KKCR Newsbriefs for Monday 3 December 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, December 3rd, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Richard Fernandez.

Leading off our local news -- The Kaua‘i Police Department is warning residents about telephone calls being made with a recorded message by a person claiming to be a representative of Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union (KCFCU). The message claims that KCFCU has detected fraudulent activity at their bank and that the account of the person receiving the call has been frozen to protect it from fraud. The message asks the potential victim to call a toll-free number in order to reactivate their bank account. Kaua‘i police also report that the fraudulent caller uses an electronic technique to indicate on a caller ID screen that the phone call is being made from KCFCU’s phone instead of from the caller’s actual phone. “Financial institutions are not known to solicit sensitive information from their members via telephone or through email,” said Assistant Chief Roy Asher. Anyone who responded to fraudulent calls is encouraged to contact the Kaua‘i Police Department at 241-1711. Reports may also be made to Hawaiian Telcom’s security department at 643-7111. KCFCU members who are concerned about their accounts may contact their Lîhu‘e office at 245-6791.

The old Hanalei Plantation Hotel site and a historic fishpond on Kauai have been sold to an ultra-luxury development company with resorts or planned resorts in California, Utah, Mexico and the Bahamas. Princeville Associates announced the sale last week of 122 acres to Ohana Hanalei LLC, which is an affiliate of Montage Hotels & Resorts. The cost of the land was not announced. Montage founder Alan Fuerstman says a world-class luxury resort is planned for the area. But he says the company takes its stewardship of the precious Kauai land very seriously and will move quote``slowly and with great care'' in developing it. The sale includes several parcels next to Hanalei Bay and the Princeville Hotel, as well as property fronting the Hanalei River.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reminds the fishing public that the season for 'ama'ama (striped mullet) is now closed through Monday, March 31, 2008. 'Ama'ama are about to enter their peak spawning season and the annual winter closure is designed to allow the fish to reproduce successfully and protect the species from overfishing. Violations of the size or season restrictions can result in fines of up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail, plus up to $100 for each fish taken. Copies of statewide fishing regulations are available at all neighbor island DLNR-Aquatics offices. To report fish catch size or net violations or for more information, call 643-DLNR (643-3567).

In community news -- Haleko Road will be closed from 7:30 pm tonight to 1 am Tuesday, Dec. 4, to allow a crew from the Department of Water to repair a water
line. While the work is being done, motorists will need to seek alternate routes to get to their destinations. Anyone with questions may call the Department of Water at 245-5455 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm.

-- and -- The right turn lane onto Kûhi‘ô Highway at the Haleilio Road junction in Wailua Houselots will be closed for another week to allow the contractor to finish sewer improvements to the area. The closure will continue through Friday Dec. 7. Work hours will be 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. While the work is being done, motorists will still be able to turn right at the junction. However, the temporary lane closure may cause slower traffic movement.

in news from across the state and across the region -- Protesters and police are preparing for a possible confrontation when the Hawaii Superferry returns to Maui this week. Some protesters are talking about blocking the Superferry's path, clogging traffic and facing arrest if necessary. Associated Press reported Sunday that it's unclear how many protesters are determined to pursue illegal actions when the 350-foot passenger and vehicle catamaran makes its initial run to Maui on Thursday. Mainstream environmental groups and authorities are urging demonstrators to stay within designated protest areas. A so-called ``unified command'' of law enforcement agencies is ready to enforce ten-year sentences and $32,500 in fines for those who violate harbor security zones. So far, there has been less tension on Maui than on Kauai, where the Superferry still hasn't announced a return date while it tries to appease the community. --

-- and -- Hawaii Superferry officials announced that realignment of the Alakai with the Kahului pier and barge will take place tomorrow, following repairs made by the Department of Transportation. While the vessel is in Kahului, it will also embark on a training cruise with Maui staff and crew in preparation for the December 6 re-launch of service, after which it will return to Kahului Harbor before leaving for Honolulu Harbor. For the December 4 voyage, the U.S. Coast Guard¹s 100-yard moving security zone that is standard for large passenger ships will be in effect. The temporary fixed security zone in Kahului Harbor will not be in effect until December 6. For more information regarding enforcement of the security zone, call the U.S. Coast Guard District 14 at (808) 927-0865.

Gov. Linda Lingle says there's no evidence that her former top aide was traveling on state business during a trip to the Philippines for which he was blackmailed. Lingle also denied any knowledge of a reported federal investigation into the behavior of state officials and other members of official trade missions led by the governor. Lingle says allegations by a defense attorney that former chief of staff Bob Awana had liaisons with a woman in the Philippines would be in the public interest only if they had occurred on state trips. Five months after Awana's resignation, Lingle answered questions about the case for the first time. –-

-- and in a related story -- Gov. Linda Lingle has appointed state Transportation Director Barry Fukunaga as her new chief of staff, overseeing all state departments. Fukunaga replaces Bob Awana, mentioned in our previous story. Fukunaga is the state official who cleared the Hawaii Superferry to run without an environmental assessment of its impact. Lingle called Fukunaga quote an ``outstanding manager and leader.'' Lingle said it took more than five months to find Awana's replacement because her administration was focused on the Superferry and the special legislative session that cleared the way for it to start up service this week. –

A column by George F. Will of the Washington Post has drawn the ire of Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka. Will related the Native Hawaiian recognition movement with one of Adolph Hitler's most infamous Nazi followers. Entitled ``Social Engineers In Paradise,'' the column takes aim at the Akaka bill. It would give Native Hawaiians federal recognition similar to that of American Indians. The column begins with a 1934 quotation from Hermann Goering, Hitler's air force chief as well as a top aide. Will wrote that under the legislation -- quote-- ``Goering's role would be played by a panel empowered to decide who is a 'Native Hawaiian' and entitled to special privileges and immunities.'' Akaka called it is ``absolutely outrageous'' that Will compared the systematic atrocities of the Nazis against Jews to efforts of Native Hawaiian to exercise control over their culture and destiny.

The Army is planning for the possible layoff of more than 5,000 civilian workers in Hawaii. Spokesman Col. Wayne Shanks says the planning by the Army in the Pacific is beginning as a prudent step in case the current congressional impasse over military spending is not resolved. Shanks says the plan maintains the need to protect health and safety on military bases in Hawaii and elsewhere in the region. He says it would maintain necessary defenses while minimizing the impact on soldiers, civilians and their families. The Defense Department has said the furloughs and service cuts could take effect Feb. 23. In Hawaii, they would affect employees at Fort Shafter, Schofield Barracks and Tripler Army Medical Center.

Aloha is adding $10 to most of its interisland fares. The airline says it's to make up for higher jet fuel costs. But industry analysts say it's the second move by Aloha this month to try to end an ongoing fare war and ease up the low fares during the holiday season. Hawaiian Airlines officials are considering whether to follow along, and go! airlines isn't saying what it will do. Earlier this month, Aloha hiked fares $5, but the competitors didn't follow. Instead, go! has been advertising fares as low as $29 one way -- a fare both Hawaiian and Aloha have matched in the past. Since go! entered the market, the standard interisland fare has been hovering around $39.

-- and in a related story -- Hawaiian Airlines has signed agreements valued at more than $4 billion to buy as many as 24 new long-range wide-body aircraft. Hawaiian calls it the first step to replace its fleet of 18 aircraft, to expand its long-range fleet and to enable it to open new routes to more distant markets from Hawaii. Hawaiian President and CEO Mark Dunkerley says the agreements with Airbus and Rolls-Royce represent the single largest investment in the airline's 78-year history. Airbus is to deliver the first new aircraft in 2012. Hawaiian expects to sign definitive purchase agreements early next year.

Hawaii's public schools are adopting strict nutritional and exercise requirements designed to fight childhood obesity. The project will prohibit unhealthy snacks and beverages at school, ban food and drinks whose first ingredient is sugar, give students at least 20 minutes of daily recess, and increase time for physical education. The rules originated with a 2004 federal law that develops initiatives against childhood obesity. State data show about one in every three Hawaii students consider themselves overweight. The nutritional guidelines will be adopted in January.

Dole Food Co. says it may sell some of its land, but not any that's growing pineapples or other crops for the company. Dole spokesman Marty Ordman in California says the company is shedding some of its less-used properties around the world. Dole is one of the islands' largest private landowners, with more than 28,000 acres. About 2,700 acres of that is planted in pineapple, with 195 acres of coffee and cacao on Oahu. Ordman says the company is committed to its Hawaii pineapple operations. He says the sale plan is not definite and he doesn't know how much acreage would be sold or whether it would include land that is fallow, used for purposes other than agriculture, or leased to tenant farmers.

