Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Math whizzes shine nationally
The Hawai'i State MathCounts team had its best performance ever in the national MathCounts competition held June 14 in Chicago.
The team placed 11th out of 57 teams, and team member Eugene So of Punahou placed 15th out of 228 competitors.
Ann Yoneshige of Iolani School coached the team.
Other team members included Nolan Chung, Bryce Lee and Kevin Sin, all of Iolani School.
MathCounts is a national math competition for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. Teams and individual competitors square off against each other in solving difficult math problems in a short amount of time.
More than 60 Hawai'i teams took part in chapter competitions in February. Top individual scorers were chosen for the national team.
Libraries close for holiday
All public libraries will be closed Thursday for Fourth of July.
Most libraries are to reopen Friday, but four public libraries — 'Aiea, Hawai'i Kai, Makawao and Wahiawa — will be closed that day.
Arts grants approved
Gov. Ben Cayetano has approved the release of legislative grants to three Hawai'i arts organizations.
The Maui Arts & Cultural Center will receive $100,000, the Honolulu Symphony will receive $100,000 and Hawai'i Youth Symphony will receive $75,000.
Law validates OHA authority
Gov. Ben Cayetano has approved a measure that provides granting authority to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
OHA administrator Clyde Namu'o said the signing of Bill 2477 last week "clears the way for trustees to again ensure our beneficiaries are supported through our grants program."
"For years, OHA has granted funding to many programs, but this process was delayed in recent months as it was determined last year that the statutes did not clearly provide that authority," Namu'o said in a statement.
The governor also approved a bill that provides OHA trustees with the same retirement benefits as elected salaried state officials.
EAST HONOLULU
Road clearing raises ruckus
The owners of a planned cemetery in the back of Kamilonui Valley have been clearing debris and overgrowth, causing concern about dust among Mariner's Cove residents.
Bob Gerell, The Gerell Group general partner, said a bulldozer was clearing debris and brush from an access road to his property. The road runs behind Niumalu Loop homes.
Gerell plans to build a cemetery in the upper portion of the valley. He said he is still awaiting financing and in the meantime plans to stockpile dirt on his property.
"All we're doing is clearing off the road," Gerell said. "It's like cleaning off a driveway."
