Latest news with #Hilo
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
WATCH: Large banyan tree falls in Hilo, brings down power lines with it
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi County Fire Department responded to a downed banyan tree in Hilo that had blocked the road, downed some power lines and damaged some property on July 12. Officials say the tree had covered all lanes of Kilauea Avenue, with the branches covering one vehicle that was on the roadway. The occupants had exited the vehicle prior to first responders' arrival, HCFD said. Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle breeding sites found in Kona In addition to the foliage in the street, downed power lines and utility poles also blocked the roadway, officials said, which ultimately resulted in the complete closure of the street. HCFD says that the nearby Calvary Chapel was damaged as a result of the tree's falling, which officials searched and cleared. First responders also say they searched and evacuated nearby areas for safety purposes. It is not yet clear what led to the tree's tumble. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Aktiia's Hilo Band Becomes First Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitor Cleared by FDA for Over-the-Counter Use
The FDA-cleared G0 Blood Pressure Monitoring System - marketed as Hilo Band - will bring cuffless blood pressure monitoring to U.S. consumers NEUCHTEL, Switzerland, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ -- Aktiia, a pioneer in optical blood pressure monitoring, announced today that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for over-the-counter (OTC) use of its cuffless blood pressure monitoring technology. This clearance, granted for Aktiia's G0 Blood Pressure Monitoring System, marks the first time the FDA has cleared a cuffless blood pressure monitor indicated for over-the-counter (OTC) use in the United States. While Aktiia's innovative blood pressure monitoring products are already CE marked and available in Europe under the brand Hilo, the product will be made available to US consumers in 2026. Trusted by over 130,000 users globally, the Hilo Band has demonstrated the impact of Aktiia's technology in real-world settings. With this FDA clearance, consumers in the U.S. will soon have access to the same clinically validated innovation behind the Hilo Band and app. With no medical prescription required, it is now the first cuffless blood pressure monitor authorized for over-the-counter use in the United States. The milestone sets a new global benchmark for how blood pressure can be effortlessly monitored through wearable, user-friendly technology. With this FDA clearance, Aktiia is now positioned to establish Hilo as the category-defining wearable for cuffless blood pressure monitoring in the U.S. and beyond. " This is not just a regulatory win: it's the start of a paradigm shift in hypertension management," said Josep Sola, Co-Founder and CTO of Aktiia. " With FDA's OTC clearance, we are breaking down the barriers that have kept cuffless blood pressure monitoring out of the hands of millions." " This milestone is the result of more than seven years of relentless scientific, clinical, and engineering effort," said Mattia Bertschi, Co-Founder of Aktiia. " What began as a research vision in the Swiss Research Institute CSEM twenty years ago has now become the world's first cuffless, FDA-cleared, over-the-counter solution for blood pressure – and we're just getting started." This regulatory clearance follows an oversubscribed Series B round of over $42 million USD co-led earlier this year by Earlybird Venture Capital and Wellington Partners. "Aktiia's FDA clearance represents a breakthrough moment for medical-grade wearables," said Dr. Christoph Massner, Principal at Earlybird and Board Director of Aktiia. "We backed the team because they combined bold vision with scientific rigor; and today they've delivered what no one else could. The Hilo Band is poised to lead a global transformation in how we understand and manage cardiovascular health at scale." The Hilo Band is not just another wearable: it is the first of its kind blood pressure companion, marking a breakthrough moment for cardiovascular health, much like the iPhone did for mobile technology. Due to its sleek, lightweight and comfortable form factor, the Hilo Band ushers in a new class of medical wearables that empower individuals to monitor their blood pressure anytime, anywhere. Achieving this milestone reinforces Aktiia's leadership in cuffless, consumer-ready blood pressure monitoring, redefining what's possible in everyday cardiovascular care. About Aktiia Founded in 2018, Aktiia is transforming the way blood pressure is measured and managed. By harnessing one of the world's largest datasets of optical signals, its cuffless monitoring product (commercially known as the Hilo Band) provides clinically meaningful insights to both individuals and healthcare professionals, making blood pressure tracking more accessible and effortless than ever before. With billions of optical signals and hundreds of millions of blood pressure readings collected from over 130,000 users, Aktiia has developed a robust and scalable solution to address one of the world's most pressing health challenges. Hypertension affects more than 1.3 billion people globally and remains the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease; yet most cases remain undiagnosed or poorly managed. By enabling seamless and user-friendly monitoring at home, Aktiia is poised to transform how hypertension is detected and managed worldwide. Backed by a multidisciplinary team with deep expertise in biomedical signal processing and machine learning, Aktiia's innovation is supported by more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and over 35 patents. Headquartered in Switzerland, the company is expanding internationally to make accessible, cuffless blood pressure monitoring the new standard of care in home hypertension management. Note: The Hilo Band requires calibration using a cuff, which is provided with the purchase.
