KAUPULEHU — Gov. David Ige on Friday spoke of efforts to improve educational opportunities and workforce development throughout the state with increased access to pre-K and early college programs for Hawaii’s youth.

KEALAKEKUA — At lunch time on Monday, staff and visitors at Kona Community Hospital were lining up with their trays inside Ginger Cafe.

KAILUA-KONA — Progress toward the Kealakehe Regional Park is being made with the signing of a contract for an environmental assessment for the project.

KAILUA-KONA — Three years in, organizers behind the Elvis Sheppard Blood Drive, which is already the largest blood drive in Hawaii County, are aiming higher.

KAILUA-KONA — The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday voted to give its OK to proposed amendments to the Kona Community Development Plan, or CDP, sending the amendments on for consideration and approval by the Hawaii County Council.

KAILUA-KONA — A grassroots effort to put a spotlight on crime and chronic homelessness in Kailua Village is continuing to pick up steam, with a meeting on Monday drawing a crowd of an estimated 130-150 people to the Paina Room at Umekes Fish Market Bar and Grill.

KAILUA-KONA — The Leeward Planning Commission this week is expected to take up for consideration a batch of amendments proposed for the Kona Community Development Plan.

KAILUA-KONA — Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against The Queen’s Health Systems after Queen’s told the health plan it will be billing Kaiser members for the balance of any emergency services it provides that aren’t reimbursed.

KAPA’AU — Whether they came from around the world or around the block, the scores of people who lined each side of Akoni Pule Highway Tuesday morning all came here to celebrate the life and legacy of King Kamehameha I.

KAILUA-KONA — The Queen’s Health Systems hospitals are no longer considered participating providers within Kaiser Permanente’s network after an agreement between Kaiser and The Queen’s Medical Center expired toward the end of last month.

KAILUA-KONA — From its anchialine pools to the historical accounts of those who made their lives in the area, Makalawena in North Kona is abundant with opportunities for students to connect with the stories and natural resources of the island.

KAILUA-KONA — More than a decade after an effort to develop Alii Parkway stalled, a subcommittee under the Kona Community Development Plan action committee is taking a new look at a possible future for the project.

KAILUA-KONA — Events are scheduled around the world today in celebration of World Oceans Day, and that includes some local opportunities for people on the island to show some love to the waters all around them.

KAILUA-KONA — A report released this month by two U.S. senators identified Kohala Hospital among a list of candidates for a program that puts increased scrutiny on nursing homes with a poor record of providing quality care.

KEALAKEKUA — When kumu Shahrazad Ahmed’s ninth-graders at Ke Kula o Ehunuikaimalino learned in December they’d be writing a book for class, they had some anxiety about the project.

KAILUA-KONA — More than two years after the state released a draft study to extend Daniel K. Inouye Highway, a final environmental impact statement on the project has yet to come out.

KAILUA-KONA — The Center for Biological Diversity on Wednesday announced plans to file suit after a federal agency missed a deadline to rule on whether to list cauliflower coral as a threatened or endangered species under federal law.

KAILUA-KONA — A partnership between a California-based company and a Hawaii nonprofit both dedicated to developing affordable housing options is aiming to bring 60 rental units to Waikoloa Village.