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NEWS FLASH - May 13, 2008 10 a.m. HST Hawai'i Red Cross Responds to China Quake, Issues Local Pleas HONOLULU, HI – (May 13, 2008) Immediately after the quake struck on May 12, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) began to mobilize a relief operation for this disaster. The American Red Cross has been in touch with the RCSC and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and stands prepared to provide help including relief supplies, delegates or financial assistance, as needed. The RCSC immediately mobilized its staff and volunteers, as well as relief supplies, such as tents, quilts and other materials. Already, volunteers and staff from the RCSC have been distributing food, water and tents to people in the affected area. Assessment teams are on the ground to determine the extent of the damage. On May 12, the International Federation allocated nearly US $240,000 from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to help the RCSC deliver immediate assistance. Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. The American Red Cross does not have plans to deploy personnel to the disaster site at this time. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. The Hawaii State Chapter does, however, have opportunities for volunteers to respond to local disasters, such as daily house fires and other disasters here in the islands. Inquiries concerning US citizens living or traveling in China should be referred to the US Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747. At this time, the Red Cross is not accepting any Family Reunification requests because all of the China Red Cross’ resources are engaged in providing emergency relief assistance. Every day people around the world are suffering from countless crises, like the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS or 739-8109 here in Hawaii. Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to the Hawaii State Chapter at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If donors wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation. (Information provided by The Red Cross of Hawai'i) NEWS FLASH - May 13, 2008 10 a.m. HST Hawai'i Red Cross Responds to Myanmar Disaster, Offers Local Guidelines HONOLULU, HI – (May 13, 2008) On May 2, Cyclone Nargis struck the mainland of Myanmar, causing catastrophic damage and thousands of fatalities. This is a huge disaster by any measure. The storm devastated Myanmar’s main rice-growing region, home to about 24 million people in an area around the size of Maryland. An estimated one million people are in need of emergency shelter, as nearly all of the homes in the delta region have been destroyed. The storm disrupted the country’s infrastructure— including 100,000 schools that were destroyed or damaged—and wiped out vital crops, compounding the area’s existing problem of food shortages. The most urgent humanitarian needs are access to safe drinking water or purification tablets, shelter and mosquito netting – all critical to ward off disease. The American Red Cross is joining with partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Myanmar Red Cross, and others to provide assistance to those in need. Relief supplies have begun to enter the country. The International Federation has sent in two planeloads of relief items, such as shelter kits and other emergency supplies, into the country. And the Red Cross is working to bring in additional emergency supplies – such as tarps, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets – from warehouses in Kuala Lumpur. On May 11, 2008, an airplane with American Red Cross relief supplies touched down in Yangon, Myanmar, with an initial supply of 8,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help prevent the spread of malaria. Since the storm struck, approximately 27,000 volunteers from the Myanmar Red Cross have been distributing relief supplies, including clothing, food and clean drinking water, plastic tarps for shelter, hygiene kits and insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria. The American Red Cross has responded to the International Federation’s Emergency Appeal for Myanmar with a contribution of $250,000, which will be used to support the relief operations, such as transportation costs, and the distribution of relief supplies—such as tarps for shelter, mosquito nets, and other items— to help those affected by the disaster. The American Red Cross is in close contact with its colleagues at the Myanmar Red Cross and the International Federation. We continue to monitor the situation, assess the needs of survivors and stand prepared to offer additional assistance as future needs are identified. Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, though well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for relief efforts. For these reasons, the Red Cross is not able to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, and canned goods. Nor are we able to accept small, individual donations of these items. In response to this disaster, the Myanmar Red Cross is currently relying on its existing volunteer base to deliver relief to the cyclone survivors and, therefore, the American Red Cross does not have plans to deploy personnel to the disaster site at this time. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas. The Hawaii State Chapter does, however, have opportunities for volunteers to respond to local disasters, such as daily house fires and other disasters here in the islands. Inquiries concerning US citizens living or traveling in Myanmar should be referred to the US Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225. At this time the Red Cross is not accepting any Family Reunification requests because all of the Myanmar Red Cross’ resources are engaged in providing emergency relief assistance. Every day people around the world are suffering from countless crises, like the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS or 739-8109 here in Hawaii. Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to the Hawaii State Chapter at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If donors wish to designate a donation for a specific disaster, please do so at the time of donation. (Information provided by The Red Cross of Hawai'i) NEWS FLASH - May 13, 2008 6 a.m. HST Bigger Planes, Fewer Competitors Give Hawaiian Huge Jump After adding flights to accommodate the loss of Aloha Airlines and ATA, Hawaiian Airlines Inc. on Monday reported a 25.5 percent increase in passenger loads on all of its routes. In reporting that the airline carried 149,453 more passengers last month over April 2007, communications chief Keoni Wagner said the airline did not break down the numbers between interisland and transpacific flights. But he noted that the numbers also show virtually the same load factors — the percentage of seats filled on all of the flights — at 88 percent in April and 87.8 percent in April 2007. “What stands out is that our load factor remains essentially flat, meaning the extra capacity we put into the market met the demand of 25 percent more passengers,” he said. Aloha Airlines and ATA both shut down all passenger operations in the beginning of April, stranding thousands of passengers in Hawaii and on the Mainland with tickets. In response to the sudden shortfall in airline seats, Hawaiian expanded its schedule on