CBS News
07-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Colorado community mourns Castle Rock father and retired firefighter who died after scuba diving
A Castle Rock, Colorado, father of three and retired West Metro firefighter, died last week while vacationing with his family in Hilo, Hawaii. Greg Durocher Dean Wahl Hawaii Police say Greg Durocher became unresponsive after scuba diving. A coroner's inquest is underway to determine the cause of his death. His family will be returning to Colorado on Monday. From Castle Rock to Lakewood, loved ones are mourning and remembering the 51-year-old father, husband and friend. "Couldn't be a better human being," said Dean Wahl, retired West Metro fire captain. Pictures and memories are all Wahl has left of a man he fought fires with and called a friend. "Greg's the guy in the white T-shirt, and this was a four-man crew that was sent to Texas for the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery," Wahl said, while flipping through a West Metro Fire photo book from the years 2005 to 2015. A Boulder native, Greg Durocher worked under Wahl at West Metro Fire, where Wahl says Durocher was one of the first members of the bike medic team. "Very conscientious, usually didn't have to ask him to do anything because by the time you asked, it was already done. That's just the kind of guy that he was," Wahl said. "He was just a great person, so personable and gregarious and out with the public. He was the best guy to have there." Durocher met and married his wife, Amie, while working for West Metro Fire Rescue. "While we were working together, he met Amie, love of his life, head over heels," Wahl said. "The crew actually was able to plan his proposal. We all knew he was getting married before Amie knew." Wahl says Durocher planned an elaborate proposal at Zoo Lights. Greg Durocher and family Durocher family "He had a little thing on his clipboard and he clicked it, it said 'Amie, will you marry me,'" Wahl said. "That's the kind of guy he was, he liked to keep things fresh, really liked to make things exciting." After the couple were married in 2003, they welcomed three children: two sons and a daughter. "Nothing made his face light up more than going to events and being with his kids," Wahl said. Durocher eventually retired from the fire service and launched a car seat safety company with Amie called Safe Ride 4 Kids. Amie Durocher tells CBS Colorado the family moved from Washington Park to Castle Rock in 2021. In May, their daughter graduated from Castle View High School. With one child on the way to college and another heading to boot camp, Amie says the family took a "maybe-this-is-our-last-family-vacation" vacation. Sadly, the family didn't know how true that statement would be. While scuba diving in Hilo on June 30, tragedy struck. When Durocher reached the surface after scuba diving, Amie says he complained he couldn't breathe and lost consciousness. She says their son and the dive master pulled Durocher out and started chest compressions, but Hawaii Police say he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. While the police release said the family was taking a scuba diving lesson, Amie says it was not a lesson but a scheduled dive. She says Durocher was advanced open water certified and had more than 50 dives under his belt, and that the whole family had diving experience and certifications. "Absolutely terrible, terrible," Wahl said. "I can't even imagine the tragedy, and then to be that far away from the mainland." When Amie texted Wahl with the news, he was in shock. "Fifty-one years old is way too young," Wahl said. "I wake up every morning and I still can't believe. You know, this kid was fit." In the last week, Wahl says many former firefighters have reached out to him about Durocher's passing, expressing disbelief and sadness. As he mourns his friend, Wahl says there's one thing that stands out as Durocher's legacy. "How dedicated he was to his family. He was a great firefighter, but that was a career; the real dedication was to his family, to his wife, to his children," Wahl said. Durocher's tragic passing serves as a lesson to live like he did. "Don't wait, don't put off doing things you want to do with your life. Take advantage of being with your family. Kiss your wife and your kids before you leave for work," Wahl said. Amie Durocher says her husband was "a wonderful man and father and personal development coach (along with running Safe Ride 4 Kids, he taught and consulted for the Denver SBDC). He wasn't much for being in the spotlight. He was a Colorado native. He was born in Boulder. He worked for West Metro Fire for 13 years and volunteered at Eldorado Springs Fire (when that still existed) for five years before that." A spokesperson for West Metro Fire Protection District shared a statement about Durocher and his passing: "Greg was a firefighter with West Metro from 1998 to 2011. He served 13 years with us. Before that he was a volunteer firefighter for five years. He was a well-respected member of our staff, and had a passion for safety for children. He left the fire service to start his own business in car seat safety. You can see this on his LinkedIn profile. The name of the company is Safe Ride 4 Kids. He was an engineer when he left the fire service. Everyone here who knew Greg is saddened to hear of his passing. And our thoughts are with his family."