A former federal worker who persuaded employees in Hawaii and other states to donate nearly a thousand hours of their own paid leave has pleaded guilty to fraud. Forty-five-year-old Robert Joseph Thom of Oceanside, California falsely claimed that he had undergone multiple surgeries for cancer and he needed the time off. He forged four letters from a doctor, all attesting to his ongoing medical problems. He could receive a combined sentence of 20 years in prison after admitting guilt for ten counts of wire fraud. Thirty Department of Interior employees responded to Thom's plea for help. They donated more than 982 hours of leave time with a value of nearly 40-thousand dollars so he could keep getting his salary and benefits while he was off work. Court records say donations came from Alabama, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Virginia and Washington.

State Rep. Josh Green says the state should cover the tuition costs of University of Hawaii medical students who commit to practicing in rural Hawaii for a minimum of five years. The chairman of the House Committee on Health made the proposal as part of a three-point plan to boost medical care in rural areas. State Department of Health director Chiyome Fukino says the state is facing a dearth of doctors, nurses and other health care providers. Green, who represents Keauhou and Honokohau and is a practicing emergency room physician, plans to introduce a bill during the legislative session starting next month that will include his proposals. His other ideas include underwriting specialists who treat rural patients and offering tax credits for hospitals and clinics in selected areas.

The federal government says a Hawaii state nursing home is among the worst in the country. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services lists the Leahi Hospital near Diamond Head among 54 nursing homes targeted for improvements. In November, the state announced it would spend $1 million for a new roof and new elevators at the century-old facility that has nearly 180 long-term care patients. Leahi is run by Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which oversees 12 state hospitals. System spokesman Miles Takaze says most of the problems cited by the federal agency involve documentation and are being addressed. He says there is no evidence of direct harm to patients in any of the deficiencies.

Congress is trying again to exert more control over the Northern Marianas.
Legislation that could clear the House this month would apply federal immigration and labor rules to the U.S. Commonwealth of The Northern Mariana Islands. The commonwealth has been tainted with charges of sweatshop and human trafficking abuses. The bill is opposed by commonwealth Gov. Benigno Fitial, who says it ignores recent improvements in labor standards and could cripple attempts to revive the islands' depressed economy. Over the past decade lawmakers have introduced several dozen bills addressing the Northern Marianas' immigration and labor practices. The Marianas formerly relied on lobbyist Jack Abramoff to dissuade Congress. But he's now serving a six-year prison term on unrelated fraud charges.

Voters on Guam are set to decide whether they want the local racetrack to set up slot machines, bringing a new form of legalized gambling to the U.S. territory. The initiative was crafted in such a way that only Tamuning's Guam Greyhound Park would qualify. The slots would be allowed only at pari-mutuel facilities that have been operating for at least 10 years. The Guam Election Commission has approved an informational pamphlet to be mailed to all registered voters giving arguments for and against the ballot issue. On the same January ballot as the gambling issue, voters will fill a legislative seat left vacant with the death in October of Republican Sen. Tony Unpingco.

Two national conservation groups are focusing on threatened Hawaii birds. The American Bird Conservancy and the Audubon Society are getting together for the first time to put together a list of bird species around the country that are in the most danger. It's also the first time either group has listed Hawaii birds. They've come up with a list of 39 island bird species that are of the greatest concern, including species in the honeycreeper group. The list for the rest of the country includes 59 birds. David Pashley of the Bird Conservancy says the groups should have been focusing on Hawaii all along. The state has more endangered species of all kinds than any other state.

~ segue to surf / weather ~

Our island weather for tonight should be cloudy with numerous showers and locally heavy rainfall possible. Lows 59 to 71. East winds around 10 mph shifting to the south after midnight. Chance of rain 70 percent. Tomorrow expect mostly cloudy skies with showers likely. Breezy conditions. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs 72 to 82. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain Tuesday 70 percent.

Let's check the surf forecast. There is a high surf advisory warning for north shores & high surf advisory for west shores. Please use caution in and around the ocean. Rising NNW swell today. The surf will be especially powerful & rough due to the close proximity of the storm generating the swell. Use extreme caution in and around the ocean. Some locations will be rougher than others and conditions may change rapidly. Do not swim on N. facing shores today. For calmer waters and favorable conditions try lifeguarded beaches like Kealia & Lydgate today. Consult lifeguards before entering the water and when in doubt don’t go out! Unsettled weather thru the work week with a series of fronts affecting the islands. Strong Kona (SW) winds will begin Tues along with heavy showers. Outlook through Sat.: Large N & NW surf staying above advisory level heights with some warning level swells thru the period. Again, There is a high surf advisory warning for north shores & high surf advisory for west shores.

The following information was provided by ocean safety officials at the island’s seven lifeguard towers – they’re listed clockwise from Ha`ena to Kekaha. Please remember ocean conditions can change rapidly. When in doubt, check with a lifeguard. The following heights are the forecast heights of the faces of the waves.
Ha`ena – 12 to 16 feet, visibility is fair;
Hanalei – 10 to 12 feet with fair visibility;
Kealia - 1 to 3 feet with fair visibility;
Lydgate – 1 to 2 feet with poor visibility;
Po`ipu – 1 to 3 feet, visibility is poor;
Salt Pond – 1 to 2 feet with poor visibility;
and, at Kekaha – 1 to 3 feet, visibility is poor.
For more information about the current conditions on Garden Island beaches – updated by Kaua`i’s lifeguards each morning – visit kauaiexplorer.com and click the ocean report link.

Did you know that Kaua`i has the highest number of drownings in the state per capita? Even when the ocean appears calm, safety officials recommend using extreme caution anytime you’re in or near Kaua`i’s waters. Statistically, small surf is more treacherous because the dangers are not readily apparent. Expect to encounter rip currents around every surf zone. During periods of large surf, beware of hazardous conditions on the beach as well as in the ocean – use caution when walking in areas with wet sand. While in the ocean, beware of strong rip currents, powerful shore-breaks and other hazards. Remember, check with a lifeguard before going into the water, never swim alone, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep in mind the island saying ~ when in doubt, don’t go out!

The sun will set tonight at 5:54, and it will rise tomorrow morning at 7:03. The waning crescent moon set earlier today, and it will rise at 2:03 a-m. The moon will next transit the meridian and appear directly overhead at 8:47 a-m; about 28 percent of its visible disk is illuminated. The Hawaiian name for the moon is Mahina (MAH-hee-nuh).

Mahalo for tuning into KKCR’s NewsBriefs. Please join us Monday through Thursday evenings before Free Speech Radio News for local news updates. Mahalo to Laura Christine from Lolouila (LO-lo-WEE-lah) for giving KKCR’s website an effective, creative and user-friendly overhaul. You can access TODAY’s NewsBriefs online. Visit kkcr.org and click the News link. We welcome your input – news tips, questions, sports scores and more. Visit kkcr.org for more information. Please stay tuned for the Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz w/Richard Fernandez. Aloha.

KKC Newsbriefs for Monday 26 November 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, November 26th, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Can You Dig It Jazz with Cousin Rich.

Leading off our local news – Kauai Police Department announced on Friday that A meeting had been held earlier this month between KPD and representatives of the Kingdom of Atooi. Those present at the meeting were Police Chief Darryl Perry, Deputy Police Chief Mark Begley, Assistant Chief Gordon Isoda, and Assistant Chief Roy Asher, along with Daren and Dayne Gonsalves, also known as Dayne Aipoalani. Dayne Gonsalves gave a briefing on the Kingdom of Atooi and what he believes is the basis and justification for the Kingdom’s existence and status in the State of Hawai‘i, particularly the County of Kaua‘i. At the end of his presentation, Gonsalves provided KPD with documents that he said support his claim. Perry told Gonsalves that he would review the documents and would also ask County Attorney Matthew Pyun, Jr. to review them and provide a determination on their validity. KPD officials told Gonsalves that his presentation lacked supporting documentation. Gonsalves assured them that those documents would be forthcoming, but he has not yet provided county officials with the documents. Before the meeting ended, Gonsalves told KPD that he believes his arrest was not warranted and that he deserves an apology. He also requested that his Kingdom of Atooi Hawai‘i Federal Marshal badge be returned. Perry informed Gonsalves that there was no credible reason for an apology, and that the Judiciary would make the final determination on their guilt or innocence. In addition, Perry advised Gonsalves that KPD would continue to enforce state and county laws, including the offense of impersonating a law enforcement officer. Gonsalves was also told that his badge would remain in police custody as evidence.

The doors to Kaua‘i’s first homeless shelter Manaolana officially opened last Wednesday, and a blessing was held to mark the occasion. Located next to Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity Inc. (KEO) in Lîhu‘e, the emergency shelter has overnight accommodations for up to 19 people. The transitional housing portion has room for up to 20, with individuals and families being allowed to stay for a maximum of 24 months. The county is leasing the site to KEO to operate the facility. Eligibility for the programs will be determined through KEO’s intake process. With support from the County Council and Kaua‘i’s state legislators, Mayor Baptiste approached Gov. Lingle about the possibility of the state-owned parcel next to KEO’s headquarters being turned over to the county to build a homeless shelter. In 2004, the governor transferred use of the site to the county through an executive order and lease agreement. A former Lîhu‘e school building located on the parcel was repositioned, renovated and transformed into the emergency shelter. Four portable buildings that once housed county offices were relocated from behind the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall to the project site, refitted, and now serve as transitional housing units. The project was developed with over $2 million dollars in federal, state and county funds.

