The Waimea High School girls flag football team and coaches were welcomed home from the state tournament by Mayor Derek S.K relatives and friends at the Lihue Airport on Sunday The Waimea High School girls flag football team garbed in the official state tournament shirt get together to render the Waimea alma mater as Coach Jason Caldeira and his coaching staff watch and Council member Fern Holland films at the Lihue Airport on Sunday Members of the Waimea High School girls football team arrived home on Sunday from the 2025 Hawaii Dental Service Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Flag Football State Championships that wrapped up Saturday night on Oahu for the first state championship since the program inaugurated 5 seed to the state tournament after clinching the Central Pacific Bank Kauai Interscholastic Federation by a single point Waimea ran head-on against Punahou that shut out the West Side girls sending the Menehune to the consolation bracket where they faced Hilo in the first match in that bracket play (function(d,s,n){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];js=d.createElement(s);js.className=n;js.src="//player.ex.co/player/bdc806f4-0fc1-40a1-aff0-a3d5239c169c";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,"script","exco-player")); “The girls were good,” said a Waimea fan who accompanied the team from Kauai “They always had the largest fan base Every family and relatives living on Oahu must’ve come out to support the girls!” Waimea shut down the Hilo Vikings 19-0 to stay alive in the double elimination tournament They continued on the ladder with a 19-13 victory over the Hawaii Preparatory Academy before being shut down “The girls were strong,” said the Kauai fan who came home Saturday night People were surprised they came from a small school on Kauai’s West Side.” Included in the crowd greeting the first-ever Kauai girls football team Kawakami came with his construction hardhat emblazoned with a “W” and Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Councilmember Fern Holland blended in with the armload of lei and posters “These girls have played their hearts out and deserve to be recognized for their incredible win on Kauai,” said Therilynn Martin-Haumea with the Office of Economic Development they will always be the first Kauai champions!” Kawakami presented Caldeira with a proclamation that read in part “2025 marks the historic launch of Girls’ Flag Football as an official sport in the Kauai Interscholastic Federation (and the HHSAA) offering a new and meaningful opportunity for young women to showcase their athleticism “The Waimea High School Girls’ Flag Football Team has made history by becoming the inaugural KIF Girls’ Flag Football Kauai Island Champions representing excellence on and off the field,” Kawakami said The proclamation said the team was a source of inspiration for what can be accomplished when women are given equal opportunities to compete and excel in sports “This historic achievement marks a significant step forward in the growth of girls’ sports on Kauai empowerment and leadership for women in our community and in the world of athletics,” the proclamation read After firing a one-under par 71 on the opening round of the David S finishing the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season as Centr.. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association announced on Saturday that the Kapaa High Scho.. This meat producer moved away from mainland USA to Hawaii more than two decades ago It’s Whats For Dinner shows us the family butcher shop and their connection to local producers as we celebrate National Beef Month All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Ad Choices. Do Not Sell My Personal Information she was a homemaker and a member of the Mana Christian Ohana Church III of Kohala and Kekoa (Cyrena) Alip of Kailua-Kona; daughters Gaylyn (Wendell) Mattos of Kohala and Grace (Alika) Alapai of Kailua-Kona; sisters Katherine Oberg of Washington and Wendy Medeiros of Kailua-Kona; sisters-in-law Gloria Alip of Waianae and Garilyn Alip of Kapolei; brother-in-law Robert Smith of Ocean View; 26 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren Andres “Andy” Augustine Baclig Jr. of Hilo died April 10 at Life Care Center of Hilo he was a former member of the Hawaii County Band former news and sports editor of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald Billie Rose Marie Baclig of Hilo; daughter Andres “Andy Boy” (Debra Rorex) Baclig III of Canyon Lake and Grant (Cybil) Baclig of Kapu‘euhi; sister Archpriest Timothy Lionel Baclig of Woodland Hills Calif.; in-laws; Baby Jane Aganus of Waimea Annette Aiona and James (Carol) Aiona of Hilo Maui; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces of Kapaau died March 29 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center master service technician at Alert Alarm Hawaii and longtime Kohala High School wrestling coach Private services held at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Sherry Kana (Justin) Okuyama and Mai (Casey) Ogawa of Hilo Miho (Ryan) Sobredo of California; parents Zen and Iris Fujii of North Kohala; brothers and Vance (Grace) Fujii of Honokaa; a granddaughter; an aunt died April 2 at Hilo Benioff Medical Center Saturday (May 10) at Wailoa State Recreation Area Crystal Ogata of Hilo and Leann Ogata of Honolulu; sister Denise Leopoldo of Oahu; six grandchildren and four great-granddaughters; cousins Police have identified a pedestrian who died following a Hilo traffic collision on.. Privacy Policy | About Our Ads The 48th annual Waimea Town Celebration begins Saturday and will be as fun as ever with long distance canoe races The nine days of activities on the west side of Kauaʻi — for participants and spectators — is the largest and longest annual event on the island The celebration is hosted by the historic Waimea Theater and Cultural Arts Center as a way to bring the community of west Kauaʻi together with events focusing on heritage diversity and inclusion of its kamaʻāina and malihini (newcomer) The Waimea Theater will launch the celebration on Saturday, Feb. 15 with Kauaʻi Cocktails and Cuisine featuring an exquisite selection of spirits from Japan Attendees must be at least 21-years old.  Next at the Waimea Theater will be a cultural presentation celebrating the legacy of Kauaʻi beloved King Kaumualiʻi on Sunday It will feature the talents of kumu hula Troy Lazaro and Halau Ka Pa Hula o Hinano The evening will be filled with beautiful songs and traditional hula that honor Hawaiian heritage and storytelling.  The King Kaumualiʻi Luʻau and Show will run from 5 to 7 p.m General admission tickets are $40 and include a special meal The Waimea Theater will then show a short documentary, “ALETHA,” which celebrates beloved kupuna Aletha Kaohi through her ʻohana projects and the invaluable life lessons she has shared on Monday which will include a pāʻina (meal) to honor her life impact and contributions to the community.  On Wednesday, a night of aloha and celebration will honor Pastor Darryl Kua and his wife, Elizabeth, for outstanding contributions to the community. The couple will receive the prestigious Mālama Award for their service The event will feature a performance by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Mark Yamanaka Waimea Theater will also host Tales and Treats with master storyteller Lopaka Kapanui on Thursday While he shares Hawaiian tales of the islands with old and male the stories will be complimented with themed desserts from local merchants there will be free events — including eating contests live music and craft vendors — at Hofgaard Park from 11 a.m There will be a spam musubi eating contest and live music by Kahalau on Tuesday a hot dog eating contest and live music by Russel Wellington on Wednesday and a kim chee eating contest and live music by Nick Castillo on Thursday.  Do you love to eat? All ages are invited to spectate or participate in the “How-Fast-Can-You-Eat” contests for cash prizes The biggest community events take place on Feb a basketball tournament and the Hoʻolaulea.   Over 240 paniolo from across the island and the state will be competing in rodeo events on Friday and Saturday Slack (qualifying) rounds will begin at 8:30 a.m on Saturday with an opening ceremony featuring Mayor Derek Kawakami with all the events The rodeo is open to the public, but will have a $10 admission fee on Saturday only. For more information on contestants, vendors and schedule, visit the Kauaʻi Paniolo Showdown website. Kauaʻi’s Largest 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament  The tournament will be at the Waimea Canyon Park basketball court from 6 to 9 p.m Tournament fees are $20 for students and $40 for adults A 2K, 5K and 10K Fun Run will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the Waimea Plantation Cottages on Feb. 22. Anyone can participate, from keiki to kupuna, runners and walkers. Registration can be found here. Skilled paddlers honor Hawaiian tradition amidst the breathtaking Waimea shoreline for a day of teamwork at Waimea Landing with an awards ceremony to follow at 1 p.m The 48th Annual Waimea Town Celebration Hoʻolaulea will be the main event with 22 hours of free admission and entertainment at the Old Waimea Mill on Friday and Saturday fun keiki rides and plus delicious food booths and the Island Distributing and Koloa Rum Beer Garden for people 21-years old and older The musicians lined up for Hoʻolaulea from 5 p.m to 10 p.m 22 and features even more events before the live music North Hawai‘i community members have the opportunity to dig deep into Hawai‘i County budget and revenue policies — including those governing