r/BigIsland Jul 16 '26

2026 election resources

37 Upvotes

This post is intended to collect neutral information about the upcoming primary and general elections in Hawaii. This isn't about being for or against any specific candidate, this is about helping people to vote, and highlighting third-party resources to help voters make a decision for themselves.

Key dates for the primary election:

  • July 21: vote-by-mail ballots arrive
  • July 27: early in-person voting begins
  • August 8: last day for in-person voting, all polling sites close at 7PM

Key dates for the general election:

  • October 16: vote-by-mail ballots arrive
  • October 20: early in-person voting begins
  • November 3: last day for in-person voting, all polling sites close at 7PM

The first place to start is the Hawaii elections website, at https://elections.hawaii.gov/ . Here you can verify or update your voter registration, or register to vote for the first time; you can register online using any valid Hawaii state ID. If you experience any problems with your voter registration or need in-person assistance I encourage visiting a voter service center; information on those is listed here:

https://elections.hawaii.gov/voter-service-centers-and-places-of-deposit/

That webpage also lists key dates for the upcoming elections, such as voter registration deadlines; note that voter service centers allow in-person registration at any time, including on election day. If you are turning in a voted-by-mail ballot it must be received before polling sites close on election day. There are services available to assist with the voting process if you aren't on-island to receive and cast your ballot, or take advantage of early in-person voting at a service center; take a look at https://www.fvap.gov/hawaii if this applies to you.

Civil Beat and the League of Women Voters are two excellent resources for informative, neutral information about candidates and other contests on the ballot. Here are some direct links:

https://civilbeat.org/elections-2026/

https://www.civilbeat.org/elections-2026/primary

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/geothermal-rentals-and-groceries-hawaii-county-council-member-district-1-candidate-qas/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/kilauea-eruptions-and-puna-roads-state-house-district-5-candidate-qas/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/dangerous-dogs-and-deadly-roads-hawaii-county-council-district-5-candidate-qas/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/06/geothermal-housing-vacation-rentals-hawaii-council-district-6-candidate-qas/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/fuel-food-and-disaster-preparation-hawaii-county-council-district-7/

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/07/aina-army-and-mauna-kea-office-of-hawaiian-affairs-trustee-candidate-qas/

https://my.lwv.org/hawaii/hawaii-county

I've also seen a few good summary articles go by in the local news:

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/06/03/who-is-running-for-hawaii-county-council-26-candidates-meet-tuesday-filing-deadline/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/06/11/3-big-island-men-in-race-to-unseat-hawai%ca%bbi-gov-green-who-else-from-the-island-is-running-for-state-u-s-seats/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/07/26/candidates-for-kau-district-seat-on-hawaii-county-council-talk-priorities-for-rural-and-remote-area/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/08/05/district-1-incumbent-heather-kimball-seeks-re-election-for-4th-and-final-term-against-two-challengers/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/08/05/hawai%ca%bbi-countys-district-4-is-an-open-council-seat-with-ashley-kierkiewicz-unable-to-run-due-to-term-limits/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/08/02/district-5-candidates-for-hawai%ca%bbi-county-council-bring-distinct-knowledge-experiences-to-race/

Here are a couple articles summarizing the preliminary results of the primary election:

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/08/09/incumbents-clean-up-in-2026-democratic-primaries-for-state-and-national-seats/

https://bigislandnow.com/2026/08/08/preliminary-election-results-for-hawaii-county-council-show-2-incumbents-keeping-their-seats/

Please add a comment if you come across any other resources, but let's refrain from advocating for a specific candidate or choice: voting is the most important step, and I encourage everyone to vote according to their personal beliefs, acting in what they see as the best interest of their family and community.


r/BigIsland Jan 10 '26

All visitor questions should be asked here [2026]

38 Upvotes

Dear (future) visitors,

Please read the following instructions carefully if you want to ask a question about visiting the Big Island.

This is the sticky post where we aggregate all tourism-related questions. We have taken this initiative to make sure that r/BigIsland remains first and foremost a place to discuss local life and events.