Alexander & Baldwin has asked the Nature Conservancy to manage a 7,000-acre parcel of land on Kauai to combat invasive species that threaten the pristine area. The agreement covering Wainiha valley and the Waialeale summit region is good for 10 years. The area above Haena is largely untouched by humans and is home to over 100 plants found only in Hawaii, including dozens unique to Kauai. Rare native forest birds like the elepaio and the amakihi call it home. Nature Conservancy spokesman Grady Timmons says the environment is similar to what the first Hawaiians found when they came to Hawaii. But a rapidly spreading invasive plant called the Australian tree fern threatens the unique habitat. The wind carries the tree fern's seed spores, helping the plant establish itself in new areas and displace native vegetation.

-- in community news – The right turn lane onto Kûhi‘ô Highway at the Hale’ilio Road junction in Wailua Houselots will be closed for two weeks to allow for sewer Improvements to be made in the area. The closure began today and is scheduled to continue Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 3:30 pm until December 7th. While the work is being done, motorists will still be able to turn right at the junction. However, the temporary lane closure may cause slower traffic movement. For more information, contact Stephen Thompson of Oceanic Companies, Inc. at 808-330-2168. --

-- and -- The state Department of Transportation advises Kauai motorists that there will be complete overnight closures of Wainiha Bridge No. 3 on Kuhio Highway (near Mile Post 6.7) in both directions on Wednesday night, November 28, and Thursday night, November 29, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., nightly, for bridge replacement preparation work. Flaggers and electronic messageboards will be positioned on the north and south ends of the one-lane bridge to stop traffic in both directions. Motorists are asked to adjust their commute schedules accordingly to minimize any potential effects of this closure. Roadwork is weather-permitting. Again, complete overnight closures of Wainiha Bridge No. 3 on Kuhio Highway (near Mile Post 6.7) in both directions are scheduled for both Wednesday night, November 28, and Thursday night, November 29, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

-- in military news –More than 1,400 soldiers and 1,000 Marines could be added to the military ranks in Hawaii under Pentagon expansion plans. An environmental impact statement on the military's planned buildup mention the impact on Hawaii. Last year, the Army had about 18,000 soldiers in the islands and the Marines had 6,500 troops. The projection calls for 700 more soldiers at Fort Shafter and another 700 added to Schofield Barracks. The plans are not definite, but officials are beginning to consider the impact of national troop buildups on housing, shopping facilities and Hawaii's environment. The size of the U.S. Army is expected to grow by 74,000 troops within three year to 547,000 worldwide. The Marine Corps is expected to expand from 180,000 to more than 200,000. --

-- and -- The top U.S. military commander in the Pacific said last Thursday he's worried by China's last-minute decision to deny a U.S. aircraft carrier entry to Hong Kong for a previously scheduled port visit. The USS Kitty Hawk and its escort ships were due to dock in Hong Kong for a four-day visit last Wednesday until they were refused access. Admiral Timothy Keating says it's hard to put a positive light on this development in relations between the two international powers. China later reversed its decision and said the ships could enter on humanitarian grounds, but the notice came while the vessels were already on their way back to their home ports. The vessels chose not to turn around. In recent weeks, the two sides have had disagreements over trade, Iran's nuclear program and Congress's awarding a medal to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader whom China's Communist government considers an enemy. --

-- and the U.S. military will deliver drinking water to the cyclone-ravaged southern part of Bangladesh. Navy Admiral Timothy Keating made the announcement Friday at Hickam Air Force Base. The top military commander in the Pacific says Navy ships off Bangladesh, along with water purification machines flown in from Hawaii by the Air Force, will generate water U.S. troops will fly and truck in to the storm survivors.
Keating says the U.S. military is also prepared to offer medical care and to deliver food donated by international agencies. Bangladesh has put the death toll from the November 15th storm at 3,199. More than 1,700 are missing and tens of thousands injured. –-

-- meanwhile -- Filipino veterans are pushing to get Congress to act on their war claims before the House and Senate recess for the year. More than a dozen veterans who fought alongside the U.S military in World War II have spent the past two months lobbying lawmakers in Washington in their long struggle for recognition and benefits. Hawaii veteran leader Art Caleda, who is 84, says the veterans are dying one after the other and are frustrated because a bill granting them full veterans status has not moved to a floor vote. Veterans committees in both houses have approved the bill that would benefit the estimated 20,000 living Filipino veterans, including 2,000 in Hawaii alone. –-

-- and further to a story we reported last week – 11/22 The Army plans to detonate next month a 250-pound World War II-era bomb and two artillery shells found during an ordnance sweep in Makua Valley. The removal of the ordnance Dec. 3 will allow the resumption of cultural access visits by civilian groups, which were halted because of safety concerns. Two dozen people protested the Army's refusal to allow them into Makua valley for an annual Hawaiian celebration of peace earlier this month. Attorney David Henkin of EarthJustice, which represents community group Malama Makua, says the Army should have acted faster after the bomb was discovered Nov. 1 so the Makahiki celebration wouldn't have been interrupted.

--turning to news from across the state and across the region – Six non-Hawaiians are asking the courts to dismantle the Office of Hawaiian affairs. The group led by former Honolulu Advertiser publisher Thurston Twig-Smith are asking to intervene in a suit brought by some Native Hawaiians against OHA. The Hawaiians are suing the state agency to spend more money helping people with more than 50 percent Native Hawaiian blood. The non-Hawaiian group is on the opposite side. They say the agency Discriminates against other racial and ethnic groups in the islands. The federal appeals court has ordered U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway to hear the case in Honolulu. Mollway had thrown out the case last year.

Gov. Linda Lingle is looking for someone to honor. In her weekly radio address last Friday, the governor discusses a new national awards program sponsored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The group is looking for a nominee from each state to be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in March. The award is called the Above & Beyond Citizen Honors. Lingle says ordinary citizens do extraordinary things in Hawaii. She says the Hawaii nominee could be honored for a single act or a lifetime of placing others before self. The governor is asking residents to nominate a Hawaii candidate for acts of bravery and selfless heroism. More information can be found on her official website, www.hawaii.gov.

Governments have been buying up private land in Hawaii as part of an accelerated effort to preserve areas under threat from development. The largest deals have been on the Big Island. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was expanded by 116,000 acres in 2003. This year, the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs bought more than 25,000 acres in the Wao Kele O Puna rainforest in Puna. Lea Hong, the Hawaiian Island program director of the Trust for Public Land, says there is a growing awareness among the public that we're losing a lot of things very quickly. She says there's a greater sense of urgency about trying to preserve places that are part of Hawaii's history and culture.

Hawaii County has met a deadline to save Big Island residents' federal flood insurance coverage. The council voted unanimously last week to approve a bill that puts the county in line with National Flood Insurance Program standards before a November 30th deadline. If the deadline had been missed, it may have cost residents their federal flood insurance coverage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also could have refused to assist in the event of any disaster. South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford called the bill a housekeeping measure that does not go far enough to protect property and lives on the Big Island. She says the bill is only a first step because it doesn't offer any additional flooding protection to 99 percent of the island.

The Hawaii Judiciary plans to terminate its $5.2 million contract with a company that was supposed to automate record-keeping in the state's traffic courts. Thomas Keller, administrative director of the courts, says contractor ACS Government Systems' software never worked as promised. Payments to the company have been halted and the contract will be voided within 30 days unless problems are fixed. Keller charges that the company misrepresented the capabilities of the software in order to win the contract with the state. Specifically, he says the system doesn't allow the courts to maintain a general ledger for accounting.

Associated Press reports that the Navajo Nation's federal Head Start program recently spent more than 35-thousand dollars to send 15 people to an education conference in Hawaii. This comes after the program had its funding temporarily revoked last year after a scathing report detailed a host of problems including inadequate financial controls. Lamont Yazzie, interim director of the Navajo Nation Head Start program, says he wanted his staff to be well-represented at the National Indian Education Association's conference last month in Honolulu. He says approval to send 15 members of his team was granted only after he was assured that certain trouble areas were being addressed. Yazzie says he is focusing on improving areas including having state licensed mental health professionals and program planning and monitoring.

Big Island police are training to use Tasers. By the end of the month, 90 percent of Kona officers should be carrying the Tasers. Hawaii County aims for all sworn personnel to eventually be trained and equipped with the devices. Tasers use compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed darts that can penetrate clothing to deliver a 50,000-volt shock to immobilize people. Deputy Police Chief Harry Kubojiri volunteered to be Tasered. He says it was like getting hit by a wild pitch, but the pain didn't linger after the five-second shock was over. The county police department ordered the Tasers in April but has held off training officers until it drafted a policy governing their use.

