HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Road closed for Parade of Whales
Advertiser Staff
A portion of South Kihei Road will be closed from 9 to 10 a.m. tomorrow for Maui's Parade of Whales.
The road closure will begin at Kihei Baptist Church, just south of Lipoa Street, and continue south to Kalama Park, where the parade ends. The Pacific Whale Foundation's Whale Day Celebration begins at the park after the parade and runs until 5 p.m.
Free parking and shuttle service will be available at Azeka Place Mauka.
PEACE AWARD TO MAUI FARM HEAD
Maui Farm executive director Paula Ambre has been named winner of the Gandhi/King: Season for Peace and Nonviolence Peace Hero Award, which recognizes people who are transforming the world one person at a time.
The nonprofit Maui Farm is a farm-based, family-style residential program for youths referred by the state's foster care system.
Ambre will receive the award at Unity Church of Maui's 10 a.m. service Feb. 26 at the Maui Tropical Plantation. For information, call (808) 242-9327.
PUPPETS PERFORM AT KIHEI LIBRARY
Master theater artist Joe Pipik and his Backpack Puppets will give a free performance at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Kihei Public Library.
The library is scheduled to be closed tomorrow, but will open to accommodate the performance, with limited library service from 10 a.m. to noon.
Pipik's show, appropriate for ages 3 and up, is sponsored by the Kay Allen Edwards Kihei Library Memorial Trust.
'AIEA
HOUSING CRISIS TO BE DISCUSSED
The housing crisis in Hawai'i will be discussed at an 'Aiea/ Pearl City Legislative Town Meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Pearl Ridge Elementary School cafeteria.
The meeting is sponsored by area legislators. There will be presentations by state and city officials.
Call the office of state Sen. Clarence Nishihara, D-18th (Waipahu, Pearl City, Crest-view), at 586-6970 for more information.
KAUA'I
PROJECTS LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE PARK
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has launched projects costing $399,000 to improve sewage systems and provide handicapped accessibility to facilities at the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park, on the east bank of Waimea River.
The 17.8-acre park will be open during the improvements, which are expected to be completed in May.
HONOLULU
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR 2 SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are being sought for two academic scholarships of $5,000 offered by the Japanese Women's Society of Honolulu to those pursuing graduate studies in healthcare, social work or arts and sciences and who have demonstrated a commitment in the field of gerontology/geriatrics.
Applicants must also demonstrate financial need, Hawai'i residency and an intent to continue living and serving in Hawai'i. The application deadline is March 31.
For more information, contact Ella Tomita at 377-5146 or Katherine Kiyabu at 395-9109.
BIG ISLAND
4.6 EARTHQUAKE RATTLES ISLAND
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake was felt across the Big Island yesterday, but there were no reports of damage.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the event happened at 3:22 p.m. and was centered about 6 miles northwest of Ka'ena Point and 7 miles southeast of the Kilauea summit, at a depth of 6 miles.
It was the 11th magnitude 4.0 or larger earthquake to occur in the Poliokeawe region since the start of the current eruption on Jan. 3, 1983, and the largest earthquake since a magnitude 5.0 event occurred Dec. 28, 2003.
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR TWO RESIDENTS
Big Island police have renewed calls for help in locating two Puna residents who are the subjects of separate missing-person investigations.
Francesca O'Brien, 56, of Leilani Estates, was last seen Aug. 11, 2004, at her Makamae Street residence. She is described as a Caucasian woman approximately 5- feet-6 and about 200 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes, and wears prescription glasses.
Daniel Desimone, 46, of Nanawale Estates, was last seen April 19 walking from his residence on Hapu'u Road. Desimone, who is mentally disabled, is 5-feet-8 and about 170 pounds, with blue eyes and balding brown hair.
Anyone with information should contact the nonemergency police number at (808) 935-3311, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
