HAWAI'I BRIEFS
USS Russell sails in tomorrow
Advertiser Staff
The USS Russell, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, will return tomorrow from a series of training exercises in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. The ship with its crew of 330 sailors is expected to dock at Pearl Harbor at 12:30 p.m.
The Russell left May 11 to participate in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises.
New destroyer heads for Islands
The Navy's newest guided- missile destroyer, the USS Chung-Hoon, left San Diego yesterday and is scheduled to arrive at Pearl Harbor Sept. 10.
A commissioning ceremony is set for Sept. 18.
The ship is named for Rear Adm. Gordon Paie'a Chung-Hoon, a Hawai'i-born officer who commanded the USS Sigsbee during World War II. Chung-Hoon, who died in 1979, was a recipient of the Navy Cross and Silver Star.
The USS Chung-Hoon was christened in Pascagoula, Miss., on Jan. 11, 2003, and is equipped with the Aegis combat weapons system.
Lane closures set on Kamehameha
O'ahu motorists are being advised of lane closures along Kamehameha Highway from Acacia Road to Waimano Home Road tonight for restriping work.
The work will begin at 10 p.m. and last until 4 a.m. tomorrow. All lanes of Kamehameha Highway will be closed, but not simultaneously, the state Department of Transportation said.
HONOLULU
Native Hawaiian march Monday
A "March for Justice" and political rally on Monday will highlight Native Hawaiian concerns on issues such as the bill that would repeal the city's controversial mandatory leasehold conversion law.
Native Hawaiian organizations favor the repeal of the law because condemnation would end an income stream that benefits trusts that support services such as the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center. The proposed repeal has cleared an initial review by the City Council but faces more hearings.
Marchers are set to meet at 8 a.m. at Saratoga Road and Kalakaua Avenue, beginning the march to the Waikiki Shell at 10 a.m.
The rally at the Shell, starting at noon, will spotlight Native Hawaiian candidates for public office and selected other candidates who support Hawaiian issues. Entertainers will include Sudden Rush, Brother Noland, Ho'okena and Halau 'A'ali'i Ku Makani, under the direction of Manu Boyd.
Rain delays work on Liliha Library
The Liliha Public Library, which has been closed since Jan. 5, was scheduled to reopen this month following a roof replacement and renovation project but will remain closed until November.
A combination of wet weather, the concrete workers' strike and unanticipated renovation problems has delayed the library's reopening. As a result, the project had to be redesigned to fix undetected structural and leaking problems in the rooftop parking structure, according to the state.
Patrons are invited to use the Hawai'i State Library on Punchbowl Street and Kalihi-Palama Public Library.
Lili'uokalani birthday party
A celebration to honor the 166th birthday of Queen Li-li'uokalani will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mokichi Okada Association True Health Center, 3510 Nu'uanu Pali Drive.
The free event will include live music, wellness therapy sessions and a natural food lunch for $7.
For more information, call 595-6344.
Pharmacy honor awarded to 2
Anita M. Sasaki and William H. Masotti were named Bowl of Hygeia award winners for 2004 and 2003, respectively, at Thursday's Hawaii Pharmacists Association's general membership meeting.
Both were cited for outstanding community service.
The Bowl of Hygeia is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the pharmacy profession, according to Hawaii Pharmacists Association officials.
Sasaki, a Drake University graduate, works for Select Speciality Hospital in Honolulu and serves as a pharmacy consultant for Hospice Hawaii. She is a board member of Hawaii Cancer Pain Initiative.
Masotti owns and operates Valley Isle Pharmacy in Wailuku, Maui. A graduate of the University of the Pacific, Masotti is past vice president and secretary of the Maui County Pharmacy Association and is a co-owner and board member of the Hawaii Diabetes Center.
LEEWARD
Hearing tonight on roadwork
A public hearing on the planned North-South Road and Kapolei Parkway will be held at 7 tonight at the Asing Park conference room, 91-1450 Renton Road. An open house is set for 6 p.m.
The state Department of Transportation will accept testimony on an environmental assessment for the North-South Road and the city's unfinished section of the Kapolei Parkway. The state hopes to begin work next year on the 2.2-mile North-South Road to connect the 'Ewa area with Farrington Highway and H-1 freeway.
Written testimony for the two projects is being accepted until Sept. 16. Mail comments to: Rodney K. Haraga, director, Hawai'i Department of Transportation, 869 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813 (Re: North-South Road EA Comments).
WINDWARD
Book illustrator at Waimanalo
Tara Sullivan, an award-winning children's illustrator from Oregon, will be at Waimanalo library tomorrow to begin installing a 25-foot mural she has created and will donate to the children's section.
Sullivan has spent many hours at the facility, reading to children when she vacations here with her daughter, Elizabeth Fien, president of the Friends of Waimanalo Library.
The $30,000 project is scheduled for unveiling Oct. 9.
EAST HONOLULU
Jefferson school seeks tutors
Jefferson Elementary School on Kapahulu Avenue is looking for tutors for its "I Can Read" after-school program.
Tutors will meet with students twice a week for 45 minutes in one-on-one sessions. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Toni Todino at 971-6935.
