Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

HONOLULU

No talks set in strike by nurses

Some 1,400 nurses continued the second week of a strike against three of the state's largest hospitals with no new negotiations scheduled.

The Hawai'i Nurses Association is locked in a labor dispute with the administrations at the Kuakini Medical Center, Queen's Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center. Both sides have said that the issues keeping them apart center more on working conditions than pay rates.

About 600 nurses at Kuakini and St. Francis went out on strike Dec. 1, and about 800 registered nurses at the Queen's Medical Center began walking the picket line Dec. 2.

Toys for Tots at Tamarind Park

Downtown workers and residents are being asked to bring enough toys to fill a Nissan Murano SUV from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow at Tamarind Park as part of the Toys for Tots program.

The new, unwrapped toys will be donated to needy children on O'ahu.

The musical group B.E.T (Big Every Time) will perform live in the park, at the corner of South King and Bishop streets.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kaua'i briefing on smoking ban

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Restaurateurs can get a briefing on the new county restaurant smoking ban at a free informational meeting from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Terrace Restaurant at Kaua'i Lagoons.

The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawai'i and Tobacco-Free Kaua'i will review the new law, pass out posters and table tents, and will answer questions about the ban, which prohibits all smoking in restaurants except for limited specific situations.

For more, check at www.tobaccofreehawaii.org or call the coalition at 1 888 227-7107, ext. 117.