KAILUA-KONA — Digging her hands into a heap of soil inside a pen at Innovations Public Charter School, garden teacher Krista Donaldson revealed a city of millipedes, roly-polies and other insects bustling about just beneath the surface.

KAILUA-KONA — With a torch held high, Special Olympics West Hawaii athlete Byron Pabre, joined by state law enforcement Torch Run director Tom Billins, led a group of volunteers, officers and athletes into Old Kona Airport Park Saturday morning to the sounds of cheers and applause from volunteers and spectators ready for the day’s event.

KAILUA-KONA — Two Kona residents pushing back against a proposed five-story, 11-unit condominium on the makai side of Alii Drive had their petitions granted for contested case hearings Thursday by the Leeward Planning Commission.

KAILUA-KONA — As negotiations continue for a new contract between The Queen’s Health Systems and the nurses of North Hawaii Community Hospital, the president of the Hawaii Nurses Association says there are still some issues that need resolving, even as management is preparing to come back with its final offer.

KAILUA-KONA — Although the Kailua Village Design Commission last week recommended a thumbs-down on signs proposed for the local Planet Fitness, there’s still a problem: The signs are already there.

KAILUA-KONA — While some residents say they could see how an idea for a road usage charge could work as a “revenue neutral replacement” for the existing state fuel tax that helps fund state road projects, not all of them are so confident in the state’s ability to manage such a switch.

WAIMEA — Students of Waimea Elementary School bustled from table to table Friday as teams of fifth-graders served up one cup of lemonade after another as part of a project that turns lemons into lessons in entrepreneurship.

KAILUA-KONA — Blackstone Group, which last year agreed to buy Maui’s Grand Wailea for a reported $1.1 billion, said Thursday that it has acquired the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

KAILUA-KONA — The Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel has sold to an undisclosed buyer, according to the firm that brokered the sale.

KAILUA-KONA — For some students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy just returning from back-to-back robotics tournaments in Australia, being a part of the Sharkbots team is more than getting to build, program and operate a robot.

KAILUA-KONA — A Kealakekua charter school is demanding the state commission that oversees charter schools rescind a vote kicking off a process that could close the school.

KAILUA-KONA — Gov. David Ige on Thursday released $2.4 million in construction funds for renovations at Kona Community Hospital.

KAPAAU — When he was younger, Aukea Kaaekuahiwi didn’t realize all it took to get dinner to the table.

SOUTH KOHALA COAST— Speaking to scores of officials representing local government, business and the community joined by representatives of Southwest Airlines, Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau executive director Ross Birch offered a warm welcome to an airline many are thrilled to see taking to Hawaii’s skies.