O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
CENTRAL
Waipahu wins learning grant
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $814,420 for the first year of a three-year grant to establish four 21st Century Community Learning Centers at Waipahu schools.
The centers will expand student learning opportunities during after-school, intersession and summer hours and will document student achievement in math and reading.
The four centers, to serve 1,800 students and 1,800 adults, will increase parent and community participation in adult education and parenting programs and develop technology education.
"This grant will enable these schools to help provide safe, drug-free, supervised and cost-effective school-based havens for children, youth and their families," said U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink.
Ford Island tours offered July 4
The National Park Service will offer four boat tours around Ford Island on July 4 in addition to the regularly scheduled USS Arizona Memorial visits.
The special tours will give passengers an opportunity to see more historical sites. The tours will also honor the USS Utah and pass by the USS Missouri.
Tours at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., titled “Query As to Why?”, will deal specifically with events of Dec. 7, 1941. Other tours, “Fishponds to Battleships,” at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., will cover Pearl Harbor from its geological formation to today.
Reservations for the free tours are strongly recommended. The deadline is 3 p.m. June 29. The park service requests that people pick only one tour.
Call 422-2771, Ext. 110, for further information.
Correction: A previous version of this story contained the wrong date for the tours.
WINDWARD
Board rejects Ka Iwi support
The Waimanalo Neighborhood Board voted Monday to not support the state's Ka Iwi Shoreline Plan, which calls for improvements to Kalaniana'ole Highway, parking lots and lookouts.
Wilson Ho, Waimanalo board chairman, said the project left too many questions unanswered and board members felt it was being forced upon the community. The vote was 7-0, with 2 abstaining.
At the meeting, residents questioned the wisdom of spending $4 million to make improvements that would increase traffic while the road above Makapu'u Beach, which needs repairs, isn't being improved, Ho said. Board members were concerned that the improvements would lead to other tourist attractions, such as a tram to the lighthouse, a visitor center and souvenir shop. Another person wondered if the state would charge a hiking fee.
Last month the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board also voted to not support the plan.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the vote tally.
EAST HONOLULU
Summer Street main work due
The Board of Water Supply is designing about $1 million worth of water main and fire hydrant replacements along Summer Street.
The work involves replacing 4,200 linear feet of water mains that are more than 30 years old. While that is not old for a pipe, the terrain has caused premature corrosion, according to the BWS. The pipes are cast iron and the area is affected by salt water.
The pipes distribute lines to residences. The work will run along Summer Street and branch up to Kalaniana'ole Highway.
The project is expected to start next year after the consultant finishes design plans.
Vision Team convenes today
The East Honolulu Vision Team will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Hawai'i Kai Public Library.
This is the first meeting of the revamped vision team, which will talk about the new vision concept, the capital improvement financing awarded to the area neighborhood boards and the status of approved projects.
For more information call 527-5558.
New Wai'alae panel to meet
The Wai'alae-Kahala Neighborhood Board will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
This will be the first meeting of the new board, which was installed this month. Up for discussion are reports from lawmakers and the Board of Water Supply, as well as traffic issues and dogs in Wai'alae Beach Park.
For more information call 527-5578 or check out the Web at www.co.honolulu.hi.us
NORTH SHORE
Velzyland plan to hold hearing
The city Department of Planning and Permitting will hold a public hearing for the proposed Kaunala Beach Estate development at Velzyland at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Sunset Beach Elementary School.
The project, which is seeking a special management area use permit, calls for consolidating and subdividing 19.2 acres of land at Kaunala next to the University of Hawai'i Waiale'e Livestock Research Farm.
The area is designated as a city park, but the city has made no attempt to purchase the land.
The Friends of Velzyland oppose the development.
Maps of the site are available at the city Permit and Zoning Records Access, First Floor, Honolulu Municipal Building, 650 S. King St. For assistance, call 527-5354.
Anyone wishing to testify may register prior to the public hearing at the hearing site and is encouraged to submit one copy of the testimony in writing.
To be included in the hearing transcript, written testimony must be received at the 650 S. King St. address before the hearing.
