Posted on: Friday, June 14, 2002
Hawai'i briefs
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Progress made against fire
VOLCANO, Hawai'i — National Park Service firefighters turned to infrared sensors yesterday in an effort to pin down hot spots in a fire sparked by lava that has persisted for 28 days on the Kalapana end of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
The sensors were being used aboard four helicopters to help determine where their loads of water should be dumped, said park spokeswoman Mardie Lane.
Firefighters hope to have the blaze fully under control by Sunday, said Jack Minassian, who sent home some firefighters from California yesterday.
Sixty others from California and Arizona remained on the lines along with 40 Hawai'i-based federal firefighters.
The fire has burned more than 3,660 acres since May 17. One of the Mainland firefighters stumbled into a lava tube, but there have been no major injuries.
Lane said the reopening of the Chain of Caters road from 6 p.m. to midnight has drawn large crowds of visitors eager to see the night time show from the lingering fire and the eruption that began in January 1983.
HONOLULU
$150M raised for med school
The University of Hawai'i raised $150 million in bond sales — a third of that from Hawai'i investors — to help pay for the new medical school, Gov. Ben Cayetano announced yesterday.
The bonds, sold at an interest rate of 5.09 percent and underwritten by UBS PaineWebber and Salomon Smith Barney, will pay for about half the cost of the planned $300 million Health and Wellness Center.
The money will be used to finance the first phase of the medical complex, which will be built on 9.9 acres in the Kaka'ako area.
Lions to hold fund-raiser
The Hawai'i Kai Lions will hold their 29th annual pancake breakfast 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Kaiser High School cafeteria.
The breakfast is $5 per person and takeout orders are available. Money raised from the breakfast go toward community projects at schools, for bus-shelter repair and construction, the Lions' annual Christmas parade and other projects. For more information, call 395-8790.
WINDWARD
Lawmaker visits Philippines
State Rep. David Pendleton, R-50th (Kailua-Kane'ohe), met yesterday with the Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, presenting gifts from Hawai'i and discussing topics ranging from religious freedom in the world to the joint military exercises between American and Philippines forces.
Pendleton presented Arroyo with copies of Hawai'i legislation that passed this year, including a bill to establish a commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Filipinos in Hawai'i.
Pendleton is in the Philippines to address the 5th World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association and the National Movement of Young Leaders.
