About Town: October 19, 2020

Free COVID-19 testing today in Keauhou

Free drive-through COVID-19 testing will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon today at Keauhou Shopping Center in North Kona, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense.

No insurance is necessary to be tested, but those seeking testing should bring their insurance card if they have one. There is no co-pay for individuals being tested for the novel coronavirus.

For more information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Nonprofit announces upcoming Ohana Food Drop events

The Food Basket will hold its Ohana Food Drop on Thursday in Kailua-Kona.

Ohana Food Drops — a drive-through operation in which participants remain in their cars and provide information to food bank staff and volunteers through signage and hand motions — replace The Food Basket’s normal “high touch” distributions as an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Distribution will occur at Kekuaokalani Gymnasium in Kailua-Kona. Supplies will be available on a first come, first serve basis starting at 10 a.m.

Remaining events for October are Friday at Pahoa Community Center in Pahoa; Oct. 28 at Cooper Center in Volcano; and Oct. 30 at Honokaa Sports Complex and Skate Park in Honokaa.

The organization also recently announced its November Ohana Food Drop schedule with 10 events planned throughout the month. Drops are currently slated Nov. 3 at Waimea District Park in Waimea; Nov. 4 at Keaau High School in Keaau; Nov. 5 at Kamehameha Park in North Kohala, Nov. 10 at Naalehu Hongwanji Temple in Naalehu; Nov. 11 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo; Nov. 13 at Kamakoa Nui Skate Park in Waikoloa; Nov. 17 at Cooper Center in Volcano; Nov. 19 at Old Kona Airport Park Pavilion in Kailua-Kona; Nov. 20 at Pahoa Community Center in Pahoa; and Nov. 25 at Honokaa Sports Complex and Skate Park in Honokaa.

New hours for Ka‘u transfer stations

The Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division will begin new operating days and hours for the Waiohinu and Ocean View transfer stations.

Beginning Nov. 1, both facilities will be open for residential trash disposal three days per week, on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

On Monday, Thursday and Saturday, the Waiohinu station will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with recycling services offered 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will go unchanged, operating 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

On Monday, Thursday and Saturday, the Ocean View station will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will go unchanged, operating from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.hawaiizerowaste.org.

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