-- in environmental news -- Thousands of acres of forest reserves in Oahu's Waianae Mountains have been reopened now that the threat of wildfires has passed. The Kuaokala, Mokuleia, Makua-Keaau and Waianae Forest Reserves and the Kuaokala game management area opened to the public Saturday after being shut off for the past month. The reserves cover more than 10,000 acres. Department of Land and Natural Resources chairwoman Laura Thielen says hiking and camping will be permitted again. She says improved weather conditions and maintenance of the areas reduced the risk of fires.

Medical officials are taking steps to keep the so-called ``superbug'' out of public restrooms and schools in Hawaii. Increased concern was raised with the recent death of entertainer Rhonda Bryers, who died from the methicillin-resistant staph infection known as MRSA. The disease has been killing thousands of people across the country. The ``superbug'' is usually picked up in medical facilities, but Bryers is believed to have acquired it from another source. She died Sept. 28. Authorities say Hawaii has the highest rate of MRSA infections in the country. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control estimated the bug killed 19,000 people, which is higher then the number attributed to AIDS.

Hawaii exotic fruit growers may be getting a break, and they say it's about time.
Until now, it's been easier for growers in Thailand to ship mangosteen, dragon fruit and Korean melons to the U.S. mainland than for Hawaii farmers. The U.S. Agriculture Department finally is doing something about the inequity, proposing that the same rule applied to Thailand apply to America's 50th state. Export would be allowed as long as the fruit is treated with irradiation. The state has been asking for the change for nearly a decade, because mainland markets bring higher prices. State agriculture officials say nearly 1.5 million pounds of Hawaii tropical fruit is produced each year, with sales totaling about $2.6 million last year.

A University of Hawaii researcher is looking into the best way to find another Earth. Associated Professor Eric Gaidos says detecting somewhat larger planets on closer stars is possible, with more than 200 planets discovered since evidence of the first orbiting a distant star was found just 12 years ago. But Gaidos says spotting another planet like Earth is still beyond the grasp of astronomers. Gaidos is lead author of a study in the journal Science which says a lot can be learned from the dead planets about how an earthlike planet might form. The report says the most successful method so far for discovering planets is to examine the wavelength of light from host stars, with variations occurring as planets rotate around them.

-- updating a story we reported last week –-Hundreds of Christmas trees have now been cleared for release here in Hawaii after yellow jackets were found in their shipping crates. Agriculture inspectors found dozens of insects in the Christmas tree shipments, including a dead German yellow-jacket wasp, a species that doesn't exist in Hawaii. They also discovered seven live yellow jackets known as Vespula pennsylvanica (Ves-PYOO-lah Pencil-VAN-ikuh). Three other unidentified species of worker yellow jacket wasps were also found. The nonnative wasps frequent urban areas and could move into people's homes and yards. Four of 101 containers from Oregon were quarantined earlier this month after an initial inspection. It was the first large tree shipment to Hawaii this year.

-- and finally – Patti Smart has seen her job as a flight attendant change with the times. Smart retires November 30th, more than a half century after she started the job when she was 18 years old. Over the years, she rubbed elbows with Frank Sinatra, performed in-flight fashion shows and danced in smoke-filled aisles aboard cramped DC-3s seating two dozen passengers. She says a lot has changed since the old days, when people dressed up in hats and bow ties to fly on propeller-powered planes across the Pacific. She says air travel has lost some of its charm because passengers have become more concerned with getting where they're going than enjoying the ride. Even after retirement, Smart will continue to participate in a group that meets for monthly prayers for the company's survival as it competes with Hawaiian and go! airlines.

~ segue to surf / weather ~

Our island weather mostly cloudy with isolated showers this evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows 58 to 71. East winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent. Tomorrow’s outlook is for mostly sunny skies with 20 percent of isolated showers. Highs 71 to 82. Southeast winds around 10 mph. And the water temperature at Nawiliwili Bay this afternoon was 81.3 degrees.

Let’s check the surf forecast. There are no official advisories - N & W shore surf will rise again this afternoon to 8 -12'+heights before dark & continue to build overnight. Watch out for changing conditions! Expect to encounter large waves and strong currents around any surf zone. For calmer conditions try East & South-facing shores lifeguarded beaches like Lydgate, Salt Pond or Poipu Beach Park. Light Easterly tradewinds will turn SE today. Wet weather will begin Tues night thru the work week from upper level disturbances. Outlook through Sat. 12/1: A series of NW swells to keep heights around or above high surf advisory levels through the week on N & W facing shores. Small S. swells Tues & Thurs.

The following information was provided by ocean safety officials at the island’s seven lifeguard towers – they’re listed clockwise from Ha`ena to Kekaha. Please remember ocean conditions can change rapidly. When in doubt, check with a lifeguard. The following heights are the forecast heights of the faces of the waves:
Ha`ena – 3 to 5 feet, visibility is good;
Hanalei – 2 to 4 feet, visibility is fair;
Kealia - 3 to 5 feet with fair visibility;
Lydgate – 2 to 3 feet, visibility is fair;
Po`ipu – 1 to 2 feet, visibility is good;
Salt Pond – flat to 1 foot with good visibility;
and, at Kekaha – flat to 1 foot, visibility is fair.
For more information about the current conditions on Garden Island beaches – updated by Kaua`i’s lifeguards each morning – visit kauaiexplorer.com and click the ocean report link.

Did you know that Kaua`i has the highest number of drownings in the state per capita? Even when the ocean appears calm, safety officials recommend using extreme caution anytime you’re in or near Kaua`i’s waters. Statistically, small surf is more treacherous because the dangers are not readily apparent. Expect to encounter rip currents around every surf zone. During periods of large surf, beware of hazardous conditions on the beach as well as in the ocean – use caution when walking in areas with wet sand. While in the ocean, beware of strong rip currents, powerful shore-breaks and other hazards. Remember, check with a lifeguard before going into the water, never swim alone, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep in mind the island saying ~ when in doubt, don’t go out!

The sun will set tonight at 5:53, and it will rise tomorrow morning at 6:58. The waning gibbous moon will rise this evening at 8:21, and it will set at 10:25 tomorrow morning. The moon will transit the meridian and appear directly overhead at 2:21 a-m, with 92 percent of its visible disk illuminated. The Hawaiian name for the moon is Mahina (MAH-hee-nuh).

Mahalo for tuning into KKCR’s NewsBriefs. Please join us Monday through Thursday evenings before Free Speech Radio News for local news updates. Mahalo to Laura Christine from Lolouila (LO-lo-WEE-lah) for giving KKCR’s website an effective, creative and user-friendly overhaul. You can access today’s NewsBriefs online. Visit kkcr.org and click the News link. We welcome your input – news tips, questions, sports scores and more. Visit kkcr.org for more information. Please stay tuned for the Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Can You Dig It Jazz with Cousin Rich. Aloha.

KKCR Newsbriefs for Monday 19 November 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, November 19th, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Cousin Rich sitting in for Richard Fernandez.

Leading off our local news -- A second court decision on Maui has cleared another obstacle for the Hawaii Superferry. Circuit Judge Joel August has lifted his order that restricted vehicles exiting from the ferry at Wailuku to two vehicles per minute. Instead, he's ordered the state to provide trained personnel to manage traffic at the pier. Ferry officials had said that the delayed unloading could foul up their schedule which calls for a short stopover at each port. The judge had placed the restriction in August in an order arising from a suit by the Maui Tomorrow Foundation and other groups. They're concerned about the traffic congestion the ferry could cause. The ferry is to resume its Honolulu-Maui service Dec. 1. Last week, Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza ruled that the vessel can use Kahului Harbor while an environmental assessment is conducted. The company says it has not yet decided when its service linking Honolulu and Kauai will resume. The Hawaii Superferry halted operations in late August because of legal problems with using the Maui harbor and protests at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. The legal problems were resolved earlier this month when Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law a bill passed during a special legislative session. —-

-- meanwhile – State transportation and the U. S. Coast Guard officials say they hope protesters against the Hawaii Superferry will keep their protests legal. Transportation director Barry Fukunaga urged opponents not to participate in any illegal activity when the ferry resumes service to Maui and Kauai. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard is preparing for more water protests such as the one that stopped the last ferry trip to Kauai in August. Coast Guard spokesman John Titchen says the service is ready to arrest protesters in the water in violation of a security zone around the ferry's arrival on Kauai. He says a similar zone is being considered for Maui.

County officials recently submitted a draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan to the state Department of Health for their initial review. The ISWMP update is the county’s blueprint for short- and long-term management of its municipal solid waste programs. The draft plan is a culmination of research and planning by consultant R.W. Beck, the county administration, and a Solid Waste Advisory Committee selected by Mayor Bryan Baptiste. After the DOH 90-day review period, the public will have the opportunity to comment on the draft plan during a 60-day review process, which includes a public hearing. Following the public review period, the plan may be formally adopted by the County Council, and will then be sent back to DOH for their final approval. The draft plan being reviewed by DOH is posted on the county’s website, www.kauai.gov. Further notice of the public review process will be released at a later date.

