Community Resources
Community Safety
Crime Stoppers (808-961-8300) - Make an anonymous tip and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Kuleana Hotline (808-961-2219) - Designed to prevent tragic events in public places. Your tip could help authorities intervene before warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.
Neighborhood Watch (808-887-3080) – Call the South Kohala Community Policing Officer to find out if there’s a watch already established in your neighborhood or to start a watch.)
Emergency Alerts: Sign up to receive alerts from local agencies including severe weather, criminal activities, severe traffic, missing persons, local events. Text your zip code to 888777 to opt-in or go to www.nixle.com
Hawai’i Police Department recent news releases: https://www.hawaiipolice.com
County of Hawai’i Hazard Impact Map
Hawai’i County Animal Control and Protection Agency: Matt Runnells (808-327-3558). Or go to: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/animal-control
South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee
Run by volunteers, the advisory group’s monthly meetings are an open forum for residents from all communities in the district, as well as elected officials, County employees, police staff, representatives from the State Department of Transportation, and the County Department of Public Works’ traffic and highway maintenance divisions.
SKTSC’s main purpose is to educate the public, and comment on state and County planning and design proposals for major projects that can impact roads and traffic in South Kohala. Although traffic safety committees have existed in all nine Big Island districts in the past, currently the South Kohala branch is one of the remaining few.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month and are currently hybrid - both in person and streamed “live” to our WCA Facebook Page and YouTube. Please email SKTSC Chair James Hustace: sktscsecretary@gmail.com to confirm location (rotates between Tutu’s House and Waikoloa Village Assn.) and for the monthly agenda and more information.
IMPORTANT: Community Feedback/Suggestions/Questions Needed/Welcome
COMMUNITY INPUT WELCOME! No - it's actually ESSENTIAL! Following up on the July 27, 2023 DOT Waimea Roadway Improvements Project meeting in Waimea Elementary School Cafeteria, which was the 8th in a long series of community discussions about in-town road safety improvements, please review the preliminary plan linked here: (https://drive.google.com/.../1sm0QRSjShZ0xjw.../view...).
This preliminary plan was shared at the meeting and reflects the thoughts and desires of several hundred community members based on the previous meetings including a walk thru town to discuss "hot spots," possibilities, and conversations with traffic, environmental and safety engineers to help us better understand roadway engineering considerations and the experience of other communities with different road improvement options. This slide-deck dives deep into the preliminary plan and current issues and options, and then we are asked to share our thoughts, suggestions, and questions with the planning team.
Mahalo to the approx 45 community members who attended last week's meeting - many who have participated in what is now about 18-20 hours of serious community discussion. Our input is essential and we thank our Legislators for securing funding to engage the community in these deep conversations vs. having plans drafted in isolation by engineers who do not live here and don't know our needs, dreams and challenges. We also thank contractor SSFM for seriously beating the bushes to inform our Waimea community about these meeting and making this information and comment opportunity accessible. As in the past, SSFM has developed a project website where they post all information: www.waimearegionalsafetystudy.com.
Mahalo for your time to help our community be safer and still retain its beauty and sense of place.
Help Available for Waimea's Hungry Children, Families, Kupuna and Friends; Kōkua Always Needed!
While the worst of the pandemic has waned, hunger is still with us. In fact, one in four children in Hawai’i are still food insecure, and a large number of adults, too. This has been exacerbated by the soaring cost of living including housing and food. Fortunately, in large part due to the incredible generosity of Waimea's faith community, farmers and ranchers, not-for-profits, businesses, schools and neighbors, help is available - yet our kōkua is needed and welcome. What follows are the food programs available here in Waimea to assist those in need and they all welcome your help - both funding and/or helping hands!
Waimea Community Meal @ St. James
‘Building Community One Meal At A Time’
Thursdays, 4:30-6PM – Dine-In with Music! (No drive-thru but take-outs welcome)
65-1237 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743
Everyone welcome to enjoy a fresh-from-scratch meal. There are many ways to kōkua including donating fresh produce, home-baked cookies, volunteering to prepare and/or serve or direct parking, or by full or partial sponsorship of a week’s meal. Tax deductible donations may be made payable to St. James with a note on check that it’s for the community meal and mailed to P.O. Box 278, Kamuela, HI 96743. For info, email Sue Dela Cruz, Community Meal Ministry Coordinator, eat@stjameshawaii.org or call (808) 885-4923.
Annunciation Community Food Pantry
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 8AM – Drive Thru Only While Supplies Last
65-1235 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743
All needing help are welcome to drive thru to pick up a hefty bag of shelf-stable items and fresh produce. 175 bundles are handed off on distribution days with each intended for a family of four for three days. Larger families are given additional bags.