property taxes and short-term vacation rentals — during the next Waimea Town Meeting Keck Observatory located at 65-1120 Māmalahoa Highway in Waimea How to pay for and support county services services and essential public safety is a timely question given challenges ahead for the island’s government because of anticipated and dramatic changes to federal and state funding supports as well as local revenue mechanisms Hawai‘i County Council members Heather Kimball of Hamakua and James Hustace of Waimea will have extended time to discuss council business during the May town meeting most notably the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 county budget process and expected challenges Kimball will join the meeting via Zoom from Washington where she is on a trip to advocate for county funding Part of her time with community members during the meeting will be spent discussing streamlined legislation on the council’s May 6 agenda regarding short-term vacation rentals You can click here to review the bill and watch a recent online webinar discussion about it prior to the town meeting Hawai‘i County Real Property Tax Administrator Lisa Miura will join Kimball and Hustace at the meeting to provide an overview of the county’s real property tax policies and process She also can answer questions about overarching policy and procedures Hustace and Miura will remain after the meeting to speak with community members about specific personal questions and concerns Hawai‘i County and municipalities throughout the nation also will observe National Police Week from May 11-17 who risk their lives protecting their communities daily In honor of Hawai‘i Island police officers — especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty — meeting attendees are urged to wear blue The May 1 town meeting will begin with a pule by Hawai‘i Police Department Chaplain Renee Godoy will also be given by Assistant Police Chief Sherry Bird and Waimea Police Capt Valera will invite the community to support DARE a police-sponsored drug prevention and good choices education program that helps elementary and middle school students resist peer pressure and make good decisions DARE is Waimea Community Association’s spotlighted nonprofit for the May meeting Association officers will pass the hat to encourage donations the drug prevention program brings police officers into schools where they share research-based curriculum and organize activities aimed at strengthening ties between students and families while concurrently helping officers come to better know and understand the communities they serve Bird is a well-known former Waimea police captain. She was promoted in February to assistant chief of the Hawai‘i Police Department Administrative Services Division, becoming the highest ranking woman in the department history The assistant chief will talk briefly about the Police Department’s past challenges of today and how the department is addressing them as well as opportunities ahead Bird will also discuss a proposed county budget request before the Hawai‘i County Council to support public safety and security Questions are always welcome — preferably in advance — by emailing WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com They also can be typed into the Facebook chat during the meeting livestream to be addressed as time permits All are welcome to attend — in person or online via Waimea Community Association’s Facebook page — and the meeting will be recorded for on-demand viewing on Facebook and the association’s YouTube channel Email Waimea Community Association President Mary Beth Laychak at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or visit the association website for additional information about the meeting or the association itself The wāhine of Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo won the overall title at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival Oʻahu performed an upbeat ʻauana to “Kūwili,” with dancers adorned in rafia skirts and accompanied by rhythmic pūʻili (bamboo rattles) The festival program description of the mele notes: “Kūwili and Kawa were a pair of fishponds located between Iwilei and Kou These ponds were filled in to make way for the railroad and wharfs used by the sugar industry Also mentioned in this mele are a few notorious houses of prostitution—a famous one being Hale Leʻa or Iwilei Stockade the dancers performed “Hoʻoipo I Mololani Ka Ua ʻĀpuakea,” honoring Queen Emma Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, led by Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin took home the second place overall title. The dancers from Kauaʻi finished first in wāhine ʻauana and second in the wāhine kahiko divisions. The hālau soloist, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 on Thursday night Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua under the direction of Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero placed first in all of the kāne categories who performs at the festival every 10 years and said this would be his last Merrie Monarch performance The men of Mauiʻs Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes garnered the group third place finish in the men’s ʻauana and kahiko divisions and the third place overall award in the kāne division “Nā ʻOno Holopeki,” that speaks of the wild deer on Lānaʻi that have become a nuisance for their appetite of native plants the mele means “trotting delicacies,” which plays on the venison meal that can be made of the burdensome animals On Friday night, the kāne (men) of the hālau performed a pahu drum dance for their kahiko entry honoring the traditions of Hula Master Keahi Luahine The women of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi earned a fifth place finish in the wāhine kahiko division for their performance of “Puhi Ka Makani O Ke Kuahiwi” in commemoration of Queen Consort Kapiʻolani the wāhine performed “Nānaʻikaʻula,” a mele written by Kuana Torres Kahele Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes explained—that imbedded in the song is the story of how a purple-hued lehua of the island came to be Maui performed “Waimea I Ka Laʻi” / “Waimea Lullaby” for their ʻauana selection said the performance reflected upon Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island On Friday, they performed a mele inoa or name chant from an old Hawaiian newspaper that spoke of the rains and winds of West Maui The men of Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua from Waikapū, Maui performed “Hawaiʻi Nō E Ka ʻOi” for their ʻauana selection. Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III said the mele is a full circle moment, as it is the same one performed 18 years ago, giving thanks to Hawaiʻi Island. Their kahiko performance on Friday night paid tribute to Queen Kapiʻolani On Thursday night, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo Awards were issued to five hula soloists including: Department of Parks and Recreation Ka ʻOihana Mālama Pāka a me nā Hana Hoʻonanea The bathrooms serving beachgoers at one of O‘ahu’s most popular and storied shoreline parks will experience significant restoration beginning in mid-April 2025 Complete roof reconstruction and bathroom repairs to the comfort station at Waimea Bay Beach Park are scheduled to start on Monday This will require the closure of the entire bathroom facility throughout the extensive maintenance project The restoration effort is expected to be completed and the comfort station reopened to the public The beach showers will also remain available No public parking is expected to be impacted by the project though an area adjacent to the comfort station will be used to stage equipment Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) staff are coordinating with first responders particularly Ocean Safety Department lifeguards to relocate their equipment on-site and ensure there is no disruption to emergency services as a result of the project A combination of contract and in-house maintenance to the bathroom building will begin with a complete roof reconstruction including replacing the support beams and shingles That work will be conducted by Moriyama Construction We greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of kama‘āina and malihini (locals and tourists) who plan on visiting Waimea Beach during this facility improvement effort If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at 808-768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event it may not be possible to fulfill requests Follow the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation online and on social media: YouTube: bit.ly/DPRyoutube    Twitter: @honolulu_parks   Instagram: @honolulu_parks  Facebook: facebook.com/honolulu.parks    Nextdoor: bit.ly/DPRnextdoor     Website: honolulu.gov/parks Copyright © 2025 Department of Parks and Recreation A True Masterpiece, "NORTH" by Brown Cannon III From Tubes To Turns, Jai Glindeman's Surfing is a Treat to Behold Gerry Lopez Goes Deep With Justin Jay On The Plug Podcast NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List ‘He Was Such a Legend’: A Decade After His Death, Shawn “Barney” Barron’s Spirit Shines in Colorful Air Show Hawaiian Big Wave Icon Clyde Aikau Passes Away at 75 and flash floods have been reported across the island of Oahu as a torrential downpour unleashed over the weekend the world-famous Waimea Bay River was bursting at the seams with the excess of atmospheric activity And the popular tourist destination – the Waimea Waterfall about a 3.5-mile hike through the valley – was overloaded by the water We’re unable to load this content right now View directly on Instagram what appears to be a typical day