--in community news -- A Wailua Homesteads, Ka Leo O Kaua`i Community meeting, is planned for tomorrow evening from 7 to 9 o’clock at Kapa`a Middle School Cafeteria. The agenda includes: a presentation by Anne Barnes of KIUC on the company’s policies regarding power lines and personal property; updates from Wailua Homesteads community groups, cultural sharing, a community service recognition and work on community building plans. All community members are welcomed. For more information contact Catherine Stovall, Community Response Specialist, 241-6398. Again, a Wailua Homesteads, Ka Leo O Kaua`i Community meeting, is planned for tomorrow, Tuesday November 20th, from 7-9pm, at Kapa`a Middle School Cafeteria

-- and – Late-night holiday bus routes will be offered on The Kaua‘i Bus every Friday, beginning this Friday Nov. 23 and continuing through Dec. 28, announced Janine Rapozo, executive on transportation. Buses will leave Kukui Grove Center at 9 p-m, and following a stop at Wal-Mart, will continue on to the Hanalei Courthouse. Likewise, a late-night westbound bus will depart Wal-Mart at 9p-m, stop at Kukui Grove Center and Another option will be to take a late night westbound bus that leaves Wal-Mart at 9 pm, and after a stop at Kukui Grove Center, continues on to its final destination being about two blocks from the Kekaha Neighborhood Center. Special pick-ups can be arranged at any regular bus stop along either route by calling The Kaua‘i Bus at 241-6410 before 8:30 pm on Friday. Detailed information, including schedules for The Kaua’I Bus, are available online at www.kauai.gov.

-- turning to news from across the state and across the region – The American Civil Liberties Union is announcing plans to sue the Lingle administration in federal court to stop a plan for random drug tests of educators. ACLU Hawaii Executive Director Vanessa Chong says the group deplores Gov. Linda Lingle's failure to retract the policy that would affect up to 13,500 teachers, librarians, administrative workers and other school employees. The legal group accuses Lingle of sacrificing the fundamental rights of public employees, which it is says would be ineffective in combating drug abuse. The ACLU last month filed a five-page demand letter giving Lingle until last Thursday to stop the plan. But Chong says the governor responded with a note saying the administration finds nothing that would cause the policy to be withdrawn.

A federal judge has given the parent of go! airlines until Wednesday to post a $90 million bond while it appeals an $80 million judgment. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris had ruled Mesa Air Group misused confidential business information it obtained from the bankruptcy proceedings of Hawaiian Airlines. Phoenix-based Mesa had said it anticipated having to post a bond or letter of credit as security in connection with the appeal. Hawaiian gave Mesa company secrets while going through bankruptcy reorganization and seeking investors. Faris found Mesa used the information to gain a competitive advantage when it decided to enter the Hawaii interisland market by launching go!

An advisory panel to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has decided against taking a position on the Native Hawaiian recognition bill. The vote Thursday by the Hawaii State Advisory Committee was 8-6. The measure named after Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka would give Native Hawaiians federal recognition similar to that of American Indians. The Akaka bill passed the House last month. It would need Senate approval before being sent to President Bush. The committee backed the bill last year. But supporters were concerned the measure might fair poorly when it went before the newly reconfigured panel that has more members opposed to the Akaka bill.

The U.S. House has pushed through a 50 billion dollar bill for the Iraq war. It would require President Bush to start bringing troops home in coming weeks with a goal of ending combat by December of 2008. Hawaii Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono joined most of their fellow Democrats in supporting the measure that passed 218-203 last week. It's largely a symbolic jab at Bush. He's already begun reducing force levels but opposes a congressionally mandated timetable on the war. And while the measure is unlikely to pass in the Senate, Democrats say they wanted voters to know they weren't giving up.

Molokai Ranch has withdrawn the environmental impact statement it prepared for a planned development of 200 luxury house lots at Laau Point. The action came Friday as the state Land Use Commission on Molokai was about to vote on member Ruben Wong's motion to reject the EIS. No vote was taken and a ranch attorney says a revised environmental impact statement will be submitted later. Some Molokai residents testifying before the commission criticized the study, saying it failed to adequately assess a number of issues, such as preservation of water resources. The development would cover more than 1,100 acres. At the same time, it would protect 50,000 acres from ever being developed.

The state Campaign Spending Commission has thrown out a complaint against a group of fishermen who took out an ad against Lingle administration policies. A unanimous decision says the ad was issue advocacy and cannot be regulated under campaign spending laws. The commission originally said such advertising should be prohibited. But a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision declared some rules against ads were unconstitutional because they go against free speech. The ruling protects advocacy ads that do not directly appeal for a particular vote. The ad critical of the Lingle administration appeared two days before the November 2006 election.

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici is calling for a federal inquiry into whether federal funds were misappropriated or misused for an American Indian education conference in Hawaii. The New Mexico Republican says action needs to be taken if there's any misuse of federal funds discovered. More than 360 people representing the Navajo Nation preregistered for the four-day conference held last month in Honolulu. The preregistration fee for the event, hosted by the National Indian Education Association, was $400 per person. It's not clear how many people who preregistered represented Navajo government, public school districts on the Navajo Nation or other groups.

Medical experts are saying more needs to be done to fix a doctor shortage on the islands. The Hawaii Medical Association has been holding a series of forums around the state on the issue. Some experts say patients' lives are at risk, in addition to the limited choices patients have for doctors and the long waits for appointments. Low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates, salaries that don't match high living costs and tough medical malpractice laws are all described as hindrances to recruitment of doctors for Hawaii. State Insurance Commissioner J. P. Schmidt says he agrees liability reform is needed. However, some lawyers caution against limits that favor only doctors and insurance companies.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is launching a new program to provide fast, low-interest loans to Native Hawaiian consumers and businesses. The OHA Malama Loan program features a five-year, 5 percent fixed rate on up to $75,000. The loans can be used by Native Hawaiians for home improvements and education and by Hawaiian-owned businesses to grow their operations. Loans will be approved and disbursed within five DAYs after applications are received. OHA chairwoman Haunani Apoliona says she expects the program to enable Native Hawaiians to chart and achieve a life-changing experience. Loan applications are available at First Hawaiian Bank branches.

Cruise ship port-of-calls to the Big Island are expected to drop by nearly a third next year, eliminating hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tourist revenue. It will be the first decline in cruise ship port of calls in years. Industry giant Norwegian Cruise Lines has canceled 47 visits by Pride of Hawaii and about 35 calls by Norwegian Sun in 2008. The company is withdrawing the Pride of Hawaii ship, which carries an average of 2,500 people, from island service in February. A revised Pride of Aloha schedule starting this past September has reduced that ship's Big Island calls from once a week to twice every three weeks. That's to accommodate the vessel's longer, 10- to 11-day cruises to Fanning Island.

-- in news from the military –- Dateline Makua Military Reservation -- Two dozen people protested what they said was the Army's failure to remove a World War II-era bomb from Makua Military Reservation in time for an annual makahiki celebration. The Army cut off access to the reservation after it uncovered the 250-pound fused bomb and two artillery shells during an ordnance sweep on November 1. The weapon was found about 500 yards from where yesterday’s makahiki celebration was scheduled to begin. Makahiki is an annual period of peace celebrated in ancient Hawaii with sports and religious activities. U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii spokesman Dennis Drake says the Army is doing all it can to provide cultural access. But he says the Army had to close the reservation once it found the bombs. --

-- and -- The University of Hawaii is going to survey waters off Pearl Harbor for World War II era weapons. The military is paying the university $2 million for the project that will use sonar and mini submarines to catalog the underwater weaponry. Researchers will focus on an area five miles south Pearl Harbor where the military discloses that some weapons were discarded at the end of the war. Army officials say the survey also will try to determine what danger the weapons may pose. The military recently admitted that about 2,600 tons of weaponry, including chemical weapons, were dumped in two deep water areas off Pearl Harbor and the Waianae Coast between 1944 and 1946.

The state Transportation Department has opened up an area where motorists can park and wait for passengers arriving at the Honolulu International Airport. The so-called quote ``cell phone waiting lot,'' is similar to what is being offered at airports on the mainland and eliminates the need for motorists to make loops around the airport while waiting for passengers. The free lot is located along Aolele Street between the Delta and United airlines cargo facilities. The state is hoping the new lot will reduce traffic near the baggage claim areas.