interisland and Mainland routes with 28 new flights a day, or about 6,000 additional seats during the month. The expansion included adding four Oahu-Maui flights utilizing Boeing 767 aircraft, a wide-body aircraft with 260 seats, more than double the capacity of the smaller Boeing 717s usually flown on the interisland routes. The 717 carries 123 passengers. Overall, the airline reported carrying a record 718,767 passengers last month, compared to 572,613 carried in April 2008. The increased passenger load is continuing this month, Wagner said, with the airline expecting more of an increase over the summer months. “We intend to maintain this level of capacity while the demand is there and expect it to increase slightly over the summer,” he said. He said the airline also has had an increase in its cargo loads, although Hawaiian does not plan to expand its cargo capacity – for now. Aloha Airlines cargo operations also had been shut down April 28 after an auction of the business failed, leaving hundreds of businesses across the state scrambling for alternatives for getting perishable produce and flowers to other islands. A sale of Aloha cargo was approved May 2, and the air cargo operations resumed — but with some uncertainty because of a dispute over the pilots’ contract. In the aftermath, Wagner said Hawaiian’s cargo loads, while still small, were up 50 percent, and the airline will do what it can to handle the demand. “We have no new plans for cargo, but we’re still doing everything we can to maximize use of our space,” he said. “We have no plans to acquire additional aircraft for cargo, but we’ve done that already in the sense that we’re doing everything to make best use of the space in our aircraft.” Wagner also responded to a report being circulated in e-mails that the company was automatically charging for travel insurance for passengers booking online. The airline had introduced a special travel insurance program for Mainland passengers, he said, but the online program was pulled after the apparent misunderstanding of how it worked. “We’ve seen the e-mail being sent around, and it is incorrect,” he said. For the first four months of the year, Hawaiian transported 2,451,763 passengers, up 9 percent from the 2,247,429 during the same period last year. Hawaiian also launched service between Hawaii and the Philippines on April 14 but attributed the bulk of the increase to interisland traffic. Also in April, Hawaiian added 154 new employees and settled its lawsuit with Mesa Air Group Inc. over the Phoenix-based company’s misuse of confidential and proprietary information obtained during Hawaiian’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in 2004. Hawaiian received $52.5 million in damages from Mesa, which operates the interisland go! airlines. Hawaiian, which operates a fleet of 29 aircraft, said it wants to acquire more planes to add flights and to provide more flexibility by having more backup aircraft available. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - May 12, 2008 2 p.m. HST FEMA Antes Up $1.1 Million to Fix Pi'ilani Highway WASHINGTON — Hawai'i has received a $1.1 million federal grant to repair the earthquake-damaged Pi'ilani Highway on Maui, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye announced today. The grant comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The earthquakes on Oct. 15, 2006, undermined the retaining walls along three sections of the coastal highway and forced its closure. That has disrupted the lives of East Maui residents for almost two years. The project includes constructing buttresses, rock scaling and rock bolting to stabilize sections of the cliff face loosened by the earthquakes. Inouye said the federal government is providing 75 percent of the money needed for the repair project. "Washington has stepped up to the plate and now the state has the responsibility to ensure that the funds will go to contractors who can construct the required buttresses quickly and professionally," said Inouye, a Hawai'i Democrat. Janod Contractors is doing the work on the project. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - May 12, 2008 11 a.m. HST Haleakala Seeks Public Input on Commercial Activities The National Park Service (NPS) is reinitiating the commercial services planning process. The process has been on hold while Haleakala National Park conducted a safety stand-down of the guided downhill bicycle tours. Public
scoping has already been conducted for the Commercial Service Plan
however due to this recent delay the park is reopening the scoping
process. Haleakala National Park is setting into motion a process to manage commercial services in the park. The public is invited and encouraged to be a part of this process. Commercial services include activities such as tours provided by horseback, van, bus, hiking groups, and star gazing. The Hawai`i Natural History Association, a not-for-profit organization in the park that provides educational services through books, posters, and thematic items, is also included. Commercial service activities in Haleakala National Park must comply with the overall National Park Service mandate to preserve and protect the significant natural and cultural resource while providing opportunities for public use and enjoyment. “Community input at this time is extremely valuable” says superintendent Marilyn H. Parris. “The public’s participation will help develop a plan that is responsive to the needs and desires of park management, the visiting public, local communities, and the local business community.” The plan will identify necessary and appropriate commercial services in the park, and the best way for the National Park Service to manage them. At this point in the process, a planning team is developing a framework from which all decisions will be made. “This
is a great opportunity for the public to help set into motion a plan
that will maintain and enhance visitor services while preserving the
resources of Haleakala for future generations.” said superintendent
Parris. The public comment period begins now and runs through June 10th, 2008. You can participate by writing via letter or e-mail. For inquires, comments, or to place your name on a newsletter mailing list, write to; Commercial Services Plan C/O Superintendent Haleakala National Park PO Box 369 Makawao, HI 96768 Electronic inquires can be sent via e-mail to HALE_CSP@nps.gov. (Report Provided by Haleakala National Park) NEWS FLASH - May 12, 2008 6 a.m. HST 'Click It or Ticket' Campaign Resumes Today HONOLULU – The state Department of Transportation and the four county police departments will conduct the annual "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement campaign today through the rest of the month. Police statewide will issue citations to motorists not wearing seat belts. Hawaii's seat belt laws require all front-seat occupants to buckle up, as well as back-seat passengers under the age of 18. Violators of seat belt laws will be assessed a $92 fine. State law also requires children under 4 years old to ride in a child safety seat, and children ages 4 to 8 to ride in either a child safety seat or a booster seat. Violators of Hawaii's Child Passenger Restraint Law are required to attend a four-hour class and may be assessed a fine between $100 and $500 depending on the number of offenses. Hawaii's seat belt usage jumped to 97.6 percent during the 2007 