Hawaii

Hawai’i’s three highest peaks have snow and another 1 to 2 inches of snow was expected overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

While it is common to see white caps atop 13,677-foot-high Mauna Loa and 13,796-foot-high Mauna Kea on the Big Island during the winter, snow is less frequent on Maui’s Haleakala, which has an elevation of 10,023 feet.

Before yesterday’s snowfall, the last good dusting of snow was about four years ago, according to Haleakala National Park officials.

The National Weather Service said freezing levels are low enough for snow to accumulate on the three volcanoes down to the 7,000-foot level.

(Read the full post about ‘Winter wonderland on top of Islands’ three tallest mountains’…)

KIHEI, Maui — The disposal of unexploded ordnance on Molokini originally scheduled for today has been postponed due to weather and Native Hawaiian concerns, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The operation has been rescheduled for Feb.

(Read the full post about ‘Ordnance disposal on Molokini postponed because of weather’…)

HAWAI’I KAI — The Hawai’i Kai Neighborhood Board last night voted to reaffirm its stance against development in the Ka Iwi area, as residents again voiced opposition to a plan to build vacation cabins.

The board voted 13-0 at the meeting at Haha’ione Elementary School.

The board’s action is an expression of community sentiment but carries no regulatory power. Develop QRM LLC still needs approvals from the city Department of Planning and Permitting before it can build.

State lawmakers have also introduced bills to preserve the area through rezoning or land acquisition.

QRM wants to build 180 cabins on two parcels: one in a valley behind the Hawai’i Kai Golf Course and on land across from the entrance to the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail.

On Jan.

(Read the full post about ‘Ka Iwi cabin plan voted down, 13-0′…)

WAI’ANAE — Help was at hand at Ma’ili Beach Park at Ma’ili Point yesterday for the 100 families who will be displaced in two weeks when the city closes the park that they call home.

Among those talking to a group of caseworkers reaching out to the residents was Glenda Afoa. Yesterday she told them she is considering a move to a shelter for the first time in the two years she’s lived at the beach with her two teenagers.

At first, she lived in another section of Ma’ili Beach Park, but moved farther down last March after the city cleared out the first section of the park. So she went down the road to Ma’ili Point, where she’s lived for a year.

“I just need someone to give me a chance,” Afoa said.

(Read the full post about ‘Easing move from beach park’…)

Hawaii Superferry canceled today’s roundtrip voyage from Honolulu to Maui due to rough seas, and the outlook for tomorrow is “marginal,” according to the company’s Web site.

Bad sea conditions have kept the new high-speed interisland ferry tied up at dock since Sunday.

Passengers on canceled sailings will be contacted directly to make alternative arrangements. Voyage status can be checked online at www.hawaiisuperferry.com.

Passengers also may call the Hawaii Superferry reservations center at 877-443-3779 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

(Read the full post about ‘Superferry trips still on hold’…)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

Committee on Health, Room 329, 8:00 a.m.

HB2413 RELATING TO INCOME TAXATION. Allows an income tax credit to physicians practicing in medically underserved areas for a portion of the amount of medical malpractice premiums. (Green)

HB2529 RELATING TO FOOD SAFETY. Establishes state policies on dealing with tainted foods that are processed for consumption by humans and pet animals. (Mizuno)

HB2283 RELATING TO TATTOO ARTISTS. Allows department of health to issue temporary 14-calendar-day certificates of registration to tattoo artists for educational, trade show, or product demonstration purposes only.

(Read the full post about ‘Bills of interest for Wednesday, January 30th’…)

Happy Birthday! Have a good day, a productive session, and successful year.

Photo: Representatives end their early education tour in the cafeteria of Jefferson Elementary School. In photo left to right: Rep. Roy Takumi, Principal Vivian S.M. Hee, Rep. Tom Brower, Rep. Lyla Berg. Rep. Roy Takumi (D-36), Rep. Lyla Berg (D-25) and Rep. Tom Brower (D-23), members of the House Committee on Education, took a tour of Jefferson Elementary School’s Pre-Plus program on Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. They discussed some of the main goals and details of a new proposed bill with school educators and administration. The bill, HB2973, would establish an early learning system and a Keiki First Steps Program in Hawaii.Here are some of my notes:-Legislators and administration share four main goals: 1.) to expand on such early education programs such as Pre-Plus & Headstart by targeting all disadvantaged three-and four-year-olds. (Read the full post about ‘House Committee on Education discusses an early learning system with Hawaii educators’…)

From the "You gotta be kidding, Dept.," I’m amused by this poll in West Hawaii Today’s online edition:

Is civil disobedience the only remaining way to get West Hawaii residents’ needs and concerns heard and acted upon by the Hawaii County government?

The only remaining way? Is that after stamping your feet and holding your breath?

And so far 51 percent of the respondents agree. It’s dumbfounding. Are their Council representatives that ineffective?

West Hawaii has problems but there are problems all over the island. And West Hawaii probably has had a fairer shake from the Kim administration than it ever had.

Civil disobedience?

(Read the full post about ‘Newspaper runs disobedience poll’…)

No sooner had I pointed out last week that Gov. Lingle had given up on breaking up the state Board of Education due to lack of support in the Legislature, which she said in 2004, she announced a new proposal for county school boards this week. In the West Hawaii Today story by Bret Yager, Lingle aide Russell Pang refutes what I wrote about Republican state Senate candidate Ted Hong proposing legislation that Lingle had abandoned. “She has not given up on public schools,” Pang said. Well that’s good to know but, geez, you have to wonder how strongly the Lingle camp will push to elect Ted Hong. Resurrecting hopeless legislation to score political points?

(Read the full post about ‘Guv changes mind on BOE split’…)