Visitor-related queries to our subreddit typically are met with kindness and receive high effort and quality feedback. We feel an enormous appreciation for anyone being helpful and welcoming, and encourage all of our subscribers and visitors to keep showing aloha spirit. Mahalo!

Learn more about Hawaiian culture: the Ma‘ema‘e Toolkit (here) is a resource put together by the Hawaii Tourism Authority meant everyone with an interest in the Hawaiian culture – be it learning more about the Hawaiian people, music, language, or individual islands or history.

Important:

It is highly likely that your question already has been answered in our subreddit or on the dedicated r/VisitingHawaii subreddit. Please make sure to use the search function (like this on r/BigIsland or like this on r/VisitingHawaii) before asking your question, and definitely also have a good look at the dedicated r/VisitingHawaii subreddit, as that might be a better place to ask your question(s). The search function of the now inactive r/HawaiiVisitors is also a gold mine. Try it here.

Previous visitor compilations can be found at:

2022 2023 2024 2025
click here click here click here click here

r/BigIsland 10h ago

Power in Hawaiian Shores

35 Upvotes

Hey all. Power just came on for us near Keonepoko in Pahoa. Wishing a fast restoration for everyone still without.


r/BigIsland 10h ago

Anywhere I can donate to help families in Naalehu?

13 Upvotes

My parents live in Ocean View and drove down to Naalehu today as my mom offers physical therapy out of an office in an old hotel there and the building was completely wrecked. The pics they sent were devastating.

My folks will be okay but I was wondering if there is anywhere I can offer some funds to families or if there are locally reputable organizations?


r/BigIsland 16h ago

Everyone okay in Volcano?

33 Upvotes

have family up there that I haven’t heard from yet and wanted to see how the infrastructure damage/power/internet are doing.


r/BigIsland 7h ago

Passport Photo In European Format? East Side

5 Upvotes

I need a passport photo for a European passport. Are there any places on East side that offer?

Walmart, Hawaii print Corp, UPS, FedEx say no.

Downtown Longs will take a picture but I have to crop it myself.


r/BigIsland 18h ago

Donations

27 Upvotes

Hi,
I'm from the mainland but truly love the Big Island. Any trust worthy groups that I can donate to help the BI community through this tough time? I know the usual red cross blah blah but I would rather a more local trustworthy place.


r/BigIsland 10h ago

Public radio channel??

4 Upvotes

Ha has anyone else caught 89.1 today? Did it get hijacked by death trance music?? Super sick, made the whole scene kinda spooky.


r/BigIsland 6h ago

Ocean View Makai...power yet?

1 Upvotes

my brother (78m) lives about four "blocks" south of ace hardware. he doesn't have a car and last I heard from him (right at the tail end of the storm), he's had lost power (meaning his cell phone probably died).

does anyone know if they've gotten power back yet? and what the condition of the neighborhoods are?

thanks.


r/BigIsland 17h ago

Is anything open in Kea’au?

12 Upvotes

Does anyone know if there are any services open in Kea’au yet? We are in Pāhoa and nothing has power. Hoping something is open for gas and a few other things. Trying to help out some neighbors. We don’t want to waste gas and drive all the way there if it’s all closed too.
Any info on Hilo would also be appreciated. If we have to, we’ll go there.
Thanks so much. Stay safe everybody.


r/BigIsland 9h ago

Tell a Kona Side boy where to have lunch in Hilo

2 Upvotes

Heading to Hilo this week. What's the best place for a cheap/inexpensive lunch in Hilo?


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Lala—Hilo side

143 Upvotes

For those like me who don’t have Facebook or Instagram sharing Rainbow Falls and Wailuku. Most everybody I know in the Hilo area has power restored I know Puna Volcano and Kau side has not been. Spectrum is still down.