at the Waimea Waterfall – a gentle trickle dribbling down the rocks; the venue for countless Instagram posts commemorating tourists’ trips to the North Shore a colossal wave of chocolate-hued rainwater surges over the falls then creating a river of rapids towards the ocean According to Newsweek: “The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Advisory on Sunday warning of minor flooding on roads While the flood warning for Oahu has expired most Hawaiian islands remain under a flood watch as residents are bracing for potential future downpours as storms remain a threat this week “Sunday's advisory followed weeks of weather instability across the Hawaiian Islands much of Oahu remained at risk for additional flash flooding overnight with conditions expected to ease by Monday morning.” As for Jamie O’Brien, the undisputed authority in all-things Waimea Bay River surfing, according to an Instagram Story from Sunday from Sunday night, it looked like he (along with a crew, including Italo Ferreira) were digging out the river on the beach for a potential session With all that water, however, this one could be…sketchy. Like that one time that one time that JOB “almost died” during a raging river surfing session Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Sprawling through the town of Waimea from Parker Ranch Historic Homes to Church Row Park the annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival invites families to enjoy the festivities The festival observes the blooming of the town’s historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of “hanami” or “cherry blossom viewing party.” The trees typically bloom in early February “Meijiro Amid the Blossoms” is the official artwork of this year’s festival by Honokaa artist Janice Gail who says the idea for it came from her “love of the lighter-colored cherry blossoms” that bloom on a couple of trees at Church Row Park is a common backyard bird and placing it perched on a cherry blossom branch is fitting I added a snow-topped Mauna Kea as I often see that image in my mind.” Attendees will enjoy a full lineup of multicultural performing arts and hands-on demonstrations along with crafters and food booths Participating venues will be marked with a tall pink festival banner and include Parker Ranch Historic Homes Kamuela Hardwoods (the restored Old Parker Ranch slaughterhouse) and along Pukalani Street Roberts Hawaii will provide free shuttle service between each venue The event is presented by Hawaii County’s Department of Parks and Recreation and community members “2025 Festival Activity Lineup,” will be available at the various venues and a free 2025 Souvenir Program will showcase the many organizations that help put the festival together Both programs are available online via a QR code on posters located throughout the festival and on the festival’s Facebook page See below for a list of festival activities and locations Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall) - Lindsey Rd behind Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall) Waimea Historic Corner - At the intersection of Highways 19/190 Historic Spencer House - Next to Waimea Center Keck Observatory Headquarters Lawn - Highway 19 The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section This year’s event honors the late Ruth Dick long-time festival participant as a member of the Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club Find updates on the festival’s Facebook page The 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival features a full lineup of multi-cultural performing arts crafters and food booths sprawling from Parker Ranch Historic Homes to Church Row Park on Saturday The festival marks the blooming of the historic cherry trees at Church Row Park and celebrates the age-old Japanese tradition of hanami which translates to “cherry blossom viewing party.” After a seasonal winter chill the trees typically bloom in early February the Cherry Blossom Festival is presented by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation and community members who plan the activities at various venues stretching through the town’s center The free handout with the festival activity lineup will be available at all venues to guide festival goers among activities Roberts Hawaiʻi will have free shuttle service between locations at the Parker Ranch Historic Homes Parking is available at Parker Ranch Center Kamuela Hardwoods and along Pukalani Street In addition, a free 2025 Souvenir Program will also be distributed to showcase the many organizations that put on the festival. Both of these publications will be available online through a QR code published on posters throughout the festival and on the festival’s Facebook page The 32nd Festival honors the late Ruth Dick a long-time festival participant as a member of the Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club on Saturday with scheduled events subject to change Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall)—Lindsey Road behind Parker Ranch Center Kamuela Hardwoods— Lindsey Road behind Mana Christian ‘Ohana (Old Kahilu Town Hall) Waimea Historic Corner—Intersection of Highways 19 and 190 Historic Spencer House – (Next to Waimea Center) Hwy The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Waimea. The festival is produced by the Hawaiʻi County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section and is a community-wide effort from a dedicated team of volunteers For more information, call 808-961-8706, or find festival updates on Facebook. A community workshop for the Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan is now scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m today in the cafeteria at Waimea Canyon Middle School after being postponed from its original March 6 date Kaua‘i County Housing Agency explains that the workshop will provide updates about the county’s progress on the entire Waimea 400 site A conceptual plan based on community input gathered during two previous workshops also will be shared Those who plan to attend tonight’s workshop are asked to fill out an online RSVP Google Form in advance to indicate how many people will be attending Community members also can sign up for email updates for the project on the same form Kaua‘i County Housing Agency still welcome input from those who cannot attend tonight’s workshop as well Meeting materials will be posted on the Waimea 400 project website following the meeting along with an online collector form to gather additional community feedback The website also includes more information about the project where community members can review the 2022 Waimea 400 Master Plan previous community survey results and materials from previous workshops Email waimea400housing@gmail.com with any questions Five Decades of Surfing, Travel and Narrative Collide in Sam George’s New Book Donavon Frankenreiter Cranks Up the Volume on Surf History Watch: Psycho Slab Cape Solander Goes Bonkers (Video) Mark Zuckerberg’s $500M Superyacht Cruises Hawaii (Video) Humble Hawaiian Charger Wins $10K & Wave of the Winter on Surreal Pipeline Chamber  Former World Title Threat Wins Burleigh Trials, Will Surf in Gold Coast Pro breaks multiple soft-top surfboards in the process While Waimea Bay is mostly known as one of the world’s most historically significant big wave surf spots – ushering in the modern era of heavy water wave-riding a sacred spot in the sphere of extra-large surf and hosting the iconic Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational – there’s a handful of other extracurricular aspects to the Bay that make it at times exciting biggest freshwater standing waves on earth there’s the infamous Waimea Bay shorebreak Heaving deep-water swells parade into the Bay they’ll break on the outside before making their way to shore; if not all that energy will unload on the shallow sandbank close to shore Success rates are near zero whilst surfing the Waimea shore pound but that doesn’t stop certain folks from having a go Jamie O’Brien is a usual suspect at Waimea Bay – from the big wave arena JOB and his posse took some soft-tops out to thumping Waimea to see how they stacked up against the heavy surf soft-tops seem to take a beating much better – making them ideal for scenarios like the Waimea Bay shorebreak JOB and crew ended up snapping a couple of softies amidst the powerful pandemonium “There were some crazy waves,” JOB laughs, examining the damage to his Mick Fanning Softboard If I paddled back out and this thing stabbed me I might as well go to Costco and buy a Wavestorm because all these things are built the same.” Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast Winners of SURFER's Emerging Brands Grant Announced Wins “Go Big” Wave of The Winter (Video)The “Go Big” Award goes to five Hawaiian surfers who braved Waimea in a canoe on February 28th The winners of the “Go Big” award for 2025 Moments before the waiting period closed for Hawaii's “Go Big” Moment Award came to a close a final submission came in at the 11th hour that ended up winning the event Five Hawaiian surfers braved Waimea Bay in an outrigger canoe and caught a giant set wave that stunned the judges and is making its own waves on social media View directly on Instagram The wave eventually catches them and the whitewater sends them all flying taking the line that they did would have been a big move doing it in an Wa'a was a proper homage to the heritage of the Hawaiian islands The crew is a highly experienced group of watermen who recently surfed the Wa'a in the 47th Annual Buffalo Big Board Classic They thanked the North Shore Lifeguards and water patrol for watching over them and to Big Island Grown for putting on the event and accepting their entry While the event is essentially like the Wave of The Winter competitions from the past but this year had a new twist Submissions could come from any type of surf craft as long as the waye was (i) surfed in Hawaii (ii) human-powered / no tow-ins (iii) between November 1st Hawai‘i County Mayor Kimo Alameda and his Cabinet will be the guests at tonight’s Waimea Community Association Town Meeting discussing progress during the first 3 months of Alameda’s administration on top priorities around the island — in effect sharing a report card while seeking more community input Keck Observatory Jerry Nelson Conference Room It also will be streamed live via the Waimea Community Association Facebook page and YouTube channel Members of the Alameda Cabinet expected to participate include the full spectrum of county programs and services from Parks and Recreation and Environmental Management to Planning The agenda includes time for questions, which are welcome in advance by emailing to WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com A brief public safety update by South Kohala Community Policing officers and preview of important community events for the coming month also will be provided during the meeting March’s spotlighted nonprofit is Hawai‘i Island United Way which actively supports more than two dozen diverse community service organizations around the island that benefit keiki to kūpuna as well as environmental and cultural programs Email Waimea Community Association President Mary Beth Laychak at WaimeaCommunityAssociation@gmail.com or visit the association’s website for more information about the meeting or the association itself Alameda and his Cabinet will host another talk story from 5 to 7 p.m Everyone is invited to attend that meeting and wins Hawaii “Go Big” moment of the year The art of outrigger canoe surfing is an ancient Polynesian tradition with British explorer Captain James Cook first encountering Tahitian natives riding waves in boats as early as 1777 In his journal, per the Encyclopedia of Surfing Cook noted: “I could not help concluding that this man felt the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and so smoothly by the sea.” they had to readjust and like steer a little bit Me and Eli [Olson] watched the whole thing Eli added: “They were knifing it and making it The crew on the canoe was composed of Ikaika Kalama they still won the “Go Big” moment of the year beating out the likes of Albee Layer and Kai Lenny at Jaws View directly on Instagram “After reviewing all the best waves of the year the judges have spoken; congratulations to @ikaikakalama and his crew of warriors taking the wa’a to Waimea Bay for epic wave riding and for winning the $5000 cash along with the title Hawaii’s Go Big Moment.” The ancient practice of canoe surfing lives on the Engineering Bash in Waimea will recognize the amazing accomplishments of engineers technicians and technologists while introducing Big Island youth to the dynamic field of engineering and technology Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library is putting on the bash from 10 a.m The annual weeklong national celebration of engineers and engineering is observed in conjunction with the Feb 22 birthday of President George Washington who is considered the nation’s first engineer This year’s theme is “Design Your Future,” a call to action and a celebration of the limitless possibilities in engineering innovating relentlessly and creating a future shaped by collective ingenuity The Engineering Bash is free and will feature some of the island’s most talented students and community experts that will be available to answer questions There will also be mind-bending indoor and outdoor activities There will be face-painting and balloon sculptures and Kaleo the Pueo will make a special appearance with the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) “Engineers Week is a great time to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our community and in our world,” said Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library Branch Manager Ashley Spencer “We are grateful to all of our community partners for helping us spotlight the innovative contributions of engineers to our lives.” family-friendly event from NASA@My Library an initiative to engage public audiences nationwide in informal and lifelong learning with the excitement of NASA exploration and discovery Call Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library at 808-887-6067 for additional information and Koa Smith go on a nocturnal novelty wave mission during a flash flood on Oahu and featuring some of the biggest names in both regular surfing and novelty surfing – namely North Shore locals Jamie O’Brien But things were turned up a notch, recently, when the river broke during a flash flood on Oahu – which saw the Waimea Bay waterfall erupt – and a few brave souls jumped in the river after dark View directly on Instagram another frequent face at the river when it’s cooking Here’s what he had to say: “Last night we surfed one the most violent river waves I’ve ever seen I couldn’t believe how much energy was pushing out of the valley Some waves were sooooo big they looked like mountains One mistake and you’re swept out to sea and into the darkness luckily… I only got sucked half way out to sea.” It harkens back to perhaps the gnarliest session ever to go down at the Waimea Bay river. That was when, back in December of 2022, the reservoir was filled to the brim due to torrential rains. And after falling on a wave and getting sucked out to sea, JOB claims he “almost died.” He added: It lets me out where the river meets the ocean Probably one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my life 300 yards out in the middle of the ocean and the waves are 15 feet Anyway, world champ and Olympic gold medalist, Italo Ferreira also got in on the action during the recent flash flood nighttime river session he had a little more trouble than the others out there an 8-10-foot shark was spotted in shallow water nearby The 2025 World Surf League Championship Tour kicked off on Wednesday Pipeline with opening day at the Lexus Pipe Pro as the first heats of the season were taking place at Oahu’s most infamous reef prompting warning signs to be posted on the sand According to an alert from officials: “An 8-10 foot Shark was observed near shore where the river empties into the ocean at Waimea Bay Always check with a lifeguard for the latest ocean and beach conditions due to heavy rains from the weekend before the state Health Department issued a parallel advisory The warning stated: “The Hawaii Department of Health advises beach users to stay out of waters when the water appears brown or murky the water may contain higher than normal pollutant levels The Department recommends staying out of the water for 48-72 hours after the rain has stopped and after the beach has received full sunshine.” Ironically, it was a shark that prompted the women’s Tour to move to Pipeline back in 2020 In the early hours of the morning on December 8th altered the trajectory of women’s pro surfing then the final event of the women’s CT season the women have competed at Pipe alongside the men A few weeks ago, another shark was spotted at Waimea while surfers were in the water. A blacktip was caught on camera, just outside the lineup Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWAIMEA BAY (HawaiiNewsNow) - By dawn Sunday massive crowds had already gathered on Oahu’s North Shore with parking lots filled to capacity at Waimea Bay for the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and emergency management personnel are on alert to ensure the public stays safe saying the area was experiencing significant traffic congestion with an estimated 10,000 attendees from Hawaii Kai and camped out until the park opened Officials advised the public to take public transportation, or stay home and watch the contest on television or online on rogue.tv or ripcurl.com This is the 11th time “The Eddie” has run in the last 40 years Big Island Video News Hale Kuawehi Solar and Battery Storage Project began commercial operations on March 25th (BIVN) – A new solar project in Waimea is producing up to 30 megawatts of renewable energy for the Hawaiʻi island grid (Innergex) Hale Kuawehi Solar and Battery Storage Project began commercial operations on March 25 It is the second solar plus battery storage project on the island “This project has multiple benefits for our customers on Hawai‘i Island,” said Colton Ching Hawaiian Electric’s Senior Vice President of Planning & Technology With battery storage and advanced controls the project will improve the reliability of the system by providing energy when it is needed.” Located in Waimea on a 300-acre parcel about a half-mile north of the Hawai‘i Belt Road and Old Saddle Road intersection the project is supported by a 120 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system and can produce enough energy to power about 13,500 homes “The commercial operation of the Hale Kuawehi solar and battery storage facility reflects the hard work of our teams and partners and Innergex’s continued commitment to providing sustainable and innovative energy solutions,” said Michel Letellier President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex “By combining solar energy with advanced storage technology we are helping Hawai‘i transition to a resilient and carbon-free electric system.” Innergex will sell energy to Hawaiian Electric at a fixed cost that is not tied to volatile fossil fuel prices the project is offsetting the need to import 1.6 million barrels of oil to produce electricity Hawai‘i