HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Nene alert raised for park visitors
Advertiser Staff
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Maui — National park officials are reminding visitors to watch for nene on the road and not to feed the birds, after one of the endangered geese was killed by a car.
The nene can become accustomed to handouts and return to areas, such as parking lots, where people leave food, said Haleakala wildlife biologist Cathleen Natividad Bailey. The geese also may come to associate cars with food, and approach moving vehicles in search of scraps.
A dead adult nene was found Oct. 2 on a road near the Leleiwi overlook. It was one of only 200 nene in the park. It was born in the wild and was already paired with a mate, Bailey said. She said it may be difficult for the surviving mate to find another partner, since most of the birds in the park are matched for life.
Nene are a federally listed endangered species and the state bird of Hawai'i.
Rangers had received recent reports of two nene on the road by the overlook. Biologists tried to remove the birds from the road, but the nene repeatedly returned.
KAUA'I
CD dedicated to shark-bite victim
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Bethany Hamilton, the Kaua'i teenage surfer who a year ago this month lost an arm to a tiger shark, will help celebrate the release of a music CD dedicated to her from 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Kilohana Carriage House in Puhi.
The CD, "Blessing in Disguise," features Kai Swigart, a musician and Hamilton's psychologist who uses the stage name Fire Prince. Hamilton sings on the album and the cover photo shows her surfing.
Swigart said he created a foundation aimed at helping other young victims of ocean accidents, called Water Accident Victim Endowment (WAVE). He said $5 from each $25 ticket will be donated to WAVE. The price includes a copy of the CD.
Local teenage singers can participate in a song contest at the event. For more information, call (808) 828-6411. For other details, visit www.fireprince.com.
Scholars selected for plant studies
The National Tropical Botanical Garden has appointed Warren L. Wagner to its McBryde Chair for Hawaiian Plant Studies and David A. Burney as its director of conservation, said garden acting director Chipper Wichman.
Burney, a conservation biologist and professor at Fordham University, has for 15 years studied fossils, shells, pollen and human artifacts in the Maha'ulepu cave system of South Kaua'i. Wichman said he will lead an intensified and expanded conservation program at the garden.
Wagner, a co-author of the "Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i," will serve while on a two-year sabbatical from his position as curator of Pacific botany at the Smithsonian Institution. His main focus will be to work with garden senior research botanist David Lorence on the plants of the Marquesas Islands, which will be published on the Internet and as a two-volume book.
BIG ISLAND
Arts, crafts fair to aid landmark
HILO, Hawai'i — Happy Day at Hulihe'e, the annual fund-raiser for the Daughters of Hawai'i, will be held at Hulihe'e Palace in Kailua Nov. 6.
The event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature arts and crafts vendors, local food, a bake sale and free, nonstop entertainment as well as free palace admission.
Interested vendors should contact Anita Okimoto at the palace office, 329-9555.
The palace at 75-5718 Ali'i Drive was built in 1838 by Kuakini, governor of Hawai'i Island.
Daughters of Hawai'i are caretakers of the historic landmark. The organization was founded in 1903, and membership is open to any woman who is directly descended from a person who lived in Hawai'i prior to 1880.
Helping the Daughters in their efforts since 1986 are the Calabash Cousins. Membership in that group is available to all. For more information, call 329-1877 or visit the Web site at www.huliheepalace.org
United Nations Day at UH-Hilo
HILO, Hawai'i — The University of Hawai'i at Hilo's International Student Association will hold a United Nations Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Campus Center Plaza. The event is free and open to the public.
A "parade of nations" will highlight the colorful celebration, with international students from UH-Hilo and Hawai'i Community College appearing in their native costumes. There also will be cultural displays with traditional foods and artifacts, and songs and dances from many countries.
For more information, please call (808) 974-7313.
MANOA
Performer opens lecture series
The University of Hawai'i at Manoa Distinguished Lecture Series opens its 2004-2005 season with a lecture presentation and classroom and community workshops featuring performance artist Liz Lerman, founding artistic director of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.
Lerman will appear at the lecture series public presentation at 7 p.m. Friday at UH-Manoa's Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. Her address is entitled "Breaking Rules, Making Rules: Art in a Democratic Society," and will examine the theory and practice of making art that crosses boundaries between concert and community.
HONOLULU
Live Energy Lite first celebration
Energy conservation is the message behind the first Live Energy Lite celebration, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Center. Entertainment includes Na Palapalai, Ho'onu'a, and the Next Generation, along with an appearance by the Mad Scientists, four teachers whose antics make learning science fun.
The event marking National Energy Awareness Month is sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co., Ala Moana Center, Malama Hawai'i, the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
ELECTION 2004
Political debate on 'Olelo TV
Tonight's live one-hour political debate at 6:30 p.m. on 'Olelo Community Television's Channel 54 features the candidates to represent House District 49, incumbent Republican David Pendleton and Democratic challenger Dwight Pono Chong. This will be followed tomorrow night by the six remaining candidates for the three O'ahu at-large seats on the Board of Education.