Presented in partnership with Hawai’i Island Food Basket. Volunteers are needed to help shop for and pack food bags and/or to assist on distribution days. Donations of fresh produce, other foods and re-useable bags needed. Tax deductible monetary donations are most welcome, payable to Annunciation Church with a note on check that it’s for the food pantry. For more info, contact lead volunteer Maile Lincoln: mc2000x3@yahoo.com or Emily Hoover: emilyphoover@gmail.com.
Kokua Christian Ministries Food Pantry
@ New Hope Christian Fellowship - Waimea
Wednesdays, 9:30AM – 12:30PM – Food Bundles To-Go
65-1078 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743
All in need are welcome to stop by for a to-go bundle of mostly shelf-stable food. Volunteers work in partnership with Hawai’i Island Food Basket. Donations of fresh produce and non-perishable food welcome. To coordinate drop off, call Laurie Ainslie (808) 895-3056 or email: ainslie808@gmail.com. Tax deductible donations also welcome; mail checks payable to Kokua Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 231, Kamuela, HI 96743.
Waimea Answers to Hunger 24/7/365!
Waimea’s ‘Friendly Fridge’
Side Porch of Waimea Preservation Association Office In the Historic Tax Office @ Waimea’s Main Intersection - Next to Waimea Senior Center and Kamuela Post Office
“The Friendly Fridge” was dreamed up by Donni Sheather with Waimea’s Rescue Food Program but it might more appropriately be called “The Hungry Fridge” because while it’s generously stocked daily with both fresh produce and shelf-stable items, it regularly helps feed some of our community’s most food insecure so is often empty by the end of the day. New addition: Essentials such as blankets and warm clothing, socks, hygiene products and other items can be found on a nearby shelf; donations also welcome!
The food is free and anyone in need is encouraged to help themselves. For those who might want to contribute, please stop by and put items in the fridge (including canned goods – no expired items please), or send a check payable to Friends of the Future and indicate that it’s to support the Rescue Food Program – P.O. Box 2655, Kamuela, HI 96743.
Waimea’s ‘Blessings Box’
Streetside of New Hope Christian Fellowship - Waimea -
Just Honoka’a side of Historic Church Row Park
The “Blessing Box” is just as its name implies – blessings for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity. Church congregation members and community friends stop by regularly to fill the shelves and more community kōkua is needed. Please – no expired items. Coordinated by New Hope Christian Fellowship. If you’d like to contribute with a tax-deductible donation, checks can be payable to New Hope Waimea with a note that it’s to support the “Blessing Box” and mailed to 65-1078 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela, HI 96743.
Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Umeki ‘Ai
On Hold. For more information, contact: Tricia Hodson: 808-960-2648 – email: waimeahomestead@gmail.com
Weekly Feed the Keiki & Kupuna Meal
Every Friday from 4-5:30 pm at the Honoka'a Hongwanji
Drive-Thru Grab & Go. All welcome!
Sponsored by the Peace Committee. Info and to contribute or kokua, email: Miles Okumura: misterokumura@yahoo.com
Hawai’i Island Food Basket
Help year-round including assistance with EBT cards and many other local, state and federal food supports! They welcome our help too!
Waimea Farmers Markets
Waimea Town Market: Every Saturday from 7:30 AM - Noon @ Parker School
Kamuela Farmers Market: Every Saturday from 7:30 am - 1 pm at Pukalani Stables
Kuhio Hale Farmers Market: Every Saturday from 7 am - 12:30 pm at Kuhio Hale
Waimea Mid-Week Market: Every Wednesday from 9 am - 2 pm at Pukalani Stables
Waimea ‘Walk with a Doc’ Program
Suspended But Will Restart Soon!
Meet Out Front Of Pukalani Stables
Open to all. An hour-long walk-and-talk sponsored by North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s Native Hawaiian Health Program. Includes discussion of health issues facing Native Hawaiians and many others in our community. Participants urged to check with their primary care provider before walking if there are health concerns. Comfortable walking shoes and bringing an umbrella is recommended as the walk with be held, rain or shine. No sign up required.
Questions? Call 881-4432 or email Liana Iaea Honda at: LiHonda@Queens.org
Suicide Prevention Hotline & Help
If you or someone else you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can also go to www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources. Or: Text 741741. There is help and it will get better.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Are you dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety due to COVID-19? Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Hawaii Chapter at (808) 591-1297 to receive free support, information, and resources for yourself or a loved one during this difficult time. info@namihawaii.org
Invasive Species
FROM OUR JULY 1, 2021 VIRTUAL TOWN MEETING: Everyone needs to watch this - a new video documenting a devastating threat to our pasturelands and ranching industry here on Hawai'i Island. We thank Carolyn Wong w/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, who is a State Grazing Lands Management Specialist, and Elena Dosamantes w/ USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, who is a Range Technician for briefing our community during the virtual WCA Town Meeting about the very destructive Two-Lined Spittle Bug that's already wreaking havoc in mauka pastures of Kona and been found in Waiki'i.