#Hawai I

A celebration marking the 135th Birthday of Crown Princess Ka’iulani took place this Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the historic Waiola Church and the nearby sacred grounds of Moku’ula in Lahaina, Maui.  The event entitled “Lahaina Royal Ho’ike: From the Keiki to Ka’iulani and the Crown” included a full day of festivities, Hawaiian entertainment, cultural […]

The state kicks off its Protect Hawaii’s Keiki: Stop Flu at School campaign this week and will continue efforts through December 2nd.  In its fourth year, the program will be administering about 80,000 free flu vaccinations this year to 331 participating public, private, and charter school students, faculty and staff — about the same level […]

University of Hawai`i Maui College will expand programs in support of academic success for Native Hawaiian students through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye notified UH Maui College of the grant award last week. For the initial year, the award provides $799,990, with the program […]

(Posted by Wendy Osher) The state’s visitor industry is showing signs of economic recovery.  Visitor arrivals in August increased 11.8 percent and spending increased 30 percent compared to last year.  That translates to an additional $250 million in visitor spending for Hawaii’s successful summer travel season. The positive performance is being attributed in part to […]

Governor Linda Lingle today nominated Associate Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to serve as Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court.  If confirmed, Recktenwald, 54, would succeed Chief Justice Ronald Moon to become Hawai‘i’s fifth Chief Justice; serving an initial 10-year term as the head of the State’s highest court, while overseeing the Hawai‘i Judiciary. “I […]

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) is warning restaurants about a health inspector scam in the islands.  The DOH Sanitation Branch on Maui reported three incidents, and two reports were filed on Oahu.  The incidents involve a male caller who contacts local restaurants claiming to be from the local Health Department investigating a complaint.  […]

The University of Hawai`i Maui College has launched a laptop initiative aimed at getting students online and at the forefront of technology.  The new classes and incentive programs are also designed to help students achieve their academic goals. Students in four programs – Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Nursing – were provided Dell […]

Visitor industry officials say they see signs of a healthy summer travel season.  The state’s Visitor count is on the rise with Maui, Kauai and the Big Island benefitting from a 7.3 percent increase in visitors from the U.S. West.  More than half of those visitors spent their entire stay on the neighbor islands in […]

The University of Hawaii Maui College broke ground yesterday on a new science building for the Kahului campus.  The updated science building will include a full array of photovoltaic cells and wind turbines that are projected to provide up to 30 percent of the power used in the 42,000 square foot structure.  George Kaya, Maui […]

Two Maui community groups today appealed the state Water Commission’s decision on in-stream flow standards at Nä Wai ‘Ehä, or “The Four Great Waters” of Waihe‘e River and Waiehu, ‘Ïao, and Waikapü Streams in West Maui. The groups say the 12.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of water restored, is less than what they had […]

Need a career boost? The University of Hawai’i West Oahu’s Distance Education Program invites you to Q &A session on upcoming bachelor’s degree programs being offered on Maui this fall. Popular options include Accounting, Marketing, Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management, Early Childhood, Health Care Administration, and Social Sciences. This session will be held on Thursday […]

Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i (ACLU) today expressed disappointment in Governor Linda Lingle’s decision today to veto House Bill 444 that would have given same sex couples similar legal responsibilities as legally married heterosexual couples.  The two groups readied a lawsuit after the House tabled the Civil Unions bill in […]

University of Hawai‘i athlete Amber Kaufman, of San Jose, California, was named the recipient of the Western Athletic Conference’s Joe Kearney Award for 2009-10.  Kaufman, earned All-American honors in both volleyball and track & field this past year.  Kaufman joins former Rainbow Wahine volleyball players Kanoe Kamana‘o and Kim Willoughby as Kearney Award winners from […]

Hawai’i’s summer travel season began early according to state Tourism Liaison Marsha Weinert.  The figues include strong numbers from international visitors including those from Japan, Canada, and the emerging markets of China and Korea.  Weinert said the anticipated increases in visitor arrivals and expenditures this summer will benefit almost every sector of Hawaii’s economy, assisting […]

By Wendy Osher The environmental lawfirm, Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of two community groups on Maui challenging plans for a water treatment plant in Waiale.  The facility is proposed by Alexander & Baldwin, a company that has been fighting for water to sustain sugarcane crops under its Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company […]

The state is offering reimbursement to Hawaii farmers and ranchers who have created conservation easements to protect significant natural resources.  The requests to the Hawaii Conservation Reserve Enhancement program are due by 4 o’clock this afternoon (June 3, 2010).  For more information go to www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/crep or call 587-4167. Hawai‘i farmers and ranchers who have enrolled […]

Governor Linda Lingle today issued an executive order to establish surfing reserves at two of Hawai‘i’s most well-known surfing areas.  The executive order “acknowledges the cultural, sports and historic significance of important surf sites in Hawai‘i,” and “raises public awareness about the importance of protecting, nourishing and developing Hawai‘i’s world famous surf sites.” The Governor’s […]

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) filed a petition today urging the Hawaii State Supreme Court to require legislation on past due public land trust revenue claims for ceded lands. OHA is requesting that the court require the state to enact legislation on past due public land trust revenue claims during the 2011 session. “As […]

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) wishes to remind everyone that the moi fishing season closed Tuesday, June 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010. “Moi is one of Hawaii’s most significant fish species, from a cultural perspective,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson.  “At one time it was reserved only for royalty.  Today […]

The state Department of Transportation and the four county police departments officially launched the latest edition of the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign.    Hawai‘i’s seat belt laws require all front seat occupants, as well as back seat passengers under the age of 18, to buckle up.  Violators will be assessed a […]