy stretch for miles on a coast known for its imposing cliffs and currents My friend Andrew and I were alone at the beginning of the Old Puna Trail where the tidy grid of the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision gives way to an ancient path carved into the rain forest by some of Hawaii’s earliest inhabitants and Haena Beach (Shipman Beach to many locals) has long been a favorite destination for its seclusion the Old Puna Trail is part of the statewide public Na Ala Hele Trail and Access System It offers glimpses of one of the most remote coasts of Hawaii Island an experience that feels increasingly rare—2 million visitors descended on the Puna district last year to witness the volcanic activity The 90-minute walk to Haena wends over old lava flows and through dense tropical rain forest on an easy turned east on Kaloli Drive and followed it until a dead end at Beach Road and just two hours after I’d left Honolulu we pulled into the gravel parking lot at the trail entrance the Old Puna Trail was converted by the Kingdom of Hawaii into a carriage road ran along the coast between Hilo and Kalapana but was marred by a lack of funding lack of labor resources and periods of neglect villagers were moving upland toward the Olaa Sugar Mill or north to Hilo and the construction of the current inland road left the King’s Highway seldom used by the public except for locals seeking one of the few sandy and swimmable beaches in Puna We followed the trail through a pasture choked with tall grass and ferns and then bored into the rain forest and wild orchids dabbed the greenery in pink and purple Sections of the trail still contain scatterings of the stones used to pave the King’s Highway line the trail in places and can be seen out in the brush in addition to the abandoned remains of human architecture A quick scan of our surroundings showed banyan trees Everything seemed to grow on top of each other—ecosystems woven tightly together and grafted onto other ecosystems The route through the rain forest is the quickest way to get to Haena and back—about three hours Another possibility is to take the ocean trail along the cliffside The third option is to hike there on the Old Puna Trail and return on the coast Including the coastal route adds 30 minutes to an hour in each direction A little more than an hour into the hike and the trail bent toward the ocean opening up to a grassy clearing and a grove of coconut trees marked by the “kapu” sign on a cattle gate and a World War II defense bunker almost completely overtaken by the jungle The land surrounding the beach is owned by W.H the private company of one of East Hawaii’s most prominent missionary families the Shipman family owned the entire ahupuaa (traditional land division) of Keaau The family bought the 65,000 acres from King Lunalilo’s estate after his death In order to uphold the late king’s wishes to build a home for sick and elderly Hawaiians in Honolulu estate trustees sold the land for $20,000 to finance the first Lunalilo home in Makiki where Roosevelt High School now sits the Shipmans also sold off parts of their land—a chunk became Hawaiian Paradise Park a refuge for nene—the endangered Hawaiian goose—show prominently on the landscaped and manicured property which can only be reached via private road from Keaau town This is the location American filmmaker Cecil B one of the founders of the Hollywood motion picture industry “Four Frightened People.” The place is also memorialized in Hawaiian musician and hula dancer Helen Desha Beamer’s song Cole Porter and Paul Newman were guests at Haena along with many other luminaries in politics But the beach is what has always attracted people (and honu which are often found lounging on the sand) sandy bay is ideal for wading and relaxing fed by ground springs and a channel from the Shipman lagoon is refreshing and much gentler on the skin than salt water Haena’s seclusion felt as if the entire island knowing that in a few short hours I’d be back in the city Hawai‘i Island police are asking for the public’s help in locating 14-year-old Arieana Balbin The teen was last seen leaving a residence on foot on 27th Avenue in Hawaiian Paradise Park Kea‘au on Wednesday at approximately 5:30 p.m and has brown eyes and light brown shoulder length hair Arieana was last seen wearing a marble yellow and black “Stay Humble & Pray” hoodie and black tights Police ask anyone with information on Arieana Balbin’s whereabouts to call the department’s non-emergency line at 808-935-3311, or contact Officer Craig Derasin via email at Craig.Derasin@hawaiicounty.gov An example of one of the vacant lots for sale in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Photo: Hawaii Life Real Estate When Annaleine “Anne” Reynolds bought an empty one-acre lot in a Big Island subdivision called Hawaiian Paradise Park a developer built a house on it without her knowledge “There’s a sacredness to it and the one that I chose to buy had all the right qualities,” Reynolds told Hawaii News Now is a sparsely populated but spread-out community in the Puna district It is situated south of Hilo on the Big Island’s easternmost side It’s a growing area full of lots for sale and developers are building everything from track homes to to mansions far enough away from Pahoa Town and Keaau to avoid the tourists but close enough to enjoy the benefits of the things a more urbanized area has to offer and the area is a hot spot for Native Hawaiian petroglyphs and heiau For those looking for absolute Hawaiian serenity According to the Associated Press Reynolds bought the empty chunk of land in 2018 The lot owner doesn’t want the house and has endured problems like higher taxes and squatters,” Hawaii News Now reported she’s being sued over someone else’s