O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Hawai'i's GOP names counsel
Honolulu lawyer Mark Bennett has been named counsel for the Hawai'i Republican Party.
Bennett is a partner with the law firm McCorriston, Miller, Mukai and MacKinnon. He succeeds Richard "Rick" Clifton as party counsel. Clifton is awaiting Senate confirmation for a seat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Bennett's duties include providing legal advice to the party, its officeholders and candidates, as well as representing the party in litigation.
Lei queen to be chosen
The 2002 Lei Queen contest will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Beach Park.
The winner and two princesses will be selected from seven contestants to reign over the traditional Lei Day festivities at Kapi'olani Park on May 1.
All contestants this year are kupuna and must be 55 or older. They will be judged on their lei-making ability and hula talent.
The public is invited to watch the competitors weave lei and dance.
Excellence in education
An estimated 800 to 1,000 community college faculty are expected to attend the annual Excellence in Education Conference scheduled 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Leeward Community College.
The focus this year will be on the statewide strategic planning process occurring on every campus as the system focuses on developing overall plans to chart growth, direction and priorities. Each campus is involving everyone from students and faculty to staff, administrators and the surrounding communities.
At 10:45 a.m., President Evan Dobelle will speak about "The University of Hawai'i in Sync With Each Other."
Deadline set for genealogy session
Tomorrow is the registration deadline for the 20th "Tracing Our Roots" genealogy workshop to be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 16 in tne Manoa Grand Ballroom on the fifth floor of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
There is a fee: $40 for members of the Japanese Cultural Center and $50 for nonmembers. For information, call 945-7633 Ext. 27.
LEEWARD
New group to hold mixer
A new nonprofit entity called the West O'ahu Economic Development Association will formally kick off today with an after-hours mixer at the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.
The free event will run 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kapolei water park at 400 Farrington Highway.
The guest speaker will be Mike Fitzgerald, president and CEO of Enterprise Honolulu, formerly the O'ahu Economic Development Board.
State Rep. Willie Espero, who pushed for the formation of the West O'ahu association, said the organization will promote local businesses from Waipahu through Makaha.
Membership is open to all businesses, nonprofit organizations, and student organizations that have a stake in West O'ahu. Those wishing to attend the mixer should call Debbie Luning at 599-8370.
EAST HONOLULU
Hawai'i Kai sign on way
The city will break ground next week for the Hawai'i Kai neighborhood sign to be placed on Hawai'i Kai Drive.
The sign has been in the making for three years as a vision project to replace a sign taken down when the state widened Kalaniana'ole Highway.
Manny Menendez, representing the city before the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board, said Tuesday night that there will be a ceremony for the people who championed the original sign.
Work on the new sign will begin next week, Menendez said. The city is paying $190,000 for the Hawai'i Kai sign and two community identification signs in 'Aina Haina. No date has been set for the signs in that community.