Island has been a national leader in the use of renewables with a diverse portfolio of resources nearly 59% of the island’s electricity was generated by renewables This percentage is expected to increase with the addition of Hale Kuawehi and future projects from Hawaiian Electric’s ongoing efforts to procure a variety of renewable energy resources Copyright © 2025 · Dynamik-Gen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in as part of a $3.2 million capital improvement project at Waimea Cook Field in Waimea Staging for the project will begin March 10 The facility will close the same day and remain shuttered during construction which is expected to continue until January 2026 Tennis courts will remain closed for the entire duration of the project The project includes repairs to the rock wall foundation of the tennis courts; removing and replacing deteriorated court surfaces; painting new court surfaces and sports lines with two courts dedicated to tennis and two courts designated for mixed use of tennis and pickleball; replacing fences and gates; installing new tennis nets; repairing the retaining rock wall; and replacing fluorescent lights with light-emitting diode Rock retaining walls surrounding the park perimeter also will be repaired from the tennis courts to Kaumuali‘i Highway will be closed to the public during the project Parking along Tsuchiya Road adjacent to the tennis courts will also be off-limits The construction staging area will be located along the left-field side of the park Contact the Kaua‘i County Department of Parks and Recreation at 808-241-4460 or via email at parks@kauai.gov for questions or additional information + Prep Baseball Hawaii on X+ Prep Baseball Hawaii on Instagram+ Prep Baseball Hawaii on Facebook+ Prep Baseball on YouTube The 2025 Hawaii High School baseball season is quickly approaching and Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and there are some very talented players and teams across Hawaii Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in their respective State Championship Tournament but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview these individual programs across Hawaii We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews eventually releasing our Preseason Power Rankings Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across Hawaii Each week we will be releasing our Power 25 Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today with a preview of the Waimea Menehunes HI)Head Coach: Brandon MoisesHHSAA Classification: Division II2024 Record: 3-5 Waimea enters 2025 following a 3-5 season in 2024 but currently possess plenty of talent within upperclassmen who looked prime for a winning season this spring The Menehunes return six starters on the positional side and that group will look to lead the offense and alleviate some pressure on the pitching staff who will return four arms from last season our staff will break down eight players to know with the spring season right around the corner Waimea High School will led by senior '25 OF/UTL Jeydon Moises (Hawaii-Hilo Commit) who is committed to play baseball at the University of Hawaii - Hilo in the fall Moises is the 3rd-ranked outfielder in Hawaii's senior class and will provide the team with production on the offensive side as well as on the defensive side and as a leader Another senior to watch will be '25 OF/P Niko Yamauchi (Uncommitted) who will man the outfield alonside Moises and the arm strength will also allow him to make an impact on the mound. '25 RHP/OF Jovin Moises (Uncommitted) is another senior who will look to contribute on both sides of the ball for the Menehunes Moving past the senior class, a junior to keep tabs on this spring will be '26 INF/RHP Rykur Lee (Uncommitted) who was in attendance at the prestigeous Invite-Only Hawaii Fall Showcase back in October where he generated an exit velocity of 87.3mph and fastball velocity of 82mph These numbers continue to trend upwards for Lee as he continues to add strength and will be a two-way to keep tabs on in the program over the next two spring seasons '26 OF/LHP Evan Yamauchi (Uncommitted) is another two-way junior who attended the Hawaii Fall Showcase back in October where he showed well at the outfield position Yamauchi will round out the outfield alongside seniors Moises and Yamauchi and also make contributions on the mound as a left-handed pitcher We just covered the upperclass players to know and will also provide you with a 2027 prospect to follow going forward in the program. '27 C/RHP Napali Jardin was one of a small handful of 2027s to attend the Invite-Only Hawaii Showcase and is the 36th-ranked sophomore in the State Jardin posted 70mph throws behind the dish as well as pop-times in the 2.04 - 2.22 range Beyond the highlighted players above, Waimea still has several other upperclassmen who are eager to chip in on the teams success this spring. '25 INF/RHP Kyka Linoz (Uncommitted) and '26 3B/RHP Ha'aheo Kailikini (Uncommitted) are two additional prospects to keep tabs on this spring season as Waimea's season gets underway very soon The team looks to be trending in a good direction heading into the season and have a slew of different players to look to for contributions as they navigate their 2025 schedule Stay locked into our social channels and website throughout the season for complete coverage of the Hawaii High School baseball scene           victory-at-sea couple days (weeks?) on the North Shore of Oahu that the World Surf League’s kickoff event for the 2025 Championship Tour season – the Lexus Pipe Pro – was called off for multiple days during the waiting period a 3.5 hike through the valley and a popular tourist destination But with all that water flowing through the valley that had to make its way to the ocean eventually And that meant a potentially epic surf session at the North Shore’s favorite We’ve seen glimmers of the recent session that went down at the Waimea Bay river wave, namely from world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Italo Ferreira But we’ve yet to see footage from the entire event “It’s code brown at Waimea river right now,” JOB says on his way to the spot The amount of water that’s coming down right now This is like the Eddie Aikau edition of the river super psycho sonic moments about to happen it was at the Waimea river that JOB “almost died” in perhaps the biggest scariest conditions that’s ever been surfed probably some of the biggest waves I’ve ever seen at Waimea river went down tonight,” JOB recapped But I watched some incredible waves go down.” By Michael Brestovansky Hawaii Tribune-Herald BusinessEditors' Picks A 43-lot affordable housing subdivision in Waimea has received a thumbs-up from the Big Island’s Leeward Planning Commission The Hawaii Island Community Development Corp applied for several permits to allow for the construction of a 14-acre subdivision at the southwest corner of the intersection of Kawaihae Road and Waiula Drive According to documents from the Hawaii County Planning Department the subdivision would be on a larger 237-acre agriculturally zoned parcel owned by HICDC The development itself would be split into two noncontiguous sections: a 13-acre section supporting 39 lots toward the middle of the lot and a 1.3-acre section directly on Waiula Drive containing the remaining four lots HICDC Executive Director Keith Kato told the commission last week that the subdivision’s name is Koai‘e which he said is the name of a tree that used to grow in the area whose wood was used by Hawaiians for fishhooks is not far from the project site on Highway 250 The subdivision would facilitate both HICDC’s self-help and turnkey housing programs The former works with households making 80% or less of the area media income to help construct their homes while the turnkey houses would be available to households that are unable to provide the required labor or have a greater income than the 80% threshold HICDC intends to provide “as many self-help homes as possible given federal funding limitations,” according to the planning documents Turnkey homes would be available at rates affordable to households making up to 140% of the area median income The full project is estimated to cost $20 million and to be completed by the end of 2029 HICDC requested several exemptions from county requirements such as minimum road widths HICDC also proposes to dedicate the subdivision roads to the county once completed allowing the county to maintain them — although some commissioners noted the county is not obligated to accept that dedication if (the Department of Public Works) does not accept the dedication the property owners will have to pay to maintain the roads?” asked Commissioner Donna Noborikawa we’re asking low- to moderate-income families to shell out a bunch of money to pay for the roads?” Kato told the commission that other HICDC subdivisions were granted similar exemptions and were still able to have their roads dedicated to the county Neighbors of the project were supportive of the subdivision Waimea resident Nicole Milne said the project will “enable residents to purchase their homes and maybe provide an opportunity for kamaaina who have moved away to come back home.” “If any of you have ever taken the morning bus from Hilo to the west side you’ve seen how it can be standing room only as people commute to their jobs on the leeward coast,” Milne said “Property values in Waimea have made purchasing a home out of reach for most individuals working in Waimea.” The commission voted unanimously to recommend that HICDC’s permit applications be approved forwarding the matter to the County Council Enrolling in Hawaiʻi’s public schools is a straightforward process that involves determining school eligibility and completing an application either online or in person We are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students and we look forward to welcoming your child to our school system. Learn how to determine your school through the SchoolSite Locator App The Department provides bus service in neighborhoods around the islands to ensure broad access to educational opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s students and serves about 25,000 student riders across the state.  