-- in environmental news -- Two researchers on Kauai are proposing a different technique for fighting the extinction of island species. While Hawaii has a greater variety of plant an animal species than any other U.S. state, it also has had more species go extinct. Nearly half of the now-extinct species in the United States were in the islands. David Burney of the National Tropical Gardens on Kauai and Lida Pigott Burney of the Makauwahi Cave Reserve on the island say ordinary measures are failing. So they suggest a method called quote ``inter-situ.'' The idea is to closely manage the environment where the species exist, eliminating alien species, rather than taking them into zoos or botanical gardens. --

-- Micronesian leaders have jointly asked U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to adopt a long-term policy to prevent the military from spreading brown tree snakes around the Pacific from Guam. Five regional leaders, including Gov. Benigno Fitial of the Northern Marianas and Palau President Tommy Remengesau signed a joint letter to Gates outlining their request. Brown tree snakes hitched rides to Guam from their native Solomon Islands aboard military transportation during World War II. In the six decades since, the invasive species has is believed to have pushed nine of Guam's native bird species into extinction. --

-- and -- The federal government has decided to consider listing North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles as a separate endangered species. The action could lead to setting aside areas along the California coast and off Hawaii as the turtles' critical habitat. Designation of the Pacific turtles as endangered would give them and their habitat increased protection under the Endangered Species Act. It highlights a tactic by environmentalists to use the act to protect specific threatened groups within the same species. Turtle advocates say tens of thousand of sea turtles are killed each year by commercial fishing and coastal development on the Pacific Coast and the Atlantic Coast. However, Pacific fisheries managers say great strides have been made in protecting Pacific loggerheads in recent years.

-- with the holiday season upon us, four containers of newly arrived Christmas trees have been quarantined after inspectors found live wasps buzzing around in the trees. Inspectors are searching 50 more containers in Honolulu as retailers begin to receive the first shipments of mainland trees. The 1,200 trees in quarantine came from the Pacific Northwest. The unknown variety of yellow-jacket wasp was found in three containers with about 300 trees each. The discovery came in the search of the first 50 containers in a shipment of 100 that arrived on Saturday. Agriculture officials say that even though there are yellow jackets already in the islands, more and possibly new varieties shouldn't be in the containers. --

-- and Goodwill Industries of Hawaii isn't going to be the place to pick up toys this Christmas. Concerned about recalls of unsafe toys from China, Goodwill is stopping the sale of all toys except for stuffed animals. Officials say the concern is not only over used toys that have been recalled but those that might be recalled in the future. Goodwill actually stopped taking toy donations in August. Now, it's going to stop selling toys altogether, whether they're labled as made in China or not. National recalls of Chinese-made toys have resulted from lead paint found in some items and concern for poor design that may pose a choking hazard for small children.

-- finally -- Police have arrested a Honolulu man for being sick and failing to take his medication. State health officials say the rare arrest and forced quarantine of 51-year-old Armenio Teodoro is to protect the public against exposure to tuberculosis. Health officials say they discovered Teodoro's illness when he was arrested in July for assault. They say he has a type of tuberculosis that is not a threat as long as medication is taken, but authorities acted after learning Teodoro was not taking medication. State health official Dr. Jesse Wing says he recalls only one other case in eight years where a quarantine order was required against an individual.

~ segue to surf / weather ~

Our island weather should be mostly cloudy with scattered showers for the remainder of the afternoon. Highs near 80, lows near 56. Winds between 10 and 15 miles per hour. Chance of rain 50 percent, especially during the overnight hours. And the water temperature at Nawiliwili Bay this afternoon was 80.8 degrees.

Let's check the surf forecast. There are High Surf Advisories for all East & North shores. Large & powerful surf today on N & E shores. Lifeguards say, “Watch out!” Large & powerful surf on E, N , & some W (ie. Polihale) facing shores. Beachgoers are advised to choose their locations carefully based on ability and activity. Some locations will be rougher than others. For generally calmer, safer conditions try lifeguarded S. facing beaches like Salt Pond or Poipu Beach Park. Expect to encounter strong currents around any surf zone. Outlook through Sun. 11/25: Series of N. swells thru Tues. Advisory level NW swell Tues through Thurs. Larger warning level NW swell Fri (25-foot faces). Again, there is a high surf advisory for all East and North shores.

The following information was provided by ocean safety officials at the island’s seven lifeguard towers – they’re listed clockwise from Ha`ena to Kekaha. Please remember ocean conditions can change rapidly. When in doubt, check with a lifeguard. The following heights are the forecast heights of the faces of the waves.
Ha`ena and Hanalei – 8 to 12 feet, visibility is fair;
Kealia - 4 to 6 feet with poor visibility;
Lydgate – 3 to 6 feet with higher sets, visibility is fair;
Po`ipu – 1 to 3 feet, visibility is good;
Salt Pond – flat to 2 feet with good visibility;
and, at Kekaha – flat to 2 feet, visibility is fair.
For more information about the current conditions on Garden Island beaches – updated by Kaua`i’s lifeguards each morning – visit kauaiexplorer.com and click the ocean report link.

Did you know that Kaua`i has the highest number of drownings in the state per capita? Even when the ocean appears calm, safety officials recommend using extreme caution anytime you’re in or near Kaua`i’s waters. Statistically, small surf is more treacherous because the dangers are not readily apparent. Expect to encounter rip currents around every surf zone. During periods of large surf, beware of hazardous conditions on the beach as well as in the ocean – use caution when walking in areas with wet sand. While in the ocean, beware of strong rip currents, powerful shore-breaks and other hazards. Remember, check with a lifeguard before going into the water, never swim alone, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep in mind the island saying ~ when in doubt, don’t go out!

The sun will set tonight at 5:54, and it will rise TOMORROW morning at 6:53. The waxing gibbous moon rose earlier this afternoon, and it will set at 2:44 a.m. The moon will transit the meridian and appear directly overhead at 8:28 p-m, with 71 percent of its visible disk illuminated. The Hawaiian name for the moon is Mahina (MAH-hee-nuh).

Mahalo for tuning into KKCR’s NewsBriefs. Please join us MonDAY through ThursDAY evenings before Free Speech Radio News for local news updates. Mahalo to Laura Christine from Lolouila (LO-lo-WEE-lah) for giving KKCR’s website an effective, creative and user-friendly overhaul. You can access TODAY's NewsBriefs online. Visit kkcr.org and click the News link. We welcome your input – news tips, questions, sports scores and more. Visit kkcr.org for more information. Please stay tuned for the Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Cousin Rich sitting in for Richard Fernandez. Aloha.

KKCR Newsbriefs for Monday 5 November 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, November 5th, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Richard Fernandez.

Leading off our local news -- Demonstrators protesting the Hawaii Superferry yesterday said they're worried it could change the outer islands' rural lifestyle and set a precedent for overriding the courts. About 250 people gathered at the event dubbed the `Nawiliwili Ti Party'' at Nawiliwili Park on Kauai. The protesters voiced their displeasure over a measure passed by state lawmakers last week allowing the Superferry to start service, circumventing court rulings requiring it to wait for the completion of an environmental study. As part of the event, the demonstrators took to the sea to participate in a water protest. They navigated their surfboards, canoes and kayaks to the middle of Nawiliwili Harbor to show solidarity with protests on Maui, the Big Island and Oahu. –

--and Associated Press reported that the Superferry could resume ocean voyages from Oahu to Maui and Kauai within two weeks if Maui Judge Joseph Cardoza lifts his order barring the Superferry from operating; attorneys for the state planned to ask Judge Cardoza to do that today. AP also reported that Governor Lingle may today sign the bill designed to put the 800-passenger, 42 mile-per-hour Superferry back at sea. The new law would allow the Superferry to run daily trips from Oahu to Maui and Kauai without having to wait for months or years while an environmental study is completed. The legislation calls for whale observers, requires vehicle inspections and asks Lingle to create additional regulations. It also provides oversight of the governor's actions, prohibits the company from suing the state for losses and opens an investigation into why the $300 million Superferry operation was granted an exception to Hawaii's environmental laws in the first place. Superferry President John Garibaldi says his company plans to be plying island routes for many, many years to come. --

-- Meanwhile, the federal government won't put whale watchers on the Hawaii Superferry when it relaunches. Lawmakers required Superferry executives to ask that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration observers accompany the ferry when it travels through waters of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. But Chris Yates of the NOAA Fisheries' Pacific Islands Regional Office says observers aren't immediately available. The request for government whale watchers was among the conditions included in a bill passed by the Legislature allowing the Superferry to operate before the state completes an environmental review. Yates says there was never a possibility that federal whale observers could be on the ferry unless it seeks a permit that could take more than a year to be granted.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency plans another test of its ballistic missile interception system this week. For the first time, the Navy's Aegis system is to attempt to intercept and destroy two incoming target missiles at about the same time. The targets are to be launched Tuesday from the Pacific Missile Range at Barking Sands on Kauai. A Japanese destroyer is also joining in the tests to detect and track the targets. It will be the 12th test of the Aegis program of sea-based ballistic missile defense. Nine of the last 11 tests have been successful.

An overweight truck has apparently damaged two key bridges along Kauai's North Shore. Authorities are placing new weight limits on the bridges as preparations are made to replace both bridges with temporary structures. The bridges are over the Wainiha River and a nearby stream, both of which flow into Wainiha Bay. County officials say they expect to replace both bridges by mid-December. Meanwhile, temporary repairs have been made to broken tension rods and light traffic is being allowed along the road that connects the Hanalei area with the rest of the Garden Island. Officials say a truck weighing up to 20 tons may have damaged the bridge. Vehicles now will be limited to three tons, except for emergency vehicles, trash, sewage disposal, propane delivery and food services.