Fast Company
30-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
King's Hawaiian just got a fluffy rebrand inspired by its classic rolls
The updated identity, which includes a new wordmark, logo, color palette, and packaging, was executed by the creative agency Mrs&Mr for King's Hawaiian's 75th anniversary. The brand crests this milestone at a tricky time for the grocery industry, as inflation and the rising cost of living continue to dampen consumer spending. Based on a report from the market research firm Circana, bread and rolls sales have declined by around 1% in the past year—but, in an interview with CNN, King's Hawaiian chief marketing officer Raouf Moussa shared that the brand's sales have actually grown year-over-year despite this overall downturn. According to Kate and Daniel Wadia, the duo behind Mrs&Mr, the goal of the new look included a careful balance of two priorities: modernizing the brand while also reconnecting its identity with the decades-long heritage that's turned it into an enduring source of nostalgia. To do that, they started by turning to the classic rolls themselves. 75 years of Hawaiian rolls Before it became a packaged goods company, King's Hawaiian was a small local bakery in Hilo, Hawaii, in 1950. Its founder, Robert R. Taira, was the Hawaiian-born son of Japanese immigrants, who ultimately perfected a more shelf-stable version of the Portuguese sweet bread he'd enjoyed in his childhood—an invention that would later become King's Hawaiian's iconic packaged Hawaiian rolls. King's Hawaiian's current CEO, Mark Taira, is Robert's grandson. He worked directly with Mrs&Mr to help transform King's Hawaiian's branding.
Forbes
16-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
Seeds Of Hope: Veterans And Caregivers Heal Through Agriculture
Emily and John Emmons with their two daughters at Hoʻōla Farms and their beloved miniature donkeys. ... More 'We grow farmers, not produce,' says Emily Emmons, founder of Hoʻōla Veteran Services 501(c)(3), d.b.a. Hoʻōla Farms, a non-profit based in Hilo, Hawai'i that helps Veterans, first responders, caregivers, and community members heal, grow, and thrive through hands-on agricultural education, food access initiatives, and community-based wellness programs. Since 2015, Ho'ōla has supported hundreds of Veterans and their families in reconnecting with the land, rediscovering purpose after service, and experiencing healing and growth through farming, food, and community.. Hoʻōla, meaning 'to give life' or 'to heal' in Hawaiian, grew out of Emily's own experience as a caregiver for her husband John, a former elementary school teacher and Iraq war veteran. The two met in 2007 after John's second tour and married soon after. In the years that followed, John struggled to readjust to civilian life, dealing with symptoms neither of them fully understood. It wasn't until eight years later that he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. During that time, Emily assumed the role of caregiver, without guidance, support, or even a name for what she was doing. 'Invisible wounds are extremely challenging,' she says. 'As a caregiver, you don't know what you're seeing day to day—or what's normal after living with and caring for someone for so long.' Like many veteran caregivers, Emily felt unseen and overwhelmed, juggling her responsibilities as a mother of two with her caregiving duties. During one of their hardest times, Emily became enrolled in the VA's Caregiver Support Program, where she found the strength to embrace her role as a caregiver and take initiative in her husband's care. 'Once I had that 'caregiver' hat on, it gave me some power to provide some boundaries for myself and for family,' Emily shares. Through the VA Caregiver Program, Emily was introduced to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation—the nation's preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends — who care for America's wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans at home. In 2015, she was selected as a Dole Caregiver Fellow, joining a distinguished multi-year leadership program that builds community and raises national awareness on behalf of military and veteran caregivers. Emily traveled to Washington, D.C. for her formal induction, where she connected with fellow caregivers from across the country, forming deep, lasting bonds. While in the nation's capital, she also met with her congressman to share her family's journey and advocate for the needs of caregivers like herself. When Emily returned to Hawai'i, she found few services or resources available for caregivers, and her husband and children were still searching for community. Emily and John started a small garden in their backyard as a source for connection, growing fresh produce to share with family and friends. This planted a seed within them, watered by their shared commitment to service and John's background in education, that bloomed into Hoʻōla Farms. The goal of Hoʻōla Farms is to build community among Veterans, first responders, caregivers, and their families through agricultural education and experiences. 