Students who consistently attend school are more likely to achieve academic excellence students gain access to a world of knowledge and develop the confidence to reach their full potential.  educational specialists and staff to foster equity and excellence in our public schools skilled and passionate professionals who will help bring the Department’s Strategic Plan to life stories and events from Hawai‘i public schools 1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813Main Line: 808-784-6200Email Photo of the Waimea protest from video courtesy Lynn Beittel Hawaiʻi - Hawaiʻi residents rallied in opposition on the day President Donald Trump delivered his address to Congress Photo of the Waimea protest from video courtesy Lynn Beittel (BIVN) – Over 100 residents gathered in Waimea on Tuesday as part of a nationwide protest in opposition to President Trump’s policies since starting his second term in office On the same day President Trump addressed Congress volunteers with the Indivisible Hawaiʻi Statewide Network 50501 and the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association rallied against the new administration’s efforts to cut federal jobs and funding “Our communities rely on Veterans Services and the critical services of government programs like the USDA and NOAA to protect and fund local solutions to our precious environment and communities,” said Patti Cook with North Hawai’i Action Network a chapter of the Indivisible Hawai’i Statewide Network since early 2017 these programs — and the people who depend on them — are at risk.”  “We refuse to let Washington’s political power plays threaten our land President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress President Trump’s address before Congress was the longest in modern U.S He proclaimed “America is back” before launching into a 1 hour and 39 minute speech about putting an end to “woke” culture Trump touted efforts to deport illegal aliens “As you’ve heard me say many times we have more liquid gold under our feet than any nation on earth “And now I fully authorize the most talented team ever assembled to go and get it The president’s speech drew constant applause from Republican lawmakers in attendance “This was my eleventh State of the Union address as a Member of Congress seven by Republican and four by Democrat Presidents polarizing and destructive,” said U.S “I’m all in for tackling the tough issues we face like immigration national defense and our role in the world Whatever the President or anyone else says or pretends or hopes or tries to dictate the real and lasting solutions to these challenges will only come through hard bipartisan problem solving.”  Trump highlighted his Executive Order making English the official language of the United States prompting a response from the Hawaiʻi Judiciary on Wednesday “The Executive Order does not impact Hawaiʻi’s recognition of both English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi as the state’s official languages,” the Judiciary stated “The Judiciary reaffirms its policy of allowing people to communicate with the courts in either language.” Court interpreters would still be provided to persons with limited English proficiency or speech or hearing impairments The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court also issued a statement “affirming principles of equal justice for all.”  local activists made it clear that Hawai‘i is not immune to the political and economic forces threatening democracy and funding for wide-ranging programs and services,” stated a North Hawaiʻi Action Network news release “Protesters’ signs supported policies that serve the people — not billionaires and corporate elites — while calling for stronger protections for voting rights personal privacy and the rule of law.”  Filed Under: Kohala Tagged With: HELCO's magical Big Ben train will return for this year's Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade (photo by Sarah Anderson) Hawaiʻi - The annual parade is now accepting entries and will be repeating the longer LAST YEAR: Twilight Christmas Parade Lights Up Waimea (Dec (BIVN) – The Waimea community is sharing news on the upcoming Twilight Christmas Parade From a news release produced by event organizers: Entries are still being accepted for the 64th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade on Sat. through the heart of this upcountry community This year’s parade will repeat the much longer safer route introduced in 2022 for what is the second oldest holiday parade in Hawai’i Please note this year’s parade will start a half hour later – at 6 p.m (not 5:30 p.m.) and will include a minor route change at the start of the parade Featuring more than 60 lighted entries including many festively “dressed” trucks and other big rigs turn out onto Kawaihae Road next to Waimea Community Center and across from Habitat for Humanity’s RESTORE proceed to Lindsey Road and onto the main intersection turn left (east) onto Mamalahoa Highway (Hwy 19) to pass thru town center and end at the Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park Lighted units will remain at the District Park for post-parade viewing TRAFFIC ADVISORY: No cars will be moving along the parade route from 5:55-7:15 p.m but emergency vehicles will be able to respond as needed Spectators must stay on the curb and sidewalks or grass so that emergency vehicles can pass by quickly if needed and for the safety of all The public and businesses are urged to plan ahead to avoid delays because there will be no vehicular traffic from west to east or east to west thru Waimea town during the parade Theme for the 2024 parade is “A Waimea Christmas Memory,” and is expected to include entries reflecting favorite parade and holiday moments from years gone by HELCO’s “Big Ben” Toys for Tots lighted train – always a favorite of the wee ones – will again join the parade There is no charge to enter the parade though entries are urged to contribute to Big Island Giving Tree’s annual holiday gifting of makana bags to over 500 kupuna to ensure no one is forgotten during this season of giving and sharing To secure a packet of parade rules and application, go to WaimeaTown.org/parade contact parade co-chair Lani Olsen-Chong (olsenchong@gmail.com) or Kalae Kawamura (k_kawamura92@yahoo.com Parade entrants are asked to carefully review parade rules for everyone’s safety including the requirement that units must be well lighted and walkers are discouraged because of the length of the route and to prevent slowdowns or gaps no walkers permitted once truckers have started and no candy or other goodies may be thrown from units at any time throughout the parade There will be 20 sponsored narrator stations along the longer parade route (up from 18 last year) and most will have a nearby lighted porta lua All narrator stations will have trash bags to be used by spectators first aid kits and a fire extinguisher for the public’s convenience and health-safety Stadia Financial and Waimea Community Association Also along the route will be about a dozen food trucks grouped together in two locations – in the parking area fronting historic Pukalani Stables and the gravel lot immediately south of Waimea Elementary and Middle Schools adjacent to Ala Ohia Road Participating food trucks in the lot behind the schools will include Jaw Jacker Grindz,Paniolo Churros Trucks in the Pukalani Stables parking lot include HIBAO Kapua’s Snack Box and Wilson’s Snack Shack Food truck vendors must be food safety certified and pre-approved by the parade committee While parade spectators may set up their own tents along the parade route for viewing hibachis or open fires are permitted and special care must be exercised to avoid accidentally starting a grass fire with any kind of lighted objects including heated cars Santa has confirmed participation in the parade on a magical float created by the staff of Canada France Hawai’i Telescope and W.M Canada France Hawai’i Telescope will again host its annual Star Party at its Waimea headquarters with star gazing/viewing (as weather permits) outside and inside the Hawai’i County Band will present a half hour concert at Parker Ranch Center from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and then will hop on board a float created for them by the Parker Ranch ‘ohana to lead off the parade Waimea’s Christmas parade is staged by a large hui of more than 100 volunteers working in partnership with the North Hawai’i Rotary and dozens of community organizations including schools For more information, go to WaimeaTown.org/parade or contact Lani Olsen-Chong (olsenchong@gmail.com – Cell: 808-936-0607) or Kalae Kawamura (k_kawamura92@yahoo.com – Cell: 808-936-4376) Filed Under: Kohala Tagged With: , Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWAIMEA HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - The 72nd Annual Waimea Paniolo Parade on Hawaii Island is coming back this Saturday at Waimea Park and ends at the Kalani Schutte Waimea District Park where the Paniolo Festival Hoolaulea will run until 4 p.m The parade will honor Waimea’s Living Treasures feature the “Paniolo Memorial