Hawaii

LOS ANGELES — Movie-goers dealt the gambling romp “21″ a winning hand at the box office, where it raked in nearly $24 million over the weekend.

“21″ bumped off “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!” which drops to second place. The family film made more than $17 million, pushing its total past $117 million. “Horton” is the first movie this year to pass the $100 million mark.

This weekend’s other new movies had so-so openings. Those included the spoof “Superhero Movie,” which was in third place with $9.5 million.

Rounding out the top five were “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” at $7.8 million. “Drillbit Taylor” was in fifth place, with $5.8 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. (Read the full post about ‘‘21′ Rakes In $24M Box-Office Jackpot’…)

LOS ANGELES — Miley Cyrus, Jack Black and Usher were among the big stars who headlined Saturday night’s Kids Choice awards — along with a whole lot of Nickelodeon’s trademark slime.

Cyrus took home trophies for favorite female singer and TV actress. (Read the full post about ‘Miley Cyrus Rocks Kid’s Choice Awards’…)

Just like some Kazakhs were upset about Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Borat,” complaints are coming in about Mike Myers’ upcoming spoof called “The Love Guru.”

In the film’s trailer, Myers, who stars as the title character, plays sappy pop songs on the sitar and his mantra is “Mariska Hargitay” — an obvious reference to the “Law & Order: SVU” actress.

Some people in the Hindu community worry that “The Love Guru” could ridicule important elements of their religion and the film could lead to stereotyping.

“People are not very well-versed in Hinduism, so this might be their only exposure,” said Rajan Zed, a self-described Hindu leader from Nevada.

In the past, Paramount Pictures has screened sensitive films for select audiences and promised in a statement to do the same for the Hindu community.

Co-starring Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake, “The Love Guru” will be in theaters June 20.

Myers, a “Saturday Night Live” alum, has starred in the “Austin Powers” trilogy and voiced the title character in the “Shrek” films.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

 Puna man charged for loaded gun click here

Lava talk abided Sunshine Law, state says click here

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Big Island residents warned to prepare click here

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Reprieve for Waters of Life click here

Waters of Life charter school blocked again click here

Volcano’s white plume says it’s not ash click here

Lava pics click here
Eruption update click here

The ‘best-connected journalist’ in Puna.
– Hawaii Island Journal 

www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called Punapix. (Read the full post about ‘What disaster planning?’…)

What do Madagascar hissing cockroaches, fresh Maui pineapple, and reusable grocery bags have in common? They were all part of the 2008 Ag Sustainability Day at the Capitol yesterday.

Hawaii’s agriculture industries and organizations set up tables and displays for lawmakers and the public to gather information and sample local produce and products.
The Dept. of Agriculture drew crowds to a corner table with the shrill bird-like chirping of the male coqui frogs seeking mates – from a recording of course. Event-goers were able to gawk at several invasive species that were captured in Hawaii, including the coqui frog, ball python and a hedgehog.
Leslie Iseke, a plant quarantine inspector from the DOA, said the hedgehog was found walking down a sidewalk and was probably someones pet.

(Read the full post about ‘Farmers’ Market takes over the Capitol’…)

Representative Cindy Evans has been named to the Center for Women Policy Studies’ National Honor Roll of State Legislators in recognition of her commitment to women’s human rights. More than 400 state legislators nationwide accepted the Center’s invitation. Members of the National Honor Roll — women and men –pledge to endorse the Center’s, “Contract with Women of the USA.”

“It’s an honor for me to join with other legislators across the nation as we work to improve the economic status, health and well-being of women and girls in our states,” Evans said.

(Read the full post about ‘Rep. Evans named to national honor roll for work on women’s issues’…)

The House and Senate honored 31 military service members with Hawaii ties who were killed while on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait this past year. The families and friends of 20 servicemen accepted the Hawaii Medal of Honor at the State Capitol Tuesday. Army, Navy and Marine servicemen and women joined the standing-room-only crowd in the House Chamber to pay tribute to their heroic comrades.

Each day our fallen heroes’ memories are honored by friends and family through different ways, including visiting the burial sites, flipping through photo albums and reading old letters.

As the first war during the Internet age, remembering our lost servicemen and women has changed.

On websites like Myspace, the memories of many of them will live on forever in self-made memorials with snapshots and blog posts that capture the person they wanted the world to see - the person behind the uniform.

Several of the Hawaii Medal of Honor recipients still have Myspace profiles.

(Read the full post about ‘Hawaii’s fallen heroes honored in more ways than one’…)

As Wayne Yoshioka from Hawaii Public Radio points out in his 2-part series (click here to access the MP3’s) on the Galbraith land acquisition bills, much of the public attention this session has been on the proposed purchase of Turtle Bay. Yet, HB2292 and HB2293, and SB2421, all related to the purchase of Galbraith Estate trust lands, are alive and moving steadily forward. And, with a little digging, you can read all about the fascinating story of George Galbraith, his estate, his beneficiaries, and now the effort to allow the state to purchase the lands for agriculture and preservation.

Called the “Gateway to the North Shore”, the Galbraith Estate trust lands are comprised of over 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land in central Oahu, including a 50% interest in Lake Wilson, and are estimated to be worth about $100 million.

(Read the full post about ‘Preserving the “Gateway to the North Shore”’…)

HONOLULU — A Hawaii-based soldier was killed from injuries in a fight with enemy forces in Iraq.

Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of Ramsey, Minn., died on March 26 in Taji, Iraq.

Rundell was in a small arms firefight.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks.

Rundell joined the Army in 2005 and was assigned to Schofield in January 2006.

WAIANAE, Hawaii — Three people were injured when a motorcyclist struck two pedestrians in Waianae critically injuring them, according to officials.

It happened on Farrington Highway near Mailiilii Road, in front of Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center at about 7:30 a.m.

The motorcyclist ran a red light and struck two women in a crosswalk, a witness told KITV. The women were about three-quarters of the way across the road when the motorcycle hit them, police said.

Police also said the light was red for some time before the motorcycle went through the intersection.

Officers closed all westbound lanes on Farrington Highway and one eastbound lane. (Read the full post about ‘3 Injured In Waianae Crash’…)