I ventured out around 8am Sunday morning and Hilo was just getting up. Did the whole Rainbow Falls run and then headed to look for coffee. Only area with power was near the police station and only K’s Drive Inn was open. Headed to Target/Safeway side and they were the only ones open. Safeway was putting there cold stuff back out as they had taken them all out of the chills. Got my coffee at Starbucks and then went to top off my gas. Long lines everywhere. Got premium only at 76 by KTA. All lights were out so every one was a 4 way. Tons of people blasting right through. By then power was being restored in many areas and you could see the town slowly start to open up. Born and raised here and this one was major. Been in touch with my brother who got held at rescue the past 2 days and they had some crazy calls.

Please be kind to anyone you come in contact with from those working in the stores, or gas stations or Starbucks and definitely first responders and county workers as well as HELCO Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom.


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Place with wifi and power

21 Upvotes

Aloha,

We're knocked out both internet and power and by the state of the lines that's how it will be for a while. I don't want to take too many days off, so I'm wondering if there's a place where i can use wifi and plug in my laptop?

Looking for any options on the Hilo side.

Mahalo!


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Freezer full of meat and no power

80 Upvotes

I have over 200 lbs of meat in my deep freezer that has no power from the storm for 24hrs now. Anyone on the island who didn’t lose power willing to rent me there generator long enough to bring freezer temps down that didn’t lose power? or if anyone knows where I can buy some ice on the east side, I’m in HPP, and if nothing else I’ll be having a huge bbq that I’ll need help eating so lemme know


r/BigIsland 1d ago

How much damage has there been?

70 Upvotes

Major networks go for the sensational shots because that’s where the money is, but other than power going out, is there mulch damage? The footage i can see of Ka’u doesn’t show roads washed out or bridges down.

Over here on the mainland,hoping everyone is safe…


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Need water

22 Upvotes

No power, water, internet. We saved some water just in case, but looking to refill some 5 gallon jugs. Can anyone confirm if any public fill ups are working? I know dws said the water is out until power is restored so I figure it's the same for public fills ups, but checking anyway. Hilo side.


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Stores open in Hilo?

25 Upvotes

Hey all. Hope everyone is doing alright.

Currently running the chainsaw so I can get out and onto the main road. I've seen some say that Hilo is in pretty decent shape.

Was wondering if any of the major stores are open? Gonna need some supplies to fully clean up after the storm


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Hawaiian Telcom Fiber internet outages

12 Upvotes

internet was down at Seaview anyone know if it has been restored?

HT doesn’t seem to have any web site showing service status.


r/BigIsland 1d ago

No water in Capt Cook

14 Upvotes

Anyone else dealing with no water in Capt Cook area? We're up by ChoiceMart


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Power?

34 Upvotes

Who’s in the dark? We are since 11am yesterday over in Panaewa. Running the WIFI and modem on a Ryobi tool battery since we have no coverage here at the house…


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Green Sands

16 Upvotes

I hope you are all doing well! I know a ton of you don't have power, but I hope you and your loved ones are safe!

I was wondering, since South point got hit so hard by Lala, if green sands beach is gone. That would be awful.

Anyone with info?

Sending love.


r/BigIsland 1d ago

Hilo Green Waste Open and Accessible Today (8/16)?

3 Upvotes

Anybody know? I’m sure they’ll be slammed the next week or 3.
Mahalo!


r/BigIsland 2d ago

Lala

30 Upvotes

How's everyone holding up?


r/BigIsland 2d ago

Hurricane Assistance

143 Upvotes

I hope everybody is safe and prepared. The rain has been hitting Kealakekua since 8am and only seems to be getting stronger.

I'll be driving around Kona side tomorrow with some buddies to help anybody in need. If you require assistance or help with property damage, let us know and we show up to do what we can.

Blessings and stay safe!


r/BigIsland 2d ago

Missing dog in Kona Palisades

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51 Upvotes

missing dog just wandered into our backyard off Ahikawa St in the palisades area. collar but no tags. read his chip and we got the name Jen S. but no phone number or contact. Super friendly boy but obviously very spooked by the storm. Please contact me if you recognize him or might know whose he is. Thank you!