Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

HONOLULU

Salvation Army seeks space

The Salvation Army seeks the public's help in finding a warehouse to store toys and other gifts that will be distributed during the upcoming holiday season. A warehouse with a minimum of 10,000 square feet is needed. Call Daniel de Castro at 440-1830.

Legal help grants available

The Hawaii Justice Foundation is accepting applications for grants for 2004. Grants are used to support, and improve legal services to low-income people. Program guidelines and application forms are available by e-mailing hif@hawaii.rr.com, or by calling 537-3886. Application deadline is Sept. 30.

WINDWARD

Kahalu'u board elects chairman

The Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board has elected Art Machado Jr. as its chairman, a one-year position. Board members chose Dan Bender as vice chairman, Mary J.S. Peddie as secretary and Richard Vermeesch as treasurer.

STATEWIDE

Meetings on reefs planned

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is inviting the public to a series of meetings on Hawai'i coral reefs Wednesday to Aug. 26 in preparation for a U.S. Coral Reef Task Force workshop to be held later this year.

The goal of the workshop will be to develop a local action strategy for fishery management in Hawaiian coral-reef ecosystems.

The meetings are scheduled for:

Wednesday: King Intermediate School, Kane'ohe

Thursday: King Kamehameha Hotel, Kailua, Hawai'i

Friday: Naniloa Hotel, Hilo, Hawai'i

Aug. 20: King Kamuali'i School, Lihu'e, Kaua'i

Aug. 21: Cameron Center, Wailuku, Maui

Aug. 26: McCoy Pavilion, Honolulu

All meetings will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Green sea turtle killed on Maui

LAHAINA, Maui — A 100-pound green sea turtle with a noose around its neck was found dead on a Lahaina beach. The rope around the amphibian was tied to a metal spike in the sand, authorities said.

"It's especially unfortunate because this was an otherwise healthy turtle," said Randy Awo, Maui District branch chief of the state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

The Maui Police Department received an anonymous report on the turtle Friday morning. The 2 1/2-foot-long creature's decomposing body was found at the shore fronting the Lahaina Jodo Mission.

Officials said the rope appeared to have been wound three times around the turtle's neck and knotted, then run several feet across the beach and attached to a kui, a minispear used to string fish.

Sea turtles are a threatened species, protected by state and federal laws.