Mayor Bryan Baptiste was scheduled to depart today for Penghu Islands and Taipei, following a meeting earlier this year with the director general of Taipei's Economic and Cultural Office, to discuss the roles that his country and Kaua‘i play in the global economy. A formal ceremony is also to take place in Penghu to establish a sister city relationship between that city and Kauai. During his trip to Taipei, the mayor plans to meet with officials with Department of Health, Agricultural Council and the Environmental Protection Agency. The mayor is scheduled to return to Kaua‘i on next Monday. The Penghu Islands are located between Taiwan and China, with 20 of the 64 islands populated.

-- in community news -- All this week, the right turn lane onto Kûhi‘ô Highway at the Haleilio Road junction in Wailua Houselots will be closed to allow for sewer improvements to be made in the area. The closure is set for 7:30 am to 3:30 pm and continues through Friday. While the work is being done, motorists will still be able to turn right at the junction. Expect traffic delays during the temporary lane closure. For more information, contact Stephen Thompson of Oceanic Companies, Inc. at 808-330-2168.

A Hanalei, Ka Leo O Kauai Community meeting, is planned for tomorrow evening from 7 o’clock to 9 o’clock at the Hanalei Community Center. Agenda items include: updates from various Hanalei community groups, cultural sharing, work on community building plans, and a community service recognition. Potluck refreshments, all community members are welcomed. For more information contact Catherine Stovall, Community Response Specialist, at 241-6398. Again, the Hanalei Ka Leo O Kauai Community meeting is planned for tomorrow, Tues Nov 6, from 7 to 9 p-m at the Hanalei Community Center.

-- turning to news from across the state and across the region -- Gov. Lingle has signed the extended sentencing bill into law. The push for the law follows a recent Hawaii Supreme Court decision that says the former law violated defendants' constitutional right to a jury trial by allowing judges to determine facts resulting in longer sentences. Legal authorities say the new law prevents more than 100 prisoners on Oahu from getting their sentences shortened. The measure is the only other legislation passed in the special sessions called to rescue the Hawaii Superferry. The Senate gave it final approval last Wednesday before the Legislature adjourned its emergency session. The governor's office says the new law takes effect immediately.

A plan to search public school student lockers quote ``with or without cause'' is alive again. The Board of Education has voted 11-1 to impose the searches but with one condition -- that they not be discriminatory. Otherwise, the plan would allow school administrators to instigate searches for whatever reason. It would also allow drug-sniffing dogs at schools. The board had pulled back from the idea because of objections that it would violate student privacy rights. The plan won't take effect until after public hearings, a final board vote and approval by the governor. The vote reverses a decision that searches only would be allowed if there is suspicion of weapons or drugs.

The Senate approved Governor Lingle's appointment of three department heads last week. Laura Thielen takes over as chairwoman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Clayton Frank will lead the Department of Public Safety. And Darwin Ching will head the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Senators also voted down two of the governor's picks to serve on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. They were rejected because of a dispute over who should select people to those positions. -- (theme continues) --

-- and in a related story -- Gov. Lingle has nominated Honolulu attorney Katherine Leonard to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. The nomination came on Friday, three days after the state Senate rejected Lingle's initial nominee, Honolulu Circuit Judge Randal Lee. Senators who voted against Lee expressed concern about his handling of cases. The Hawaii State Bar Association also failed to endorse Lee. Leonard's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Senators are expected to return in special session the last week of November to consider her nomination. Lingle is seeking to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Judge John S.W. Lim in June.

The state plans to spend more than 25 million dollars next year to expand its fight against homelessness on Oahu's Waianae Coast. The money will be used to build two new shelters. Construction is already under way on 13.5 million dollar facility paid for by the state and run by a religious group. It's scheduled to open in June. The homeless on Oahu's beaches started getting public attention in the summer of 2006 following news reports about the tent city along 16 miles of the Waianae Coast. Since then, the state has spent 9.3 million dollars to build two shelters on the coast. More than 1,100 people have received help through those shelters, and it appears that the number of homeless people on the beaches has decreased. Governor Lingle says there are signs of progress, but there's still a lot of work to do.

A Hawaii senator says he's pleased with two privately run Arizona prisons that house island inmates. The prisons have been criticized for an accidental release of seven inmates in August and complaints by former employees who say the facilities are mismanaged. Senator Will Espero says the prisons run by Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America are moving in the right direction. He is the chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee. He inspected the prisons with two other senators and a Public Safety Department deputy director on Friday and Saturday. Plumbing and college courses still haven't started at the prisons, and officials want video conferencing to become available so inmates can keep in touch with their families at home. Hawaii holds almost half of its prison population out of state because it lacks enough prison space in the islands to detain them here.

Hawaii police have been seizing more crack cocaine and less crystal ethamphetamine, in part because of crack's low cost and stepped-up enforcement on ice operations. Authorities seized 671 grams of crack cocaine through September of this year, an increase from 442 grams nabbed in 2006, 50 grams in 2005 and 159 grams in 2004. By comparison, crystal methamphetamine seizures have dropped, with law enforcement confiscating 111 pounds of ice through September, a decline from 179 pounds in 2006, 265 pounds in 2005 and 226 pounds in 2004. These statistics were released by the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a task force of state, county and federal law enforcement agencies. Cocaine arrests in Honolulu hit a five-year high in 2006, when police made more than 200 arrests, compared with 135 in 2005 and 38 in 2004.

Associated Press reported last week that the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines has been having red-letter days. First, the airline won an $80 million in damages in a bankruptcy court judgment against upstart rival Mesa Air Group’s go! airlines. At the same time, Hawaiian reported a 152 percent increase in profits for the July-September quarter despite high jet fuel prices and strong competition on its interisland routes. Hawaiian Holdings is posting earnings of nearly $20 million, or 41 cents a share, compared to just under $8 million, or 16 cents a share, for the same period last year. Airline officials credit continued strong demand for air travel. --

-- and in a related story -- Mesa Air Group has fired its chief financial officer, Peter Murnane, who deleted key evidence from his computers related to the lawsuit filed by Hawaiian Airlines mentioned above. William Hoke, the vice president of finance, will continue to serve as the Phoenix-based company's interim C-F-O. Murnane was placed on administrative leave in September after he was accused of destroying evidence that would have proven that Mesa misused propriety information it gathered as a potential investor during Hawaiian's bankruptcy. A few days later, a judge determined that Murnane intentionally destroyed files that Mesa used before launching interisland carrier go! airlines. Meanwhile, Air Group Incorporated has vowed to remain in the interisland market and provide affordable airfares. The company says it will appeal a U.S. Bankruptcy Court's order that it must pay Hawaiian Airlines 80 million dollars. The amount is about how much Hawaiian has lost since Mesa launched go! airlines to enter the Hawaii market last year. Mesa says it believes the ruling is wrong. Shares of Mesa fell 8.8 percent to close at $4.65 on the Nasdaq on Thursday. Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Air, surged 17.3 percent to close at $5.15.

Hawaiian Electric is blaming a $17 refund to most residential users for a big drop in its quarterly earnings. The company reports third-quarter net income of $20 million, or 24 cents a share, compared with $32 million, or 40 cents, for the same period last year. The utility earlier announced a one time refund totaling $15 million for residential households. The refund was ordered in an amendment decision on the company's request for a rate increase.

-- in more news from the military – Associated Press reported last week that the Strykers are leaving Hawaii. And if environmentalists have they're way, the military vehicles may not be coming back. Nearly 4,000 Schofield Barracks soldiers have been honored in departure ceremonies. The soldiers and their 330 Stryker combat vehicles are headed for deployment in Iraq starting in December. They're set to be in Iraq for 15 months. Meanwhile, the Army has conducted public hearings on the Big Island and Oahu on its environmental study of basing the Stryker Combat Brigade in Hawaii. The Army is examining other options following a federal court ruling that the Pentagon violated environmental law by bringing the brigade to Hawaii without considering alternatives. --

-- Officials at Schofield Barracks have signed a so-called Army Family Covenant intended to assure military families of ongoing government support. Top Army officers are going around the country signing similar commitments. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody came to Hawaii for the Schofield signing. He says there used to be a saying that if the Army wanted you to have a family, you would have been issued one. He says support for the soldier's family now is much better. Among efforts in Hawaii are more than $2 billion to improve housing, creation of a family assistance center, construction or renovation of Army chapels and a new child care center.

-- and the top U.S. military commander in the Pacific is lamenting China's absence at a meeting of Asia-Pacific military chiefs in Hawaii. Admiral Timothy Keating says the two dozen nations that attended the annual gathering are anxious to work with Beijing. Keating hosted the chiefs of defense from Australia to Vietnam at the three-day meeting. It was held to build relationships and to boost regional cooperation. Keating says China was invited but chose not to attend. The admiral says he hopes China will attended in the future.

