Domingo Cravalho Jr., an invertebrate and aquatic biota specialist with the state Department of Agriculture, holds a 2 1/2-foot corn snake found in the Pe‘ahi area of Maui last weekend. The snake — they are illegal in Hawai‘i — is being held at O‘ahu’s Plant Quarantine Branch.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
Hawai'i paying more — expensive oil is to blame
Surging oil prices helped push the Honolulu cost of living higher last year, but the increase was just half of the overall U.S. average, offering Hawai'i consumers stable prices as the local economy continues its gradual growth.
Off-ramp project may test patience of H-1 motorists
If construction work to widen the Punahou off-ramp of the H-1 Freeway over the next eight months wasn't bad enough, brace for the likelihood that the nearby Ward Avenue and Pi'ikoi Street on-ramps will be closed as well.
$750,000 marked for Asia Development Bank meeting
The Honolulu City Council yesterday approved shifting $750,000 in police resources to help pay for beefed-up security to deal with demonstrators expected to protest the May conference of the Asia Development Bank.
Police praise new BMW 'Peace' bike fleet
Praised for its safety features, advanced technology and reliability, BMW's special KP1100 "Peace" motorcycle is an expensive new addition to the Honolulu Police Department's motorized fleet
House Democrats reject GOP proposal to elect attorney general
House Democrats rejected the idea of electing Hawai'i's attorney general yesterday, arguing that the state's top law enforcement official shouldn't have to raise campaign money and ask for votes.
Local 5 rejects hotels' offer
The local union that represents hotel and restaurant workers yesterday rejected a final contract offer by management, citing concerns about wage proposals and job security for more than 4,000 members at five hotels.
Drive-throughs backed in Hale'iwa
The Honolulu City Council yesterday narrowly approved a move aimed at allowing drive-throughs in Hale'iwa. The drive-throughs now are banned in the North Shore town.
Former state senator to be tried on criminal counts
At the end of a hearing yesterday, former state Sen. Marshall Ige was ordered to face trial on charges of first-degree theft, money-laundering and attempted tax evasion.
Judge won't release Arakawa records
Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle's request to see former police officer Clyde Arakawa's probation records from a 1992 case was rejected yesterday by a Circuit Court judge, who ruled the information confidential.
Kalaniana'ole traffic passes test
Wary eyes were on East Honolulu yesterday to see whether the start of trial work on the Kalaniana'ole Highway would bring any hint of traffic jams like those during the epic five-year widening project of the early 1990s.
Mililani antenna a health hazard, residents tell city
The testimony of Mililani Mauka residents and questions about health issues led the city Planning Commission yesterday to defer a vote on AT&T Wireless Services' request for a special-use permit for an existing antenna.
Walk-in clinic in McCully offers flu shots tomorrow
Castle Community Care will have a walk-in flu shot clinic at Times McCully tomorrow. The clinic at 1772 S. King St. will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Seniors with Medicare Part B are free. Others pay $16 for a flu shot.
O'ahu briefs
Restaurateur to open Pinky's; Fun runners raise $15,000; Career, health fair scheduled; Sunset Beach lifeguards busy; Psychotherapy workshop set.
Subdivision cheers better water supply on Big Island
Construction begins next month on a key water line that will provide a volunteer fire station with water in the fast-growing Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision between Pahoa and Kea'au.
Ex-wildlife official's trial opens on Maui
Wesley Wong was in charge of state programs to protect Maui County's forest lands and wildlife, but while on vacation in May 1999 he flew into a remote valley on Moloka'i and used an illegal electroshock device to catch fish.
Big Island brushfire cuts area phone lines
A runaway brushfire yesterday afternoon threatened a closure of the Hawai'i Belt Highway, disrupted travel of students returning home from Laupahoehoe School and halted telephone service.
Catamaran got its start in Waikiki
Catamaran pioneers Woody Brown on Maui and Rudy Choy in Our Honolulu probably won't be mentioned when the 110-foot Club Med sails into Marseilles, France, this weekend after circling the globe, although they built the boat 50 years ago.
Lee Cataluna
Can't we all just sing along?
Fireman and musician Jesse Rivera has talked to Gov. Cayetano about proclaiming a day for "Synergistic Hawai'i." The initial reaction was positive, and now Rivera has set out to garner support in the community.
Jan TenBruggencate
Climate changing, but are we?
Visiting researcher Michael Glantz feels that Hawai'i and the rest of the world are missing the boat if they don't begin planning as soon as they get climate warnings.
Mike Leidemann
Recycle those old cartridges
Once there were just bottles and newspapers. Today, we reuse just about everything. Grass cuttings. Plastic milk jugs. Old cars. Shipping pallets. Aluminum cans. Cardboard. Drywall. Tires. Anything.