'We build community first, and from there everything beautiful comes,' Emily explains. Homegrown fresh tomatoes from Ho`ōla Farms. Hoʻōla Farms offers both introductory workshops and intermediate training programs, led by local growers and agricultural experts, at their training farm and partner sites throughout Hilo, Hawai'i. Participants gain hands-on experience in diverse agricultural practices—from orchard management and agroforestry to animal husbandry, beekeeping, food preservation, and agri-business—while also learning cultural techniques rooted in Hawaiian traditions. One of Hoʻōla's signature initiatives, Victory Gardens for Veterans, equips veterans and caregivers with the tools, knowledge, and resources to grow their own food at home. Over the past decade, Hoʻōla Farms has delivered more than 6,276 hours of hands-on agricultural education. Numerous studies support the use of agricultural activities to support veteran reintegration and improve mental and physical health outcomes. Researchers at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida found that veterans who participated in similar programs reported declines in anxiety, pain, depression, and substance abuse, and improvements in sleep, nutrition, and fitness levels. For many veterans, farming can help ease the transition back into civilian life by providing them with a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and belonging. In addition to promoting mental and physical wellbeing, agricultural programs like Hoʻōla Farms create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for veterans. Hoʻōla offers business development courses that teach participants how to market, package, and sell their products. Ho`ōla Farmsʻ Hilo Food Hub- Commercial Kitchen with member UpRoots Origin. The organization also operates an agribusiness incubator, the Hilo Food Hub, that provides affordable access to commercial kitchen and storage space, helping farmers launch or expand their businesses. Through its online and in-person farmers market, Hawai'i Farm-to-Car, Hoʻōla creates direct sales opportunities that connect growers with the community. Over the past four years, Hawai'i Farm-to-Car has generated over $1.1 million in sales, with all proceeds going directly to local farmers. What sets Hoʻōla Farms apart from other agricultural programs for veterans is their intentional support for caregivers. Military and veteran caregivers often face unique and compounding challenges, as outlined in a recent report from the RAND Corporation and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Caregivers of individuals under 60 are nearly 4 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms than non-caregivers and are less likely to seek treatment. Their children also face heightened challenges at school, with 39% taking on caregiving roles themselves. Nearly half of military and veteran caregivers for adults under 60 don't have access to a network of other caregivers in their community. Hoʻōla Farms gives caregivers a rare opportunity to connect with one another and experience the therapeutic, economic, and social benefits of agriculture alongside the veterans they support. The Hoʻōla Farms model can be replicated in other communities in Hawai'i and across the United States. Emily and John recently relocated their family to Santa Monica, CA, so John could access more comprehensive care. While there, they hope to grow Hoʻōla's mission and bring healing through agriculture to the more than 280,000 veterans in Los Angeles County—the largest population of veterans in any county in the United States—and the thousands of caregivers who support them. 'We are all a part of the solution,' Emily says. 'We're the ones we've been waiting for.' To learn more about Emily and Hoʻōla Farms, visit The Well Beings Blog supports the critical health and wellbeing of all individuals, to raise awareness, reduce stigma and discrimination, and change the public discourse. The Well Beings campaign was launched in 2020 by WETA, the flagship PBS station in Washington, D.C., beginning with the Youth Mental Health Project, followed by the 2022 documentary series Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, a film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers (Now streaming on the PBS App). WETA is continuing its award-winning Well Beings campaign with the upcoming documentary film Caregiving, executive produced by Bradley Cooper and Lea Pictures, premiering June 24, 2025 on PBS. For more information: #WellBeings #WellBeingsLive You are not alone. If you or someone you know is in crisis, whether they are considering suicide or not, please call, text, or chat 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. To reach the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 and press 1, visit to chat online, or text 838255.
