Posted on: Friday, June 24, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Kahului man, 81, found dead
Advertiser Staff
MA'ALAEA — The body of an 81-year-old Kahului man was found yesterday by a dive boat, about 0.2 mile southeast of Ma'alaea, according to police.
Police said the man apparently had been distraught over ill health and was reported missing at around 10:40 a.m. yesterday. No foul play is suspected. An autopsy will be performed.
Police did not release the man's name.
A Big Island charter school will remain open but must make several changes under terms of an agreement approved last night by the state Board of Education.
The Na Wai Ola Waters of Life school in Puna has been under fire for years over alleged management problems and a zoning dispute with neighbors. The board voted in February not to attempt to revoke the school's charter, but to negotiate the agreement and try to help the school succeed.
The deal requires the school to move middle-school classes out of a building where a mortuary is planned. The school must also file quarterly financial and academic reports and continue paying off debts.
More than 180 students are enrolled at the school.
Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday signed into law a bill that increases the conveyance tax to raise money for land preservation and affordable housing.
The increase does not apply to less-expensive property transactions, including most private home sales. But for the most expensive deals, it imposes a 250 percent tax increase.
Under the new law, Hawai'i's conveyance tax, the lowest in the nation, would remain at 10 cents per $100 for properties less than $600,000, considered the state's median home price.
But the tax would increase to 25 cents per $100 for conveyances exceeding $600,000 and to 30 cents for those costing more than $1 million.
The Disabled American Veterans of Hawai'i annual Department Convention runs today and tomorrow at the Ala Moana Hotel.
Gov. Linda Lingle will be among the featured speakers at tomorrow evening's banquet, along with U.S. Rep. Ed Case, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and DAV National Commander James E. Sursely.
Tonight's guest speaker will be Brian J. O'Neill, acting director of the Pacific Islands VA Health Care System.
Public meetings will be held in Palolo and on Lana'i to address education from preschool to college.
Sponsored by United for Learning: Hawai'i's P-20 Initiative, the meetings will be open to parents, teachers, students, business leaders and others.
Participants will be asked to identify community success stories and what makes a healthy community that supports students.
The Lana'i meeting will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Lana'i School cafeteria.
The Palolo meeting will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Jarrett Middle School.
To R.S.V.P., e-mail miki@ca4pe.org or call 779-7235.
Two power failures Wednesday night led to a 9,070-gallon sewage spill into Lake Wilson from the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant, the city said.
A five-minute power failure occurred at 7:57 p.m. and a 10-minute failure at 9:05 p.m.
The city Department of Environmental Services treats sewage and then discharges it into the lake, but this wastewater had not gone through the final stage in the process, ultraviolet disinfection.
Warning signs were posted in the area and the state Department of Health has been notified, according to the city. Water sampling is being conducted and the public should avoid the infected areas.
Friends of Hanauma Bay will conduct a cleanup of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve from 8:30 to 11 a.m. July 10.
The area to be cleaned will include the beach, the park and Kalaniana'ole Highway, from Keahole Street to the Halona blowhole.
Volunteers will meet in the Hanauma Bay upper picnic area adjacent to the visitors center. They will be given assignments and garbage bags. Residents are reminded to bring a proof of residency in the form of a picture ID to avoid the beach access fee.
Groups seeking more information can call coordinator Harvey Shapiro at 395-1217.
Charter school agreement OK'd
Conveyance tax bill becomes law
Disabled veteran conclave opens
Meetings set on education
Sewage spills into Lake Wilson
Next bay cleanup will be July 10
