O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD
Lawmaker wins fellowship
The Council of State Governments has selected state Rep. David Pendleton to the Toll Fellow Program, which helps develop the next generation of leaders from across the nation in all three branches of state government.
The council, based in Kentucky, will bring together 40 emerging state leaders for a weeklong seminar in August, focusing on trends analysis, policy development and institutional changes.
Pendleton, R-50th (Kailua, Kane'ohe), was nominated by House Speaker Calvin Say. Past recipients of the Toll Fellowship include a sitting governor, members of Congress and several Hawai'i legislators.
The council, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group.
Fishing debris to be studied
A total of 1,000 pounds of fishnets will be removed from the reefs off Lanikai to kick off a new public participation program to assess the extent of lost or discarded fishing gear that is washing onto Hawai'i's reefs and shores.
Experts have estimated that thousands of pounds of net debris have piled up along the coastal areas of the main Hawaiian Islands, said Priscilla Billig with Hawai'i Coastal Zone Management.
The project, financed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with a grant from Coastal Zone Management, will attempt to quantify the problem with help from the community. The state Division of Aquatic Resources and Hawai'i Sea Grant will coordinate the project.
Scott Godwin, a University of Hawai'i graduate student, will conduct interviews and field surveys to determine how much junk is in the water and on beaches.
"We are just performing an assessment of the net debris problem at this time," Godwin said, adding that people will not be asked to remove the trash.
To report sightings, call the Derelict Fishing Net Hot Line at Hawai'i Sea Grant, 956-2861.
LEEWARD
Hokule'a stops at Ko Olina
Hokule'a will be at Ko Olina Marina today through next Sunday as part of a statewide journey celebrating the voyaging canoe's 25th anniversary.
While at Ko Olina, crew members will conduct educational programs including tours and star observations for elementary school students and residents.
The theme of the voyage is "Malama Hawai'i — Caring for our Special Island Home," and the trip is designed to encourage children to care for Hawai'i's island environment. The Polynesian Voyaging Society, the Hawai'i Millennium Commission and Malama Hawai'i are sponsoring the sail.
Since it was first launched in 1975, the Hokule'a has voyaged nearly 100,000 miles to link Pacific islanders of Polynesia from New Zealand to Rapa Nui.
For information, call 536-8405.
CENTRAL
Peace program set in Mililani
Mililani Middle School's sixth-graders will hold a peace garden ceremony May 23, culminating a study on conflict.
Students have created symbols and messages on rocks that will be planted and become part of the Peace Garden's growing legacy at the school.
The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. with students doing a Hawaiian chant that conveys a message of peace.
Guests from the 100th Battalion will address the crowd and students will close with the song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Parents, students and staff are invited to the ceremony.
The school is at 95-1140 Lehiwa St.
Talks to focus on Mindanao
The Center for Philippine Studies at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa will hold a one-day conference on Mindanao in the Southern Philippines from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Imin Center, East-West Center.
The main conference speaker will be Mary Racelis, professor of anthropology and sociology and director of the Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University. She will speak on the role of minorities, civil society, nongovernmental organizations, women and other groups in the Mindanao conflict.
The conference is free and open to the public. However, seating is limited, so individuals wishing to attend should get in touch with Marissa Garcia by e-mail cps@hawaii.edu, or call 956-6086.
Other inquiries may be directed to Professor Belinda Aquino, via e-mail, lyndy@hawaii.edu or call 956-2686.