Ride” as well as honor past paniolo in the community The theme for this year’s parade is “Na Paniolo Ho’ohanohano - Grand are the Cowboys,” which was actually the original theme from the 1952 parade The Paniolo Festival Hoolaulea will feature entertainment Click here for more information on the Waimea Paniolo Parade and Hoolaulea New Water Quality Regulations in New York Won’t Necessarily Make Water Any Cleaner Waimea Bay is sacred ground in big wave surfing It is the site of the world’s most prestigious surf contest the annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational although the event has only run 11 times since its inception in 1985 on account of the requisite 40-foot-plus waves during the event window perhaps “better” spots in terms of surfing style throughout all those decades of historical importance Waimea Bay did not always look the way it does today it was not flocked with dental floss bikini’d and tomato-red sunburnt tourists dotting the beach with umbrellas and coolers full of Foodland poke and Hawaiian Suns View directly on Instagram there used to be much more sand on the beach at Waimea The jump rock was buried much deeper; it wasn’t as high a little less crowded than it is during swell season these days For a little more on the history of wave-riding at Waimea, here’s Matt Warshaw from the Encyclopedia of Surfing: “Some historians believe that Waimea was surfed by ancient Hawaiians Waimea made a disturbing entry onto the modern surf scene in 1943 as Honolulu surfers Woody Brown and Dickie Cross after getting caught outside at nearby Sunset Beach on a fast-rising swell were forced to paddle three miles down the coast to Waimea where they hoped to come ashore through the channel and the incident helped keep surfers away from Waimea until 1957 “The canonical story about the first day of surfing at Waimea is that Greg Noll of California led a small group into the lineup on a 15-foot day while surf moviemaker Bud Browne filmed from the shore it came to light that a quiet Long Beach lifeguard named Harry Schurch had been out a couple hours earlier than Noll and his gang introduced Waimea to thousands of American and Australian wave-riders and for more than 10 years the break was a media sensation featured in general interest magazine articles (including Life and the Saturday Evening Post) Columbia Pictures' 1964 action-comedy Ride the Wild Surf The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational got the green light for Sunday and a final call to proceed was made official by race officials Sunday morning It is the 11th time that the competition has been held since its start in 1984 The city expected North Shore waves to exceed 30 feet Honolulu lifeguard Luke Shepardson won the most recent edition in January 2023 Shepardson and Florence are among the six past champions in the field of 35 men’s invitees Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi held a press conference Friday afternoon to discuss how city officials will prepare for a huge crowd at Waimea Bay Contest organizer Clyde Aikau joined Blangiardi at Honolulu Hale "We remain optimistic the 'Eddie will go,'" the city said in a news release afterward. It expects a very large crowd and urged most residents to stay home and watch live event coverage on KHII and RipCurl's YouTube Channel from 8 a.m The city will install parking barriers on both sides of Kamehameha Highway from Iliohu Place to the Mission of Saints Peter and Paul on the other side of the bay The parking lot at Waimea Bay will be closed to the public starting 10 a.m on Saturday to reserve space for event staff and contestants There is paid parking in Waimea Valley for $50 in the front lots and $30 in the rear lots until full The city urges beach-goers to be prepared to take rubbish with them when they leave and to be mindful of personal items that can be swept up by the high surf Note: This story was updated Sunday that The Eddie was officially underway Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com If there were a playlist to Mason Ho’s latest edit – in fact most of his edits – these could be a few jingles on the list The dude has an uncanny attraction to super shallow super rocky surf spots; the ones that are more like human cheese-graters masquerading as surf spots Mason’s most recent rock obsession: Mermaid Rock And he used it as a naturally occurring step-off setup (Fun fact: There is such thing as “Petrofilia,” meaning a “love of rocks; favorability towards rocks.” It can manifest in collecting making jewelry…or surfing on or around rocks Joining Mason on this rock-centric session is New York’s Balaram Stack Bal sticks more to the lefts breaking off the jump rock It’s a far cry from Mason’s previous foray at Waimea Bay which was during the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Mason fell short to fellow North Shore charger runner-up in surfing’s most prestigious contest ain’t bad Per our recap of the event: “Mason then caught a screamer of a right He was slingshotted up the leaderboard and far into the channel but he worked it all the way inside and got blasted by a geyser-esque backwash Derese Durant gets her house key from Habitat Board President Donna Rice on Thursday 2025 during the key passing at the Waimea Huakai Kauai Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Milani Pimental introduces the four new homebuyers 2025 during the key passing at Waimea Huakai Mila Racimo is thrilled when Vanessa Udarbe gets her house key from Habitat Board President Donna Rice on Thursday The crowd for four new homes being dedicated on Thursday was large including Kauai Habitat for Humanity staff and a visiting Collegiate Challange group for the passing of four keys at the Waimea Huakai subdivision Derese Durant and her daughters; Vanessa Udarbe her children and Mila Racimo; Rebecca Cameron her children and partner; and Aaron Barreira and his three daughters each received their house keys along with the Certificate of Occupancy the paperwork outlining their sweat equity and housewarming gifts from the Habitat board “This Habitat home will make a huge difference in my daughter’s and my lives by giving us a fresh start,” said Durant safe place to call our own — where no one can take it from us — means everything.” comes two days ahead of International Women’s Day said Kauai Habitat for Humanity Executive Director who noted that three of the four homebuyers were single-parent women and the fourth was a single father raising three daughters “Our neighborhoods are comprised largely of women and children with many women being heads of household,” Pimental “They are also the population most likely to be affected by substandard living conditions.” The four new homeowners also know the value of sweat equity as they each received a total number of hours invested when they received their house key following the blessing by Pastor Olaf Hoeckmann Percival of the Waimea United Church of Christ He also presented each of the homeowners with a mug in which he collected stories of living in the oldest building in Waimea Tears started flowing down Durant’s cheek when she learned she had invested 1,300 hours following the days of balancing her job Vanessa Udarbe thanked the Lions Club and Bank of Hawaii families for contributing more than 1,300 hours whose father Ernie Barreira earned the title of Team Father and a large “Chee-hoo” erupted from the Cameron ohana when Habitat announced 1,500 hours The homes were built with qualified homebuyers in partnership with USDA Sect the State of Hawaii Legislative Grant in Aid Kauai Community Fund like the 20-person Collegiate Challenge group from Seaton Hall University in New Jersey which spent an early Spring Break helping build homes will provide a total of 32 single-family homes in addition to the 35 affordable rental units developed by the County of Kauai and Abe Group Wear a Lei was the theme of this year’s annual Kauai Museum Lei.. Members of the Waimea High School girls football team arrived home on Sunday from the 2025.. Photo of Ruth Dick courtesy Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival Hawaiʻi - The 2025 Cherry Blossom festival will honor the late Ruth Dick a long-time festival participant as a member of Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club file photo of cherry blossoms in Waimea’ Church Row Park (BIVN) – The 32nd Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday and celebrates the annual blooming of historic cherry trees at Church Row Park A news release promoting the festival details this year’s honoree: The 2025 festival honors the late Ruth Dick who was a long-time festival participant as a member of Waimea Bon-yu Kai Bonsai Club the Kaua‘i native annually exhibited her plants to the delight of festival goers she expertly offered bonsai care demonstrations and served as a volunteer plant doctor during the festival Dick started practicing the art of bonsai in the 1980s under the tutelage of late Bon-yu Kai members Isami Ishihara and Yutaka Kimura “I think the art of bonsai enabled my mom to connect with and honor her Japanese heritage,” shares daughter Michiko Spencer of Waimea “My mom was always a plant person and bonsai opened a new door for her creativity as well.” who has assumed the care of her motherʻs impressive bonsai collection has joined Waimea Bon-yu Kai to learn the skills ”to importantly keep the plants alive,” but adds the process provides a form of closure after her motherʻs death “as I know my caring for them would make her happy.” the festival offers hands-on mochi pounding broke da’ mouth food prepared by local organizations and loads of craft vendors Performances can be enjoyed by festival goers at multiple