Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
Chinatown parade this afternoon
"A Night in Chinatown," a free celebration that serves as a prelude to Chinese New Year's, will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today on Maunakea Street, between King and Beretania streets.
The highlight of the celebration, the yearly parade, will begin at 4:30 p.m at the State Capitol grounds on Richards Street. Units will continue on Hotel Street to River Street. The anticipated 44 units and 1,000 participants will include a 125-foot dragon.
There also will be food booths and entertainment on stages on King and Pauahi streets.
The event is sponsored by the city, the Chinatown Merchants Association and Honolulu Chinese Jaycees. For information, call 595-6417.
The Chinese Year of the Ram begins Feb. 1.
Navy investigates ill-advised e-mails
Navy officials are investigating the alleged misuse of government computers at the Pearl Harbor shipyard.
Concerns were raised last month about some shipyard employees who were sending or receiving "inappropriate" e-mails over their government computers, said Navy spokesman Jason Holm. He said an investigation was launched to determine the extent of the abuse.
Following the investigation, 300 computers were disabled and employees counseled, Holm said. Employees were then allowed access to their computers, he said.
But Holm said the Navy is continuing to investigate each case and appropriate actions will be taken.
The Navy has strict policies against inappropriate use of computers, he said. Employees agree to use the computers for business-related purposes only before being given an account, Holm said.
Makena cleanup needs volunteers
MAKENA, Maui — Volunteers are needed for today's cleanup of Makena State Park.
The effort is sponsored by Sierra Club Maui and the Maui Coastal Land Trust, in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful activities coordinated islandwide by Community Work Day. Matson Navigation is donating a container to store the rubbish.
Helpers should meet at 8 a.m. at the second paved parking lot at Makena State Park. Supplies and refreshments will be provided.
The area includes kiawe thickets, so sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended.
Pickup trucks are needed to help transport the bagged trash.
A small group of volunteers also is needed to help Friends of Keone'o'io clean up the Keone'o'io (La Perouse Bay) shoreline today. Meet at the Makena site. For more information, call Claire Cappelle at (808) 879-2818 or Lucienne de Naie at (808) 572-8331.
Correction: The date given for Chinese New Year's Day was incorrect in a previous version of these briefs. The Chinese Year of the Ram begins on Feb. 1, 2003.