Click It or Ticket campaign, giving Hawaii the highest rate in the nation. This rate also makes Hawaii the first state to ever reach the 97 percent mark during the history of the safety campaign. The national average for seat belt use in 2007 was 82 percent. This year's seat belt campaign will continue to focus on the lowest-rated groups of unbuckled drivers and passengers: the 18- to 25-year-old age group and drivers of pickup trucks. In addition to issuing citations for seat belt violations, police will enforce child restraint laws, ticketing drivers if children are not restrained properly in child safety seats in the vehicle's back seat. During the May 2007 campaign, police officers around the state issued 2,793 citations for seat belt violations and 170 citations for child safety restraint infractions. For more information about the "Click It or Ticket" campaign, contact the Highway Safety Section at 587-6301 or visit the Hawaii Department of Transportation at hawaii.gov/dot. (Report Provided by State of Hawai'i Department of Transportation) NEWS FLASH - May 12, 2008 5:50 a.m. HST Cable Dig Continues to Affect West Maui Trafic KAHULUI - The state Department of Transportation advises Maui motorists of single lane closures on Honoapiilani Highway in the Lahaina-bound direction from the Kaheawa Wind Farm (Mile Point 7.5) to the Scenic Lookout (Mile Point 8.6) on Sunday night, May 11, through Friday morning, May 16, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., nightly, for fiber optic cable installations (contractor permit work). During this closure, traffic will be contraflowed through the area in the remaining open lane. Motorists are also advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Roadwork is weather-permitting. (Report Provided by State of Hawai'i Department of Transportation) NEWS FLASH - May 11, 2008 5:40 p.m. HST Fire Near Kahului Heliport Burns 25 Acres, No Damage or Injuries Reported A fire near the Kahului Heliport that was first reported at 12:54 pm today was brought under control at 2:10 pm. County fire crews with 13 fire fighters were assisted by a unit from the State Airports Fire Department. Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. responded with heavy equipment and a water tanker. The fire department Air One helicopter remained on stand-by throughout the incident, but was not utilized. Lelepio Road was closed to traffic. No structures were in danger and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information)
NEWS FLASH - May 10, 2008 7:25 a.m. HST Fantastic Sam Buys Hilo Hattie Hilo Hattie, the state's longtime retailer of aloha shirts and Hawaii souvenirs, has been sold to an investor group led by the owner of the Hawaii franchise of Fantastic Sams hair salons. "We like what Hilo Hattie stands for," Ted Nelson told the Star-Bulletin. "The company's been around more than 44 years, and it's an iconic Hawaii company. It has a great future, and we're hoping we can provide the stewardship to achieve its full potential." Nelson, who has operated Fantastic Sams in Hawaii since 1997, set up a California company, TOC Inc., for the transaction. He did not disclose the price or the identities of the other investors. Nelson said he learned of the opportunity through business associates. He called Hilo Hattie a strong retail company with an incredible history. All retail operations and offices will remain open, and business should continue without interruption, Hilo Hattie said in a statement issued yesterday. But John Reed, who stepped in as president and CEO in 2006, resigned from his position yesterday. Nelson will assume the position of CEO. John Scott, formerly a senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Hilo Hattie, will be president. Nelson did not indicate any other personnel changes at the company. He said TOC was committed to making sure the company has the proper capital structure. Nelson acknowledged today's challenging economic times but said, "I believe in Hawaii, and I'm sure that Hawaii will make it through these challenging times." As for the flagship two-level store slated to open at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki, he would only say, "We're excited about pursuing that opportunity." The opening of the 29,000-square-foot store was originally announced for early last summer but had been delayed till at least this November. Currently, Hilo Hattie's headquarters, including a showroom, manufacturing center and warehouse, are at 700 N. Nimitz Highway. Retail analyst Stephany Sofos said the sale comes as no surprise. "Hilo Hattie's been going through a transitional period for the last 15 years," said Sofos. "In the last 10 years they've had three CEOs, and it's expanded and contracted. So overall, it appears they've been going through some growing pains." But she said Hilo Hattie has a good business model, serving the low-, middle- and high-price markets. "Once you stabilize your cash situation, then you have the ability to go forward," she said. "You always need to have new ideas." Chris Resich departed from the presidency of Hilo Hattie in January 2001 and was replaced by Paul de Ville. De Ville was replaced by Reed in 2006. In March, Reed told the Star-Bulletin the company was in discussions with potential investors about bringing additional capital into the business. Hilo Hattie currently has seven stores in Hawaii and two in California. A Hilo Hattie store in Orlando, Fla., closed in March of last year, and a store in Las Vegas closed earlier this year. Nelson, a principal of San Diego-based FS Hawaii Salons Inc., which owns 21 Fantastic Sams hair salons in Hawaii, said he would be focusing more on the islands. Jim Romig first founded Hilo Hattie as Kaluna Hawaii Sportswear on Kauai in 1963. The company, which took the stage name of a popular entertainer, Clarissa Haili, eventually expanded out of state and became the official retailer of numerous festivals in Hawaii. "I have the utmost confidence in TOC Inc.'s ability to successfully grow the company," said Romig. "I'm extremely proud of the reputation Hilo Hattie has built in the islands -- as a favorite place for local residents and visitors to shop for aloha attire, gifts and made-in-Hawaii products. The company will continue to share Hawaii's culture, warmth and aloha spirit with the world." (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - May 10, 2008 2:25 a.m. HST Telephone Pole Repair Closes Lahainaluna Road Emergency repair work to a damaged telephone pole has cut off access from Lahainaluna to the highway. Maui Police report that, at 2:07 this morning, telephone repair wok was needed along Lahainaluna Road between Wainee Street and the Honoapi'ilani Highway. No word was given on the cause of the incident, and there was no estimate on how long those repairs would take. (Inforation provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS FLASH - May 9, 2008 2 p.m. HST Maui Veterans Lose Primary Care Physician WAILUKU » Maui veterans are worried the sudden departure of a physician could disrupt their medical treatment on the Valley Isle similar to the situation a year ago. But Department of Veterans Affairs health care spokesman Fred Ballard said the situation will not be as bad. This year there were two doctors and one is gone, while last year there was only one doctor, and one had to be flown in once or twice a week. "We feel we have their health