O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Gas leak repairs keep Kalakaua lanes closed
Kalakaua Avenue between Ala Moana and Kaumo'o Street will continue to be clogged as The Gas Co. follows up on a gas line repair.
The 8-inch underground synthetic natural gas line was damaged Wednesday by a contractor working on a sewage line. The repair work requires the closing of the two right lanes of Kalakaua Avenue until the repairs are completed.
Traffic going diamondhead on Kalakaua Avenue will be affected, and motorists entering Waikiki are encouraged to use Kalia Road or to enter Waikiki from Kapahulu Avenue.
The work is scheduled to avoid peak traffic hours, but motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.
Governor appoints commission chair
Gov. Ben Cayetano has appointed Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Colette Machado as chair of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission. The commission represents the state in the federally financed cleanup of Kaho'olawe that will eventually create a cultural and educational reserve on the 45-square mile island.
Machado, the OHA Moloka'i trustee, was involved in efforts to stop the bombing of Kaho'olawe and establish a native Hawaiian cultural reserve there. She served on the commission for two years as a representative of the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana before being appointed chair.
Other members of the commission include Isabella Abbott of O'ahu, Jeffrey Chang of Maui, Craig Neff of the Big Island and Gilbert Coloma-Agaran, chair of the State Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Fountain turned off as water-use plea
The Board of Water Supply temporarily shut off its fountain on Beretania Street yesterday as a reminder to consumers to slow down on water use. The board said that the action is done at this time every year to reinforce the water conservation message, especially during the warm summer months.
The fountain will remain shut off through the month of September.
Palace seeking volunteers
Friends of 'Iolani Palace will offer a nine-week training course next month to teach potential volunteers the history of the Hawaiian monarchy, the palace and its restoration.Volunteers also will learn about the palace's priceless artifacts.
Guest lecturers will be Jim Bartels, director of Washington Place; Corinne Chun, palace curator; and Puakea Nogelmeier, Hawaiian language specialist,. Volunteers will take field trips to other historic sites and museums.
Classes will begin Sept. 4, running for nine consecutive Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Classes cost $40 and will be held in the Old Archives Building next to the palace. Call Cindy Grace at 522-0821.
Rotary assists needy children
The Rotary Club of Honolulu has presented more than 40 cases of new school supplies and a check for nearly $1,500 to two groups to help needy children in Hawai'i.
The goods were given Tuesday to Helping Hands Hawai'i and Ready to Learn, which is a partnership between U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and his wife, Maggie, and Helping Hands Hawai'i. The school supplies and money will go to about 25,000 children throughout the state.
Union planning hotel picket
Members of the AFL-CIO's Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance will picket tomorrow in front of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel to protest the firing of more than 200 ILWU workers there.
More than 300 members of the Asian Pacific American union, participating in its sixth biennial convention at the Sheraton Waikiki, are expected to participate in the noon picket. A rally will follow at the Honolulu Zoo entrance.
In June, 274 workers, of which 232 were ILWU members, were fired from Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel after the hotel was sold to Leucadia National Corp. Aston Hotels and Resorts assumed management of the hotel July 1, rehiring less than 10 percent of the former employees, union officials said.
The convention runs from today to Sunday.
NORTH SHORE
Kaunala study issues report
A final environmental impact statement for the Kaunala Beach Estate project near Sunset Beach has found that the project, for 29 residential lots in a gated community, will have no significant adverse impacts.
North Shore residents have objected to the project at Kaunala, near the popular Velzyland surfing break, saying the city intended to build a park there, but did not move to purchase it when it was offered for sale. The project will displace some of those residents.
The environmental statement identified several unresolved issues, including the displacement of residents, development of the shoreline park and visual impacts of the project.
Consultant Wilson Okamoto & Associates Inc. prepared the statement for Kaunala Beach Estate. The plan is before the city Department of Planning and Permitting.
If the department director recommends approval, the City Council's zoning committee must approve a special management permit before sending the plan to the full council for consideration.
CENTRAL
Dobelle to talk at meeting
University of Hawai'i President Evan Dobelle will speak at a community meeting Tuesday for Central and Leeward O'ahu residents.
'Aiea and Pearl City legislators will be hosts to the meeting at the Pearlridge Elementary School Cafeteria from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Residents will have a chance to ask Dobelle about his plans for Leeward Community College and UH-West O'ahu.
WINDWARD
Event benefits abuse victims
Ka Hui 'Ohana Kako'o will distribute free toys, clothes, food and school supplies to domestic violence victims and their families at a Back to School Open House from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in Hale Kuhina at Windward Community College.
The event will include entertainment by Jake Shimabukuro, balloon twisting, a jumping castle, storytelling, face painting and games.
The fair is sponsored by the Windward Community Legal Center and Volunteer Legal Services Hawai'i. The Windward Community Legal Center provides representation for domestic violence victims would otherwise be unrepresented and connects these clients to social services that help them to resume their lives.
Ka Hui 'Ohana Kako'o provides financial and emotional support to domestic violence victims and their families.
