Posted on: Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Hawai'i briefs
Makua Valley fire briefing set
The 25th Infantry Division (Light) will conduct a community briefing on the recent fire in Makua Valley from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Wai'anae Coast military reservation.
A "controlled burn" got out of control when winds picked up last week and scorched about 2,500 acres of the 4,190-acre valley. The Army had intended to burn about 900 acres.
The briefing will include presentations on the purpose for the burn, preparation for it, an outline of events on the day the burn was started, actions after the fire spread and an assessment of damage caused to threatened and endangered species and cultural assets, the Army said.
Memorial fund established
Ma'ili Elementary School is accepting donations to help the family of Alacia Williams, who was killed in a traffic accident July 23 on Farrington Highway near Honokai Hale. Alacia, 10, would have been in the fifth grade at Ma'ili.
Checks should be made out to the school, along with the notation "Alacia Williams." The address is 87-360 Kulaaupuni St., Wai'anae, HI 96792. For more information, call 697-7150.
Okinawan festival at mall
The Young Okinawans of HI Summer Festival will break with tradition and celebrate 100 years of the Okinawan o-bon season in Hawai'i with a festival from
5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Windward Mall. Normally held at a Buddhist temple, the festival organizers will take their tradition to the general public.
The day's event will include bon dance featuring dance clubs, culture and craft fair, food and entertainment by the Chinese Lion Dance Association and Na Kupuna O Koolau.
Some see jump in property tax
WAILUKU, Maui — Some Maui County homeowners have seen a sharp increase in their real property tax bills, which were mailed July 17, because of a change in the way a circuit-breaker tax credit is applied.
Under a decision issued last year by county attorneys, the credit can only apply to the primary residence on a property, meaning 'ohana units or other buildings on a property do not qualify for the credit.
Under the circuit-breaker tax credit, a resident who qualifies for the homeowner's exemption on real property taxes will have a tax bill capped at no more than 3 percent of the taxpayer's adjusted gross annual income.
Public libraries observe holiday
In observance of Statehood Day, all public libraries will be closed on Aug. 15. Call or visit your library to find out its reopening date.
— Advertiser staff and news services