needs covered," said Ballard, public affairs official with the VA Pacific Island Health Care System. The system has its main clinic on Oahu and community-based outpatient clinics on Guam, Samoa, Kauai, Hilo and Kona on the Big Island, and Maui. Rogelio Evangelista, president of the Maui County Veterans Council representing more than 20 veterans groups, said he learned that a Veterans Affairs physician who seemed to be doing an excellent job at the outpatient clinic in Kahului was let go on Monday. Evangelista said he does not know the reason for her departure and that veterans on Maui are worried their health care will slide as it did a year ago when a primary-care physician left the Valley Isle. Evangelista said veterans complained they had a hard time getting an appointment with the doctor who was flown in, and had to see a nurse practitioner instead. He said VA officials took more than six months to fill the vacancy, and the new physician started work toward the end of last year. Ballard said the vacancy was left for a long time last year, partially because the departure was sudden, the procedure for hiring was a lengthy process and the cost of living is high on Maui, making recruitment difficult. Ballard said he does not know how long Veterans Affairs will take to fill the vacancy. He said the clinic has another primary-care physician, something it did not have a year ago, and a physician assistant is expected to begin working at the clinic in June. Ballard said the clinic also has a nurse practitioner and a couple of part-time, on-call private physicians who can fill in if there is a need. Ballard, citing personnel confidentiality rules, declined to discuss the reason for releasing the physician, who had been on probation. Evangelista said the clinic was barely able to keep up with treating some 3,000 veterans on Maui with the two physicians and limits service from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - May 9, 2008 5:20 a.m. HST E. coli Scare Prompts Recall of May Meat Products from O'ahu Honolulu
- Palama Meat Co. said yesterday it is recalling nearly 70,000 pounds
of ground beef because it might be contaminated with E. coli. Consumers with any of the listed products should return the product to the point of purchase for a refund. Grocers and distributors have been asked to pull the product from shelves. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the meat recall, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Palama, the state's largest meat processor, distributed about 4,500 cases of the affected ground beef to retail establishments, restaurants and commissaries in Hawaii. By the time the recall was announced, the company had recovered 40 percent of the recalled product, a company release said. According to the news release, the recalled meat was made from a batch of raw material purchased from an outside vendor. Company officials found the problem through company testing and notified the USDA. "These specific products are being recalled because E. coli O157:STX1 and STX2 were detected in some of the remaining unused raw material," the release said. "It is important to note that none of the products being recalled have tested positive for E. coli." A potentially deadly strain of the common bacteria, E. coli O157:H7, can also cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Children, seniors and people with weak immune systems are most susceptible to food-borne illnesses. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health said the state is not involved in the case. She said the state's last reported case of E. coli was in March. The Kapolei-based company said it is the first meat recall in its 55-year history. In the last 10 years, Palama has processed more than 80 million pounds of product, the company said. Here
is a list of the Palama Meat Co. products that have been recalled.
Consumers should return any of the following products with the associated
lot codes to the point of purchase for a refund. Each product has
a label with a production lot code, which is the date of production
listed by year, day, then month: » May's Beef Picnic Patties, 24-pound bulk boxes with product code 158700 and production lot codes 081104 or 081804. » May's Beef Patties, 3:1 Layer Pack in 10-pound boxes with product code 158325 and production lot codes 081004 or 081704. » May's Ground Beef Family Pack in 3-pound trays with product code 410751 and production lot code 081604. » May's brand course ground and fine-ground beef products in 5- and 10-pound cylindrical packets, or chubs. Recalled packages have the following product codes: 141115, 141120, 143915, 141420, 144150, 144155, 144200, 144205, 144209, 145410, 145420, 151115, 151415, 151430 or 153220. These products also bear the production lot code 080904, 081504, 081604, 081704, 081804 or 082104. All products, except for some bulk pack chubs of ground beef, will also have the establishment number EST. 11077 inside the USDA mark of inspection. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - May 8, 2008 7:20 p.m. HST Kapalua Fire Contained, At least 60 Acres Consumed At 7:00 pm fire officials contained a brush fire burning at Kapalua, approximately 1/4 mile above an area known as Pineapple Hill on the west side of Maui. First reported at 3:00 pm, the fire burned an estimated 60 acres. Fire fighters will remain on the scene tonight to monitor the area and conduct mop up operations. Earlier, two helicopters were dispatched to assist 7 fire trucks. Heavy equipment, including tankers, were provided by Goodfellow Brothers and Maui Land and Pine to aid the 20 fire fighters. No homes were threatened and no injuries are reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - May 8, 2008 5:30 p.m. HST Fire Crews Still on Scene of Kapalua Fire Fire crews are on scene at a brush fire that was reported around 3:00 pm this afternoon in Kapalua on the west side of Maui. The fire is located approximately 1/4 mile above Pineapple Hill and has burned an estimated 60 acres in 10-25 mph wind conditions. Two helicopters were dispatched to assist 7 fire trucks. Heavy equipment, used to create fire breaks, have been deployed by Goodfellow Brothers and Maui Land and Pine to aid the 20 fire fighters. No homes are in danger and no injuries are reported. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - May 8, 2008 3:30 p.m. HST West Side Recycling Center Reopens Tomorrow OLOWALU, MAUI- After receiving infrastructure and safety upgrades, the Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Center will reopen tomorrow, Friday, May 9 for residential refuse and recycling, the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management announced. The center's hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The improvements at the site include paving the area, pouring concrete pads for the roll-off containers, and installing safety rails and educational signs. "I'd like to thank the community for its patience during the time the center was temporarily closed," said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. "The upgrades improve the safety conditions of the site and we're very happy that West Maui residents can return to using a recycling and refuse center in their area." The following residential materials wi! ll be accepted for free: refuse, greenwaste, used motor oil, recyclables including glass, plastic bottles with necks, plastic bags, aluminum cans, rinsed food cans and cardboard. Tires and auto batteries will be accepted for a fee. Olowalu is not a HI-5 Redemption Center. To redeem HI-5 containers, West Maui residents should utilize the Keawe Street Redemption Center across from the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Commercial materials, appliances and metals will not be accepted; metals may be taken to Kitagawa's, Reynolds or SOS Metals. Residential appliances are accepted at SOS Metals for free. The Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Center is located three miles south of Lahaina, mauka of Honoapiilani Highway. To enter the site, residential vehicles must be able to clear the turning radius and may not block the incoming lane, or they may be turned away. For more information about the Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Center, call 270-7875. For questions about recycli! ng, visit www.mauicounty.gov/recycle or call the Recycle Maui ! County h otline at 270-7880. On Lanai, call 800-272-0125, on Molokai: 800-272-0117. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - May 8, 2008 6:30 a.m. HST State Orders Superferry to Pay for Extra Tugboat Service The state Department of Transportation has told Hawaii Superferry it must pay for evening tugboat services at Kahului Harbor needed to accommodate the company's expanded Maui service. The DOT Harbors Division previously requested $350,000 in state funds for tugboat services from April 1 through June 30 for the daily morning ferry visit. The agency filed an amended request April 28 with the State Procurement Office seeking to increase that amount to $750,000 because of Superferry's plan to begin a second Maui sailing, four days a week, starting tomorrow. That is in addition to the $350,000 previously approved for the period of Jan. 18 to March 31. According to the amended request, a tugboat will be needed a total of five hours a day to keep a state-owned ferry barge — used for loading and unloading vehicles — snug against the end of Pier 2C at Kahului Harbor, which is subject to ocean swells. Although the DOT is seeking approval to procure tugboat assistance for two visits a day to Maui, "we have notified HSF that they are responsible for the costs associated with the second Maui call," Harbors Division chief Michael Formby said yesterday. "We have not received HSF's position on our decision as of this date." Hawaii Superferry did not respond to an Advertiser request for comment yesterday. The DOT also has not conceded that it is responsible for any tugboat costs incurred since January. The state and Superferry continue to discuss that point, which arose after the Kahului Harbor ferry barge was battered by winter swells on several occasions. The barge is part of $40 million in state-funded improvements for ferry service at four ports. Under an agreement with the Coast Guard, the DOT must use a tugboat to secure the Kahului barge until winter conditions abate, or until a permanent, Coast Guard-approved mooring system is installed. Despite the change in seasons, occasional northeast swells continue to roll into the harbor. A good chunk of the original money requested for unanticipated tugboat services was not spent because Superferry's high-speed catamaran, the Alakai, experienced six weeks in drydock in February and March, and lost two weeks' additional service because of rough seas. Formby said the actual amount spent on tugboat assistance to date was not immediately available. The Harbors Division has been soliciting bids for services every two weeks, and alternates between P&M Marine Services LLC and Hawaiian Tug & Barge. Hawaii Superferry said the afternoon Maui voyages, offered Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, will benefit customers who want the convenience of traveling later in the day. The afternoon sailings also will allow commercial customers to return the same day, something they can't do now with a single daily roundtrip. The company said its passenger and vehicle loads have been increasing steadily since the ferry's restart last month after drydock repairs, although it did not provide updated numbers. At the time Superferry suspended service in February, the average load was 115 people and 40 cars from Honolulu to Maui, and 87 people and 39 cars on the return leg. Superferry officials had projected a daily one-way passenger load of 400. The Alakai is capable of carrying 866 people and 282 cars. The second sailing will mean additional hours for some of Superferry's port workers, and the company has hired 20 additional employees, officials said. Although the Alakai will be in service only four evenings a week, the company yesterday said in an e-mail to The Advertiser that there are no plans to ease back into Kaua'i service by sailing to Nawiliwili Harbor the remaining three days. Formby said Superferry has not notified the DOT of plans to resume Kaua'i service, which was suspended in August following protests. Promotional one-way fares of $39 per person and $55 per passenger vehicle between Honolulu and Maui remain in effect through June 5. The company will offer fares of $49 per person and $65 per passenger vehicle for travel between June 6 and Sept. 30, except during select blackout periods. During the two promotional periods, Superferry is waiving its fuel surcharge, which was listed yesterday on the company Web site at 49.8 percent. In a March 14 letter notifying the Public Utilities Commission of the summer fares, the company it was extending promotional pricing through September to "gain public acceptance, regardless of any other controversy." The discounted fares are necessary to offset "negative publicity" generated by environmental lawsuits, the Kaua'i protests, and cancellation of voyages due to rough seas and repairs, the letter said. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - May 8, 2008 6:10 a.m. HST Kalaupapa Memorial One Step Closer to Reality Ku'ulei Bell said she was "so happy" to hear yesterday that plans for a memorial honoring 8,000 Kalaupapa leprosy patients is one step closer to reality. Bell, a former Hansen's disease patient now in her 70s, was only 15 when she was sent to the Moloka'i settlement. Though medication took away her symptoms at age 17, she was forced to stay at Kalaupapa until 1969 under state law, and her two children were taken from her at birth to be raised by family members. "The people of Kalaupapa want to be recognized" for the sacrifices they made, many involuntarily, said Bell, who is president of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit group that has sought the monument. The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee yesterday advanced a bill to build the monument in Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The memorial would list the names of about 8,000 people who were taken from their families between 1866 and 1969 and isolated on the peninsula because of society's fear of Hansen's disease. About 6,700 of the victims were buried at Kalaupapa in unmarked graves. formal