mistake.” She bought the lot a year before the pandemic locked the world down and was biding her time until she could use it a real estate broker called her up and let her know that he had sold the house on her property Hawaiian Paradise Park, where you might find a house built on your lot by mistake. Photo: Hawaii Life Real Estate and it happens to be on your property,’” Reynolds told reporters The company that mistakenly built the house on the wrong lot was PJ’s Construction a local building outfit that was hired by developer Keaau Development Partnership The plan was to build 12 homes on parcels that Keaau Development purchased The lots were marked out by telephone poles Hawaii News Now reported that “an attorney for PJ’s Construction said the developers didn’t want to hire surveyors.” Reynolds is being taken to court over the mix-up the empty house is attracting would-be squatters “There’s a lot of fingers being pointed between the developer and the contractor and some subs,” James DiPasquale “Before they put the fence on this property there was people coming already to this property Since the Reynolds and developer are in a bit of a strange situation She was able to have a look at the house on her lot in person It appeared that squatters had laid claim to the empty house and were making themselves comfortable “Both had poop,” she said of the bathrooms “The hallway one had poop on the floor the developers tried to offer a solution that wasn’t suitable for Reynolds Hawaii News Now wrote that they offered to trade a lot that sits beside hers and sell her the house they’d built at a discount her property taxes have skyrocketed now that there is a structure sitting on her land She gave the developers a hard no for an answer and then sue that individual for the value of it,” DiPasquale said When Reynolds refused Keaau Development Partnership’s offer they turned around and sued PJ’s Construction has filed a counterclaim against Keaau Development Partnership claiming that the construction was never authorized and that she had no idea it was happening The developer’s representatives claim that they’ve done their best to fix their mistake but that the other parties involved aren’t open to their solutions “That’s why the developer says they have pulled everyone into the lawsuit,” Hawaii News Now explained “in hopes a judge can help unravel this half-million-dollar mistake.” Hawai‘i Police DepartmentPuna PatrolOfficer Heiarii Lee Chip SaoPhone: (808) 965-2716Report No.: 24-017588 Hawai‘i Island police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating 32-year-old Jordan Paris He was last seen walking on Paradise Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision in Kea‘au long-sleeve button down shirt with black pants and dark colored glasses Paris is considered endangered because he may be in need of medical assistance Paris is described as Caucasian with a thin build Police ask anyone who may have seen Paris or may have information on his whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency number (808) 935-3311, or email Officer Heiarii Lee Chip Sao of Puna Patrol at Heiarii.leechipsao@hawaiicounty.gov. HAWAIIAN PARADISE PARK - Police initiated an attempted murder investigation following a shooting in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Friday morning (BIVN) – A 31-year-old man is in police custody following a Friday morning shooting incident in Hawaiian Paradise Park A 32-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds was taken to the Hilo Medical Center Emergency Room where he remains hospitalized in stable condition image from video of the scene by Daryl Lee Police detailed the situation in an evening news release: Hawaiʻi Island police have initiated an attempted murder investigation following a shooting incident in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Friday morning Police photo of Vasiliy Viktorovich Trubachev Police detectives are currently working on obtaining a search warrant for Trubachev’s residence Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Christopher Jelsma of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2386 or via email at Christopher.Jelsma@hawaiicounty.gov Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Hawaii - HPP residents and county planners got to work on Sunday developing a master plan for a new county park in the Puna subdivision Jared Chang from SSFM International introduced one of three master plan alternatives to residents (BIVN) – Planning is underway for the proposed public park in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision HPP residents got together with Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation officials and their consultants and began developing a master plan for a new county park in their neighborhood The three alternative layouts under consideration can be seen below The new park would be located on a County-owned and county officials say “proposed facilities being considered in the master plan include a baseball and softball field Residents in attendance also wondered if the plan might allow for a swimming pool or a place to house activities for seniors It was the first of two scheduled meetings “The purpose of the first public meeting is to present the Department’s proposed vision and preliminary alternative plans and to gather input from the community and interested parties,” the county says “The purpose of the second public meeting will be to present the preliminary master plan and gather any additional input.” The next meeting will be held at the same location – the Hawaiian Paradise Park Owners Association Activity Center at 15-1570 Maku’u Drive between 16th and 17th Streets – from 3:00 p.m Filed Under: Video Report Tagged With: Hawaiian Paradise Park, Maurice Messina