Japan eases foreign tourism ban, allows guided package tours
TOKYO — Japan on Friday eased its borders for foreign tourists and began accepting visa applications, but only for those on guided package tours who are willing to follow mask-wearing and other antivirus measures as the country cautiously tries to balance business and infection worries.
Small businesses are facing ‘summer of uncertainty’
NEW YORK — Small businesses that depend on outdoor crowds and free-spending tourists aren’t sure what to expect this summer.
‘Taking it day by day’
On June 10, 2021, Cheylee Octavio, then a 25-year-old mother of two from Hilo, was stabbed repeatedly, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend.
State legislative races set: Incumbents win four seats without challengers
Incumbents will remain in one of the Big Island’s four state Senate seats and three of its eight state House seats, now that the June 7 filing deadline has passed with no challengers coming forward.
Second-grader a Doodle for Google finalist
Mauna Loa School second-grade student Lewis Cameron was selected as a finalist for the 2023 Doodle for Google competition for the state of Hawaii.
AAA: Nationwide average for gas tops $5 for first time ever
NEW YORK — The nationwide average price for a gallon of gasoline has topped $5 for the first time ever.
King Kamehameha I feted in North Kohala
The North Kohala King Kamehameha Day Celebration Parade returned to Kapaau on Saturday.
County Council fields set. Villegas wins reelection to Kona council seat
The primary election is still months away, but incumbent Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas has already won reelection.
Community ventures out for return of Kamehameha Day parade and ho‘olaulea in Kailua-Kona
The King Kamehameha Day Parade and Celebration returned to Kailua-Kona Saturday after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Nation and world news at a glance
Ukraine: Russia said to be using more deadly weapons in war
Stamkos scores twice, Lightning beat Rangers 2-1 in Game 6
TAMPA, Fla — The Tampa Bay Lightning’s bid for a three-peat is alive and well.
Aggies heading to CWS; Vols, Hokies, Longhorns force Game 3s
Texas A&M swept its NCAA super regional and advanced to the College World Series, and Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Texas won Saturday to even their best-of-three series.
Mo Donegal finishes 1st at Belmont, another Pletcher win
NEW YORK — Triple Crown veteran Todd Pletcher had simple advice Saturday for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. before the Belmont Stakes.
“Fire Tony!” chants break out; White Sox fall to Texas 11-9
CHICAGO — Loud chants of “Fire Tony!” broke out at Guaranteed Rate Field as manager Tony La Russa and the Chicago White Sox blew a five-run lead and lost to the Texas Rangers 11-9 in 10 innings on Saturday.
$4.75 million: Schwartzel wins richest golf event amid Saudi outcry
ST. ALBANS, England — Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel banked $4.75 million on Saturday by winning the richest tournament in golf history, while the event’s Saudi backers faced renewed backlash after a 9/11 victims’ group called for American players to withdraw from the rebel series.
Off-grid living beckons more than just hardy pioneer types
Living off-grid conjures images of survivalists in remote places and a rustic, “Little House on the Prairie” lifestyle with chores from morning to night. Yet only a tiny fraction of people living off-grid do it like that, and fewer still live more than an hour from any town.
Editorial: US allies are snooping, putting lives at risk
Canada and Australia, both allies of the United States, are clearly birds of a feather. Both have taken turns lately to smear China by accusing Chinese fighter aircraft of putting lives at risk by intercepting their military aircraft.
As I See It: What is a reasonable and practical thing to do?
Liberal (free) democracy is under attack. I quit the NRA when they used the Second Amendment to justify other regressive politics. Our founders had good reasons to create the second amendment. They had lived under a dictatorship and knew how often other governments had deteriorated. They included a means for the-people to resist oppressive government or even overthrow it if necessary. Thomas Jefferson opined, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” One of the things of concern was that a central government could become too powerful with a president or large states oppressing the smallest. At the time slave owning Virginia was the largest state. Imagine if California or Texas law became the law of the land everywhere.
Kohala Reunion set for July 2 to 4
Kohala is calling everyone with connections to the isolated northern district to a three-day celebration over the Fourth of July weekend.
