KAILUA-KONA — One of Naone Lee-Tolentino’s earliest memories is performing Tahitian dance at a competition on Oahu when he was about 5 years old.

KAILUA-KONA — The Senate Committee on Ways and Means will consider a bill Tuesday morning that would authorize the issuance of up to $50 million in special-purpose revenue bonds to assist in the development of the Kona Jet Center at the south end of the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.

KAILUA-KONA — On the second-to-last day at Privateer’s Cove’s former location, a couple asked the restaurant’s owner, Nick Traxler, if he, the man behind a pirate restaurant, is also the right man to run a community center at the former Hualalai Theatre.

KAILUA-KONA — A boy growing up in Kona and a boy from Beijing might not immediately seem to have a lot in common, but when Dana Kern’s son met the boy the family would be hosting for the duration of a program that brought more than a dozen students from China to Kuleana Education Academy, the two “just hit it off right away,” said Kern, board president at Kuleana Education Academy.

KAILUA-KONA — Florida-headquartered Southern Airways Express announced Tuesday that it has acquired Mokulele Airlines, but the local airline’s customers can still count on seeing the same branding and employees they’ve come to know and could potentially see new destinations on the horizon.

KAILUA-KONA — Claude Thornton said he’s never been the type of person to come out to Homeowner Association meetings. But when he heard about plans to build a roughly 70-acre development near his Kona Vistas home that would provide access directly through his neighborhood, he had to speak out.

KAILUA-KONA — Kamehameha Schools, which owns 54 acres at Keauhou Bay, is developing a management plan intended to move traffic and commercial operations away from historic sites and reduce pressure on the bayfront’s resources.

HONALO — Fitted with boots, a helmet and a smile, Moani Kanehailua sat astride “Elvis,” and holding onto the reins, gave the horse a confident “Walk on” before entering the arena with the help of some volunteers to join Bronson Gomes, sitting astride “Early.”

KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena Elementary School fourth-grader Waioleka Campbell knew exactly which bag she wanted when she saw it among the wide selection displayed at her school Wednesday.

KALOKO — For decades, Chelle Ching has always had some kind of garden where she’s lived, be it in a pot or in the ground.

KAILUA-KONA — As the partial federal government shutdown approaches the one-month mark, some are stepping up to offer a helping hand to employees who have been either furloughed or are working without pay.

KAILUA-KONA — A proposed 11-unit condominium on the makai side of Alii Drive is moving forward again, but some residents are speaking out about it and one petition for standing in a contested case hearing has already been filed in the case.

HONAUNAU — Like many who saw the reports of overflowing trash bins and desecration at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park and the surrounding area, Hala Medeiros said she was upset by the news.

KAILUA-KONA — Dennis Schuerman knew something was amiss when his family of 20 reached the Budget Car Rental office on Dec. 26 where he’d reserved four cars eight months prior for the family trip.