apology The apology is "part of the healing process for them and for us as a state," English said. Hansen's disease patients were confined to Kalaupapa by state law for 20 years after medicines cured them, he said. Bell said many visitors to Kalaupapa ask about their relatives, most of whom are buried in unmarked graves there. A monument listing the names of Kalaupapa patients will help give those families closure, she said. "It doesn't have to be fabulous," Bell said. "Something nice, but simple, with the names listed, so people can go look, if they want to find their families, the year they arrived and year they died." The design and placement of the monument haven't been decided, said Valerie Monson, Kalaupapa 'Ohana secretary and project manager. working
together Boogie Kahilihiwa, a Hansen's disease survivor who still lives at Kalaupapa, said he thought about leaving in 1969 when it was allowed. "But my sister and brother were here and a lot of elderly people," he said. Kahilihiwa said he remembers thinking, "If all the young people move out, there'll be nobody going to stand up and defend them." So he stayed. The last 27 patients at Kalaupapa range in age from 69 to 89, said Michael Maruyama, Hansen's disease branch chief for the state Department of Health. "This monument ensures that Kalaupapa's legacy of tragedy and isolation, of hope and service, and of Father Damien's caring spirit, will be remembered by future generations," Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, referring to the legendary priest who worked with Hansen's disease victims on Kalaupapa in the 19th century. "It also serves as a tribute to those patients remaining at Kalaupapa, and especially those who are no longer with us." Committee chairman Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said he did not know yet when the bill would come up for debate and a vote on the Senate floor. But Inouye and Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawai'i, sponsor of the bill, want to bring it to the floor this year. "The experience of the ... Hansen's disease patients sent to Kalaupapa is a painful part of Hawai'i's history, one our country should never forget," said Akaka, a committee member. "A memorial listing the names ... is the least we can do to honor their lives and sacrifices," said Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, who sponsored the bill in the House. The secretary of the interior would have final approval of the monument's design, size, inscriptions and location. Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa would be responsible for the memorial's cost. The group plans to start fundraising for the monument when the bill receives final approval of Congress and president, Monson said. "Kalaupapa is certainly not the happiest chapter in Hawai'i's long and unique history, but it shaped the lives of 8,000 people who lived there and their families," said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, a co-sponsor of the House bill. "It is an important story that inspires us and teaches timeless lessons about sacrifice and the strength and dignity of the human spirit." (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - May 7, 2008 12:15 p.m. HST Aiona Assessing Costs of Historic Convention HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today announced that she has asked Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. to lead a task force on the costs of convening a convention to modernize the Hawai‘i State Constitution. The 11-member Constitutional Convention Cost Task Force will convene a series of public meetings and make available its findings in a public report no later than August 1, 2008. “The decision to convene a constitutional convention is among the most important questions facing voters in the 2008 General Election,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “The work of this task force will be crucial to ensuring the public has all the facts to make the best decision possible.” The Constitutional Convention Cost Task Force will be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and include the State Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Finance Director, Chief Elections Officer, two State Senators representing the majority and minority parties, two House Representatives representing their respective parties and two representatives from civic organizations interested in improving government in the State of Hawai‘i. The
task force will consider a range of factors that could affect the
overall cost of a constitutional convention. Among them: During the 2008 Legislative Session, the State Legislature passed a non-binding resolution (HCR 231) that requests the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to study the cost of convening a constitutional convention. The Lingle-Aiona Administration welcomes the Legislature’s recognition that a constitutional convention is important and the cost of holding the convention should be known before the voters make their decision. However, the resolution places unnecessary limitations on the scope of the LRB cost study, does not provide for coordination with other affected organizations, and fails to provide for an open, transparent process that allows the public to participate in the cost analysis. The Lingle-Aiona Administration provided recommendations that would have fixed the resolution’s inherent flaws, but the Legislature passed the resolution without adopting these proposed improvements. “The resolution ties the hands of the reference bureau from looking at viable alternatives, and it shuts the public out of the process,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “It essentially puts in place a flawed process that will result in unnecessarily high cost projections. The public has a right to know all of its options and have its voice heard in the process.” The Hawai‘i State Constitution calls for the convening of a constitutional convention every 10 years, if a majority of the electorate decides to do so. The 1978 Constitutional Convention recognized the importance of keeping the State’s fundamental governing document relevant to the current needs of the State. That is why they included this provision in our State Constitution. In December 2007, the Lt. Governor submitted a letter to the Office of Elections, certifying that the question of whether to convene a constitutional convention would be placed on the next general election ballot in November 2008. The last constitutional convention in Hawai‘i, held in 1978, helped to require an annual balanced budget, establish term limits for the Governor and Lt. Governor, create the Judicial Selection Commission, establish the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and adopt the Hawaiian language as an official state language of Hawai‘i, among other significant accomplishments. (Report Provided by the Office of Governor Lingle) NEWS FLASH - May 7, 2008 5:30 a.m. HST New Superferry CEO Discusses Challenges, Future The Hawaii Superferry, which hasn't sailed to Kaua'i since harbor protesters blocked its arrival in August, intends to resume trips there only if the community signals it wants the service restored, the company's new chief executive said yesterday. "We're going to do what is right for each community," said retired Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, who took over Superferry's top job last week. The Superferry also will raise its $39 one-way fare between Honolulu and Maui to $49 on June 6. Fargo, in a telephone interview with The Advertiser, said the price is still "hugely competitive." Starting Friday, the Superferry will add a second roundtrip to Maui, four days a week, but it has no timeline for returning to Kaua'i, Fargo said. If the Superferry were to get some kind of signal from the community, especially from leadership, that service is desired, the carrier would respond to the request, Fargo said. Asked what would constitute a signal from the community, Fargo said: "There'll be a momentum or view by the community that they would like Superferry service." He added that he wasn't sure how that view would be communicated. At least one Kaua'i politician suggested that the company is still unwelcomed by many people on that island. Sen. Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), said the percentage of Kaua'i residents opposed to the Superferry probably hasn't changed much and likely won't change much until the company shows it is reliable and forthright with the community. "The Hawaii Superferry needs to prove itself in terms of reliability, service and community commitment first, and they haven't done that on Maui," Hooser said. "It's proven to be unreliable." Hooser also said he was unaware of the Superferry doing any significant outreach to community groups on Kaua'i over the past few months, something that will be key to repairing relations and gaining support. Lori Abe, a spokeswoman for the Superferry, said the company is continuing to talk with community members on Kaua'i. The company got off to a shaky start last year, dealing with legal challenges, protests, stormy seas, canceled voyages and problems with its $85 million catamaran and docking facilities. Its first voyage to Kaua'i last August was greeted by protesters on surfboards and in kayaks who blocked the entrance to Nawiliwili Harbor. Fargo indicated that Superferry isn't profitable now, but he said he wasn't aware of any company that would be profitable at this early stage of its operations. Asked if the recent change in management — Fargo replaced John Garibaldi as president and chief executive — was an indication that Superferry investors were unhappy with where the company was at this point, Fargo said the carrier had gone through an expected shakedown period and was now entering the operational phase, for which his expertise with complex maritime operations would be beneficial. Garibaldi became vice chairman and remains as a board member. Fargo said he would like to see the company ultimately attract a balance of cargo, passenger and vehicle business so it will become profitable. He said the current trends are positive, with growth in passenger and vehicle traffic. On the first weekend of his tenure, Fargo said, Superferry had 2,000 passengers on its Friday, Saturday and Sunday O'ahu-Maui trips, roughly double the previous weekend's count. He also said the company has seen an increase in business since Aloha Airlines closed its passenger service March 31 and more recently halted interisland cargo operations, forcing customers to temporarily seek alternative ways to move their products. Aloha's cargo service resumed after another company reached agreement to buy the business. The turmoil in the interisland market hasn't altered Superferry's strategy. "We're going to be a success by establishing a scheduled, reliable ferry service for residents, visitors and businesses in Hawai'i," Fargo said. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - May 6, 2008 5:30 p.m. HST Fire Crews Control Blaze Burning in Mountains on West End of Moloka'i A Molokai fire first reported around noon today was brought under control at 3:15 pm. The fire burned approximately 25 acres in the mountains of the Puunana area, south of Maunaloa. Fire crews were dispatched and aided by two helicopters, heavy equipment, and a water tanker. No injuries are reported and no structures were threatened. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - May 6, 2008 2:30 p.m. HST Fire Burning in Mountains on West End of Moloka'i A Molokai fire first reported around noon today has burned approximately 10 acres in the mountains of the Puunana area, south of Maunaloa. Fire crews are on scene and are being aided by two helicopters, heavy equipment, and a water tanker. No injuries are reported and no structures are in currently in danger. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. (Report Provided by The Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - May 6, 2008 12:30 p.m. HST Meeting Set to Discuss Jet Ski Use in Waters Off Moloka'i The State Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold an informal public meeting from 2 p.m.to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center conference room on Molokai to hear from community members regarding the use of jet skis (also known as personal watercraft or PWCs) around Moloka'i. "We understand a petition is being circulated on Moloka'i to demonstrate public support for legalizing jet ski riding," said Thielen. "The purpose of this public meeting is to hear directly from residents regarding concerns or questions they might have about the use of jet skis in Moloka'i waters." Residents can also provide comments in writing to the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, or at subsequent meetings. Commercial or recreational use of controlled ocean sports equipment, such as jet skis, is currently prohibited around the islands of Moloka'i and Lana'i. A similar public meeting will be planned for Lana'i in the near future. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Advertiser)
Community Forum to Focus on Central Maui Growth Kahului, Maui - A community forum on growth in Central Maui will be held Thursday, May 8th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Maui Community College’s Multi-Purpose Room (formerly the old student center). This forum is being held in order to create interest and encourage participation in the upcoming GPAC meetings, May 15th and 17th, which will focus on Central Maui’s part in the 2030 Maui Island Plan. Thursday’s
forum will include an introduction to the Maui Island Plan process
by Maui County’s Long-range Planning staff along with a panel discussion
moderated by former Planning Director Mike Foley with panelists including
John Duey of Hui o Na Wai Eha; Tom Blackburn-Rodriquez of HALE; and
other community leaders. The event is sponsored by Maui Tomorrow Foundation; Maui Unite! and MCC’s Sustainability Club. Display maps will be provided and refreshments will be served. For further information, please call 268.0303. (Report Provided by Maui Tomorrow) NEWS FLASH - May 6, 2008 10 a.m. HST Oil Prices Reach Another Record High VIENNA, Austria — Oil futures rose to an all-time high near $121 a barrel today with new concerns about a threat to supply and a weaker dollar. The surge in oil prices was also fueled by hopes that the U.S. economy will be spared a sharp downturn after the release of data Monday showing an unexpected expansion in the U.S. service sector in April, analysts said. