The voyaging canoes Hokule'a and Alingano Maisu continued to fight contrary winds Wednesday, but by late Wednesday afternoon were the farthest west they have been on their voyage to Micronesia.

Automated position reports indicated the canoes, after a long southerly tack most of Tuesday, tacked toward the northwest and made close to 100 miles.

The new tack placed them only about 340 miles from Johnston Atoll, which they hope to spot as a check on their navigation. The canoes began the trip Jan. 23 from the Big Island.

SENATE TO HONOR ADM. FALLON, WIFE

The state Senate today will recognize Adm. William F. Fallon, who has been nominated to lead the U.S. Central Command and the ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fallon, 62, has been the head of the U.S. Pacific Command based out of Camp Smith for nearly two years. The Senate also will recognize Fallon's wife, Mary, at the 11:30 a.m. event.

Fallon is expected to deliver remarks to the Senate and will be recognized at noon by the House, according to the office of state Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai).

Fallon would be the first Navy admiral to run the Tampa, Fla.-based U.S. Central Command in its 24-year history.

At a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing Tuesday, Fallon said the strategy used in Iraq "has not been working."

"We have not been getting the results that we desire, and we clearly have to do something different," Fallon said.

20-INCH SEWER MAIN RUPTURES

City Environmental Services crews were repairing a 20-inch sewer main on the makai side of Farrington Highway between Ka'ukama and Hakimo roads. The pipe ruptured at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

There were no road closures and work was expected to continue overnight.

Signs were posted along the shoreline, although city officials said no wastewater appeared to have entered the ocean.

SEMINAR TO LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY

Mainland and local experts in municipal recycling will present a two-day seminar, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Sustainable Approaches Toward Zero Waste," on Friday and Saturday at the Kaua'i Community College Performing Arts Center.

"The mission is to educate and inform the Kaua'i community of the potential of maximizing diversion through reduction, reuse and recycling," said Walt Barnes of Apollo Kaua'i, one of the conference organizers.

Other conference organizers include Kaua'i Recycling for the Arts, Surfrider Foundation and Malama Kaua'i.

Speakers will review the zero-waste program in Boulder, Colo., and Seattle's waste-diversion program. Speakers will include Eco-Cycle director Eric Lombardi, Weyerhaeuser Recycling manager Pete Grogan, and Brett Stav, a planning and development specialist with Seattle Public Utilities.

The Friday session, from 6 to 9 p.m., is free. On Saturday, for the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. session, there is a $20 fee with registration at the door.

WHALE SONGS, TIDEPOOLS ON TAP

The nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation is hosting two full-moon events on Friday, including a whale-song serenade cruise from Lahaina Harbor.

A naturalist aboard the double-deck power catamaran Ocean Quest will lower hydrophones into the water to enable cruise participants to hear live whale "songs."

The cruise is from 8 to 10 p.m., with check-in at the foundation's Discovery Store at 612 Front St. in Lahaina. The cost, which includes light pupu and two beverages, is $49.95 for adults and $29.95 for children ages 3 to 12.

Also Friday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a full-moon tide pool exploration will be undertaken along the South Maui shoreline. Participants can expect to see brittle stars, shrimp, snails, urchins, octopus and numerous species of juvenile fish.

The event is recommended for ages 6 and older. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight; refreshments will be provided. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child.

For reservations to either event, call (808) 249-8811 or (800) 942-5311.

FORUM FOCUSES ON SEA PROTECTION

A weeklong conference on protecting marine areas in the Pacific will be highlighted by a public forum and reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the East-West Center's Keoni Auditorium on the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Speakers are leaders in marine conservation from Hawai'i, the Solomon Islands, Micronesia and UNESCO's World Heritage Centre. They include 'Aulani Wilhelm, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, and Salamat Ali Tabbasum of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

"Our Sea of Islands, A Regional Forum for Oceania on Marine Managed Areas and World Heritage" runs through Friday. Parking is available on the UH campus through the East-West Gate.

MAUNALUA BAY TO BE DISCUSSED

Channel use and user rights at Maunalua Bay will be discussed Thursday at the Kaiser High School cafeteria.

Fishermen, boaters, canoe paddlers and commercial operators are encouraged to attend the meeting organized by Rep. Gene Ward, R-17th (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley).

For more information, call the Hawai'i Kai Boat Club at 479-0550 or Pam Kam at 358-9145.

PUBLIC LIBRARY TO CLOSE EARLY

The 'Ewa Beach Public & School Library is scheduled to close two hours early today for water main repair work.

The library, on the campus of James Campbell High School at 91-950 North Road, will close at 3 p.m. It is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Friday.