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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 3, 2003

Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

WINDWARD

Marines pitch in at Kailua school

Kane'ohe troops from the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, were at 'Aikahi Elementary School last week helping to clean the campus and get the school ready for the new year.

About 31 Marines with the Adopt-A-School program raked leaves, cut grass and trimmed walkways and fence lines, a backlog of work created because of classroom renovations and workers on vacation and injured leave, said Michael Lawrence, acting head custodian at the school.

The Marines were originally on campus to install a 6-foot fence, but when they learned about the backlog they just pitched in, Lawrence said.



Public hearing for canoe halau

The city will hold a public hearing for the development of a canoe halau at Waimanalo Beach Park at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at Waimanalo District Park, 41-415 Hihimanu St. The halau, which requires a Special Management Area Use Permit, will provide a permanent secure storage facility for canoes, kayaks and related equipment.

Those wishing to testify must sign up at the hearing and are asked to provide copies of their statements. Written testimony must be mailed before the meeting to the city Department of Planning and Permitting, 650 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.



MS group offers aquatic exercise

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Hawai'i is accepting applications for its aquatic exercise sessions for people with multiple sclerosis. The free one-hour Saturday sessions at Camp Kokokahi YWCA in Kane'ohe are at 10 and 11 a.m.

The MS Aquatic Exercise Program, paid for by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, is for people who are physically independent or for those accompanied in the pool by a caregiver or partner. Call 532-0806 to apply.



EAST HONOLULU

Abercrombie guest speaker

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie will be the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of East Honolulu's meeting tomorrow at the Waialae Country Club. The noon meeting is open to the public; call Joanne Gisselquist at 781-7836.



NEIGHBOR ISLAND

Jail program aids mentally ill

A new Big Island program is diverting nonviolent, mentally ill offenders from jail to treatment services in the community, the state Department of Health said yesterday.

The Hawai'i County Jail Diversion Program began in May. Hawai'i was one of 17 jurisdictions to receive a $300,000 federal grant for up to three years to help develop such a program. The Health Department says mentally ill people are overrepresented in the nation's jails and prisons, and that a 1995 study estimated that more than 15 percent of the 10.1 million annual jail admissions have serious mental disorders. Those who receive mental-health treatment in the community are less likely to return to jail, according to the department.