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose to a record $120.93 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday. The contract later retreated to $119.88 a barrel, down 9 cents from Monday's close. Crude futures settled on Monday at $119.97 a barrel, up $3.65 from Friday's close. "The bulls are in control of the market," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with Purvin & Gertz in Singapore. "The economic report out of the U.S. yesterday on the service sector seems to suggest the economic slowdown may not be as deep as initially thought." "The sentiment is that the oil pricing is likely going to stay quite strong, with a lot of volatility," Shum said. The dollar weakened against the euro on Monday, attracting investors to oil and other commodities viewed as hedges against inflation. Also, a falling dollar makes oil less expensive to investors overseas. A series of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts starting last year weakened the dollar considerably against foreign currencies, and analysts blame the dollar's protracted decline for oil's sharp rise this spring. Supply outages or potential threats to supply emerged in Iran and Nigeria over the weekend and from Iraq on Monday; events in all three nations have caused prices to spike many times in recent months. In Iraq, Kurdish rebels warned they could launch suicide attacks against American interests to punish the U.S. for sharing intelligence with Turkey after Turkey bombed rebel bases in Iraq on Friday. In Nigeria, a Royal Dutch Shell PLC spokesman said attackers hit an oil facility belonging to Shell's joint venture in southern Nigeria and that some oil production has been shut down. And Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country will not bend to international pressure and give up its nuclear program. Energy investors grow concerned any time conflict breaks out or is threatened in the oil-rich Middle East. Years of unrest in Nigeria have cut off nearly a quarter of the major U.S. supplier's oil output. Amid the occasional threats to crude supplies, global demand for oil continues to grow. The Chinese and Indian economies are growing by double digits, boosting global demand for oil. In the U.S., where demand has been dampened over economic concerns, the prince for "gasoline at the pump is averaging 29.4 percent above last year's pace," noted Stephen Schork of the Schork Report. "Meanwhile, average diesel prices are up by 41.1 percent or $1.079 a gallon (3.8 liters)." In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures were both down slightly at $3.3005 and $3.0455 a gallon. Natural gas futures slipped more than 3 pennies to $11.145 per 1,000 cubic feet. Brent crude futures rose 52 cents to $118.53 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - May 6, 2008 7 a.m. HST Hawai'i #1, Still Growing - in Travel Expense Most domestic airlines have yet again boosted their fuel surcharge by $20 for travel between Hawaii and the mainland. The latest increase, to $130, means that the carriers' fuel surcharge has now risen more than sixfold since last Labor Day, when it was around $20. Tickets during the peak travel season in July for most airlines are now averaging about $730 to $740 at their lowest between Los Angeles and Honolulu, according to Rick Seaney, chief executive of ticket-pricing Web site FareCompare.com. "Fuel surcharges to Hawaii are about $20 higher than they are on the mainland, and that makes sense because it's a longer flight to get to Hawaii," Seaney said. "It's probably going to get worse before it gets better with oil going over $120 a barrel. OPEC is saying it could get over $200, and I guarantee airlines don't know what they're going to do if it gets over $200, because they really can't raise prices enough to cover that before people quit flying." United Airlines, whose 17 daily flights between Hawaii and the mainland are more than any carrier, raised its fuel surcharge to $130 on Friday. Delta Air Lines did likewise, prompting tour operator Pleasant Holidays to put a notice on its Web site alerting customers to book early because of the higher surcharge. Although Delta's surcharge is $130 for regular customers, the surcharge linked to Pleasant Holidays' flights is $110. Hawaiian, American, Continental and Alaska airlines also have $130 fuel surcharges, while Northwest Airlines is at $110. "We have to hope for oil prices in the near future to get south of $90, but I don't think it's going to happen any time soon," Seaney said. "I think airlines can live with $60 to $80 a barrel, and I think customers can probably live with that, too." Seaney said that airlines sporadically began assessing fuel surcharges about five years ago at about $5 or $10, but they did not begin in earnest until last September. For example, Delta, which flies twice daily between Los Angeles and Honolulu, had a fuel surcharge of $20 last September. By the start of this year, the surcharge was already up to $70. It was $90 on Feb. 1, $100 on April 1 and then a few days after that was at $110, where it remained until Friday. Seaney said there is some relief for mainland-Hawaii travelers starting in mid-August, when the round-trip price between Los Angeles and Honolulu gets down to the high $400s and continues moving lower until the end of October, when it is in the high $300s. But starting around Dec. 15, the prices go up to the levels of midsummer, Seaney said. "I think tickets will trend up (for Hawaii) significantly more than (on mainland routes) if someone doesn't come in and add some flights," he said. "If you try to get to Hawaii around Christmastime, it's going to be around $1,000. And if you can buy your ticket today for $800, you might as well do it. Airlines charge an additional premium on all tickets in nation for peak travel days of the year." As for the difference between fare hikes and fuel surcharges, Seaney said there really is no difference. "For domestic airfares, you take the base airfare and the fuel surcharge and add them together and add tax to it," he said. "Calling it a fuel surcharge gives it a name and blames it on fuel, but effectively there is no difference. The only slight difference would be if you have a corporate-negotiated discount, then you only get the discount off the base fare." (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star Bulletin) NEWS FLASH - May 5, 2008 7 p.m. HST Lawmakers Approve Maui Capital Improvement Projects HONOLULU - Lawmakers passed out the state budget bill for the next fiscal year that includes over $334 million for Maui capital improvement projects (CIP) and other Maui initiatives for the biennium. House Bill 2500, H.D.1, S.D.1, C.D.1 passed Final Reading in the House and the Senate on April 29. This year, House members have focused on legislation aimed at making sure people in Hawaii can meet their basic needs during a slowing economy, especially relating to housing, healthcare, safety, energy costs and education. "The
new science building project at Maui Community College was ready to
begin, but awaiting funding for construction," said Rep. Bob
Nakasone (District 9 – Kahului, Wailuku, Puunene, Spreckelsville,
Paia). "This project will greatly enhance educational opportunities
for Maui County by its impact to deliver quality science instruction
to meet students' needs to support any science based or technological
bachelor's degrees and holds a top priority by the University of Hawaii
system." "I am very excited about what the budget holds for us in Kihei," added Rep. Joe Bertram III (District 11 – Makena, Wailea, Kihei). "It contains $20 million for the development of Kihei High School as well as $375,000 to improve Kihei Elementary School. The budget also contains more money for our charter schools that truly do a lot for the money they are given." Capital
Improvement Projects (CIP) for Maui Fiscal Year '08
Upcountry Maui Watershed - pipeline $ 1,500,000 Fiscal Year '09
Upcountry Maui Watershed - pipeline $ 1,500,000 | |||
