honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, February 21, 2003

Hawai'i briefs

Autism budget to gain $14.6M

Gov. Linda Lingle this week approved $14.6 million for an emergency outlay to the Department of Education for services to students with autism.

The autism budget has been one of the Department of Education's biggest budget concerns this year.

The responsibility for autism services switched from the Department of Health to the Department of Education this year, but the program came with a budget shortfall and an increasing number of students who need services.

While the entire autism budget of $10.9 million was transferred to DOE from the Department of Health, educators estimated that it would fall short by millions.

DOE officials say they have reduced autism costs by $4,600 per student but those savings have been offset by the increasing number of students receiving services.

The $14.6 million transfer from the DOH to the DOE covers the current fiscal year, which ends in June.

The Lingle administration also has amended its executive budget proposal for the DOE by adding the $14.6 million to the autism budget for the next two years.

That change still requires legislative approval.

Surfing season meeting today

A Honolulu Office of Economic Development general meeting to review and discuss surfing event procedures on the North Shore will begin at 6 p.m. today at the Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach Park Surf Center.

That general session will be preceded by a 3 p.m. meeting with permit applicants and promoters at the same location.

Both meetings will deal with the event schedule for the 2003-04 surf season, application procedures and the criteria and surf event standards and governance.

For more information, call 547-7878.

Congressman sets 6 meetings

U.S. Rep. Ed Case will hold a series of community meetings with constituents on the Big Island this weekend to discuss issues ranging from drugs to the possible invasion of Iraq.

Case, D-2nd Congressional District (Rural O'ahu, Neighbor Islands), has held "Talk Story" meetings on Maui, Lana'i, Kaua'i and Moloka'i.

Case will be on the Big Island tomorrow for meetings at:

• The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority Conference Room from 9 to 11 a.m. in Kona
• Waimea Middle School cafeteria from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Honoka'a High and Intermediate School cafeteria from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• And at the Hawai'i County Economic Opportunity Council conference room, 47 Rainbow Drive, Hilo, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Case will be at:

• The Pahala Community Center from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• The Pahoa Neighborhood Center from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Lava viewing trail to close for burn

HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawai'i — Park officials tentatively planned to close the trail to the lava viewing area at the end of Chain of Craters Road this morning while they conduct a controlled burn to clear about four acres of grasses and shrubs on the mauka side of the road.

The burn is necessary to protect hikers from wildfires that could be ignited by the lava.

If weather conditions are favorable, 10 firefighters will use drip torches to clear out patches between the road and the western edge of the lava, said park ranger Mardie Lane.

Two fire trucks and a water tender are to support the firefighters.

The controlled burn is expected to take a few hours, but parks officials planned to keep the Chain of Craters Road open to the Holei Sea Arch, which would give visitors access to the ranger contact station there.

Visitors should expect smoky conditions and drive slowly and with caution, Lane said.

South Kohala fire burns 100 acres

SOUTH KOHALA, Hawai'i — A runaway brushfire that burned about 100 acres between Spencer Beach Park and the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel forced the closure of the beach park yesterday.

The fire did not threaten any homes or businesses, and had been contained by late yesterday afternoon, Big Island Civil Defense officials said.

The South Kohala blaze was confined to an area makai of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.

The beach park is expected to reopen today, officials said.