venues Roberts Hawaii will provide a free transportation shuttle between Church Row Park and other venues The Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is produced by the Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation’s Culture and Education Section with the help of a team of volunteers Filed Under: Uncategorized Following Monday’s Brown Water Advisory issued by the Hawaii Department of Health for Waimea Bay the department’s Clean Water Branch issued a High Bacteria Count Advisory for the beach late Tuesday levels of 1298 per 100 mL were detected during routine beach monitoring Tests for enterococci — a bacterium that lives in the intestines of warm-blooded animals including humans — indicate that “potentially harmful microorganisms such as bacteria or parasites may be present in the water,” according to a DOH statement Swimming in waters with fecal pathogens in the water could make you ill The ones most likely to develop illnesses or infections while in polluted waters include children the elderly and people with weakened immune systems DOH says that while swimming-related illnesses can be “unpleasant,” they are usually not very serious There are usually no long-term health effects the most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by fecal pathogens is gastroenteritis It can take different forms that can have several of these symptoms — nausea Individuals who swim in highly polluted water may be exposed to more serious diseases DOH says other issues could also cause these symptoms such as food poisoning from eating improperly refrigerated food consumed at the beach Signs have been posted at Waimea Bay and the advisory will remain in effect until the water sample results no longer exceed 130 enterococci per 100 mL For more information, view the advisory or visit the Environmental Protection Agency website for beach-related illnesses The 24th annual Waimea Light Parade is expanding this year to honor the life and legacy of renowned Kaua‘i storyteller historian and community leader Aletha Goodwin Kaohi who was instrumental in founding the annual holiday parade The Historic Waimea Theater and Cultural Arts Center collaborated with Hawai‘i workforce development nonprofit ClimbHI to launch the first West Kauaʻi Mo‘olelo Festival Saturday includes a showing of “Aletha,” a short film that takes place during the final days before Goodwin Kaohi’s death earlier this year The storytelling of the renowned West Kaua‘i historian is highlighted in the film as she shares lessons learned from her 93 years of life in Waimea “Aletha,” filmed by award-winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker Alexander Bocchieri who lives and works in Honolulu and Los Angeles debuted at the 2024 Hawai‘i International Film Festival “The festival serves as a place for local storytelling in West Kaua‘i helping perpetuate Hawaiian culture and the rich history of Kaua‘i that Aletha held so dear,” said Julie Morikawa president of ClimbHI and producer of “Aletha.” Goodwin Kaohi is also this year’s Waimea Light Parade grand marshal The festival will include entertainment by award-winning musician and Hawaiian cultural practitioner Ku‘uipo Kumukahi and Kaua‘i Kollab will perform a holiday concert at Hofgaard Park to close out the parade Bring your own chairs and blankets on which to sit Food and craft vendors will be available at Hofgaard Park Waimea Bridge will be closed and there be no parking allowed along Kaumuali‘i Highway from 5 to 9:30 p.m The new festival is supported by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Community Enrichment Program and West Kaua‘i Heritage Center For more informtion, click here The 24th annual Waimea Light Parade begins at 6 p.m. staging in the Waimea Canyon Middle School parking lot before proceeding down Huakai Road and then continuing along Waimea Canyon Drive to Kaumuali‘i Highway The parade ends at the Alawai Road intersection This year’s theme is “Super Heroes: Not all Heroes wear capes.” there will be a ton of electrified fun to be had: “From illuminated floats to glo-stick marching units you’ll see the westside community full of holiday cheer!” exclaims the Waimea Light Parade website To ensure safety for participants and spectators Kaua‘i Police Department is notifying the public that all streets along the parade route will be closed from 5:30 p.m Motorists are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destinations as traffic delays are expected because of road closures and temporary parking and transit changes Event organizers will issue updates if severe weather conditions affect the parade don’t miss the fun — and festive fellowship — of one of Waimea’s brightest traditions Visit the Waimea Light Parade website for additional information There was a decent turnout in this small town (less than 10,000 people) on the Big Island of Hawai`i.  I heard rumors that Trump supporting counter protesters were present but I walked up and down both sides of the street Not signed up for Daily Kos yet? Create a free account Jamie O’Brien knows that particular weird wave well It often requires a helping hand holding a shovel to get things moving publicly employed workers did the brunt of the dirty work but this time he didn’t have to get quite as sweaty “The water can’t go back up into the mountains,” Jamie said “It’s got to go into the ocean… right here we got the State They’re helping dig the river because it’s flooding in the back To save my friend Sean’s house from flooding in the back of the valley This body of water has to be released into the ocean no matter what.” Add that to the fact digging the river out also creates a pretty incredible wave Eddie went. And he probably would have won. Photo: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau While watching The Eddie Big Wave Invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau, which ran in such spectacular fashion at Waimea Bay a few days ago, and marveling at the rides of eventual winner Landon McNamara’s, including his “perfect” monster elevator drop I couldn’t help but be impressed not only by his gutsy performance but those of so many of his fellow competitors as I watched the manner in which this talented new generation of big wave riders tackled the Bay it occurred to me that if Eddie Aikau himself was in the contest I’m not talking about an Eddie surfing the way he did during the early-to-mid 1970s when he was one of the most consistent finalists on the Hawaiian pro circuit on what many were calling the biggest day ever ridden at Waimea Bay up to that point the 21-year-old Hawaiian put on a masterful performance that could’ve just as easily won his namesake event last week I’ll say here that this isn’t just idle speculation. During the filming of my 2014 documentary, Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau produced for ESPN’s popular “30 for 30” series I had the great privilege of interviewing some of the legendary surfers who were out that day in 1967 And the memory was obviously still with them “He was just the brightest star out there,” says North Shore pioneer Kimo Hollinger (1939-2023) “Eddie didn’t take off where everybody else took off recalls one of Eddie’s waves in particular “There’s this famous picture of it,” Hemmings says But Eddie had an ability to take off and penetrate the wave.” and just crank the tail of the board,” recalls Grigg and just taking over the power of the wave I wasn’t judging Eddie’s theoretical first and second-round heats based solely on the memories of his peers but from existing footage of that epic November 17th Greg MacGillivray’s and Jim Freeman’s  Free and Easy (1967) provided the best coverage of that memorable day capturing Eddie’s heroics in sharp focus and living color was well familiar with Free and Easy’s Waimea sequence That famous red board and famous surf trunks. Photo: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau “It wasn’t just that he went out there and surfed for longer and better than anybody else,” Warshaw says “He also paddled out on that beautiful red surfboard after seeing 25 white-skinned guys drop down those huge waves with the white-and red trunks and red surfboard and in situations where every other surfer in the world would’ve jumped off it seemed like he couldn’t have been more at ease on these gigantic waves He looked like the perfect big wave surfer.” But let’s back up and talk about that “beautiful red surfboard,” a 10’6” Hobie pintail shaped for Eddie in 1965 by legendary shaper/designer Dick Brewer in more ways than one) with a veritable redwood 2×4 for a stringer but compared to equipment being ridden today this mighty machine may have provided Eddie with an advantage many of last week’s competitors could’ve used maintain impressive momentum (which I can attest to personally the Aikau clan having graciously allowed me to paddle Eddie’s famous board during the film’s production a profound surfing experience if there ever was one) but with Brewer’s slight nose belly and deep-tail concave bottom under Eddie’s feet the board was a juggernaut: not a hint of chatter with the ability to penetrate the wave early and draw an innovative line across the middle of the face to the shoulder on a board that plowed through closeout bump and Jet Ski wakes like a bulldozer performing all of this with consummate cool; it’s pretty clear this combination of skill commitment and raw talent could’ve easily have won Eddie this last “Eddie.” Which to me is what makes Landon’s win so special: he won the sport’s most prestigious contest by surfing much as Eddie would have himself then emerging triumphant following the whitewater explosion And can you think of a better way to honor the man