A Stockton, California, high school football coach resigned late last week amid accusations he was involved in improperly recruiting players from American Samoa. Franklin High School head coach Tom Verner sent in his resignation letter to the Stockton Unified School District. The move came after local sports authorities dealt the school's football program the so-called ``death penalty.'' The sanction will ban students from playing football until 2010. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, it's believed to be the harshest punishment in the history of the high school sport. Local sports authorities allege an assistant football coach working for Verner improved the team's standing by improperly recruiting more than a dozen players from American Samoa.

Well-known hula kahiko photographer Kim Taylor Reece has prevailed in his lawsuit against a stained-glass artist accused of copying his photo of a hula dancer. Reece says that under a settlement, artist Marylee Leialoha Colucci and Island Treasures Art Gallery in Kailua will pay him $60,000 for attorney fees. Reece's attorney, Mark Bernstein, says Colucci's stained-glass piece cannot be commercially displayed, sold or offered for sale. Colucci and gallery owner Gail Allen accept no guilt as part of the settlement. The two works are strikingly similar. They depict a dancer in kahiko, or ancient hula, attire sitting on the sand performing an ``ike'' (EE-KAY) move with one arm outstretched. Reece's photo was taken in 1988. Colucci finished her piece in 1998.

Voters in Tonga will go to the polls next April for their last limited general election before promised democratic reforms are to take effect in the near-feudal monarchy in 2010. Prime Minister Feleti Sevele announced the April 24th date for the elections. Only nine of Tonga's 34 lawmakers in Parliament will be up for election by voters in April. Tonga's King George Tupou V appoints the prime minister and 15 other Cabinet members, while the country's noble families choose an additional nine lawmakers. Rioting over political reform in November 2006 saw eight people killed and the center of the capital, Nuku'alofa, burned to the ground. As the rioting spread, the government agreed to reforms that would create a Parliament of 30 seats, with 21 of them elected by voters.

--in environmental news -- U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye announced last week that the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation he sponsored that would strengthen coral reef conservation efforts. Inouye, the committee chairman and Hawaii Democrat, says the preservation of coral reefs affect the sustainability of the fisheries and tourism industries. He says the health of the coral reefs also affects the sustainability of coastal communities. The Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007 extends and strengthens civil and criminal penalties for damage to coral reefs resulting from prohibited activities. It also authorizes the federal government to remove abandoned fishing gear, vessels, and other debris from coral reef ecosystems. --

-- and several success stories of the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) were highlighted last week during a tour that kicked off the 37th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on the Big Island. Those successes include Unlimited Aquaculture's work with halibut, Kona Blue's harvesting of yellowtail tuna and the Big Island Abalone Corporation's nurturing of mollusks. The lab at Keahole Point has evolved into the premiere site for Hawaii aquaculture, where marine life is raised in controlled conditions before ending up on dinner plates around the world. It was founded in 1974 to explore thermal energy development from the ocean. But within ten years it became apparent the pure, cold, nutrient-rich sea water being pumped up from a depth of 2,000 feet could be channeled into other uses. NELHA is currently landlord to nearly 30 thriving enterprises that generate between 30 million dollars and 40 million dollars per year in total economic impact.

-- and finally -- Television bounty hunter Duane ``Dog'' Chapman’s A&E show, ``Dog the Bounty Hunter,'' was suspended indefinitely after the recent release of a private phone conversation in which he repeatedly uses the "N-word" racial slur to describe his son's girlfriend. According to Chapman's attorney Brook Hart, the taped conversation was sold to the National Enquirer by Dog's son Tucker Chapman for quote "a lot of money" unquote. "`Dog'' has apologized for his remarks. A&E, in its suspension of production of his TV series, said the network takes the matter very seriously.

~ segue to surf / weather ~

In our island weather, there are flash flood and high surf warnings in effect. Expect partly sunny skies during the day, and partly cloudy conditions overnight, with scattered showers and the possibility of locally heavy rainfall. Highs around 81, lows around 60. Light east winds. Chance of rain 50 percent, especially during the overnight hours...and the water temperature this morning at Nawiliwili Bay was 80.2 degrees.

Let's check the surf forecast. There is a high surf advisory for south facing shores. Active and dangerous surf island-wide. 6-9 foot NW swell and 6-10 foot S swell. South facing shores should see waves in the 6-10 ft range thru Mon. N & W Shores have 6-9 ft. surf. This means that some very powerful, potentially dangerous surf have affected many Kauai beaches today, with some locations rougher than others. For generally calmer, safer conditions check East shores (like Lydgate) and consult lifeguards. Expect to encounter strong currents around any surf zone. Outlook through Thurs.: Warning level S. swell thru Tues. Moderate NW swell slowly declining Mon. Always ask lifeguards for the best and safesty swimming and snorkeling locations. Again, there is a high surf advisory for south facing shores, with active and dangerous surf island-wide.

The following information was provided by ocean safety officials at the island’s seven lifeguard towers – they’re listed clockwise from Ha`ena to Kekaha. Please remember ocean conditions can change rapidly. When in doubt, check with a lifeguard. The following heights are the forecast heights of the faces of the waves.
Ha`ena – 10 to 15 feet, visibility is fair;
Hanalei – 8 to 12 feet with fair visibility;
Kealia - 4 to 6 feet with poor visibility;
Lydgate – 2 to 5 feet with fair visibility;
Po`ipu – 4 to 8 feet, visibility is good;
Salt Pond – 6 to 8 feet with fair visibility;
and, at Kekaha – 3 to 5 feet, visibility is fair.
For more information about the current conditions on Garden Island beaches – updated by Kaua`i’s lifeguards each morning – visit kauaiexplorer.com and click the ocean report link.

Did you know that Kaua`i has the highest number of drownings in the state per capita? Even when the ocean appears calm, safety officials recommend using extreme caution anytime you’re in or near Kaua`i’s waters. Statistically, small surf is more treacherous because the dangers are not readily apparent. Expect to encounter rip currents around every surf zone. During periods of large surf, beware of hazardous conditions on the beach as well as in the ocean – use caution when walking in areas with wet sand. While in the ocean, beware of strong rip currents, powerful shore-breaks and other hazards. Remember, check with a lifeguard before going into the water, never swim alone, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep in mind the island saying ~ when in doubt, don’t go out!

The sun will set tonight at 5:59, and it will rise tomorrow morning at 6:45. The waning crescent moon will rise tomorrow at 4:07 a-m, and it will set at 4:04 tomorrow afternoon. The moon will transit the meridian and appear directly overhead Tuesday at 10:08 a-m, with 14 percent of its visible disk illuminated. The Hawaiian name for the moon is Mahina (MAH-hee-nuh).

Mahalo for tuning into KKCR’s NewsBriefs. Please join us MONDAY through THURSDAY evenings before Free Speech Radio News for local news updates. Mahalo to Laura Christine from Lolouila (LO-lo-WEE-lah) for giving KKCR’s website an effective, creative and user-friendly overhaul. You can access TODAY's NewsBriefs online. Visit kkcr.org and click the News link. We welcome your input – news tips, questions, sports scores and more. Visit kkcr.org for more information. Please stay tuned for the Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Richard Fernandez. Aloha.

KKCR Newsbriefs for Monday 29 October 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, October 29th, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Can You Dig It Jazz with Cousin Rich.

Leading off our local news -- Hawaii senators have voted 20-5 to approve a bill that would put the Hawaii Superferry back in service despite court rulings that it first had to complete an environmental study. The measure allows the Hawaii Superferry to sail from Oahu to Maui and Kauai while placing a few minor conditions on it to protect endangered humpback whales and prevent the spread of invasive species. The state House has passed a separate version of the bill that places fewer restrictions on the Superferry. The differences will have to be resolved before the measure is approved.

The state House has also approved a bill that will allow the Hawaii Superferry to resume service while an environmental assessment is conducted. The measure passed with only nine ``no'' votes out of the 51-member body. Leaders in the House say they're willing to consider incorporating more restrictions in their bill, as suggested by the Senate. The House bill leaves environmental enforcement up to the governor. Senate proposals include a provision protecting taxpayers from lawsuits. Legislative action on the Superferry is expected to be completed by Wednesday, the last day of the special session. Meanwhile, Hawaii Superferry CEO John Garibaldi rejected some of the restrictions lawmakers wanted to put on the vessel. Garibaldi said the company would not slow down the ferry’s speed from 39 to 13 knots. He said that wouldn't be effective.

Gov. Lingle, in a spat with the Hawaii Supreme Court, has laid blame on the court for helping stall the Superferry. She said the justices took way to long to decide that an environmental assessment is needed -- nearly 18 months. Court administrator Thomas Keller lashed back at the governor last week, saying the court had a lot of other work during that time. He blamed Superferry officials for delaying the process. Keller said the implication of the governor's statement is that the court deliberately timed its decision requiring an environmental statement two days before the Superferry's scheduled debut. Keller said this is wrong and does a disservice by undermining public trust in the justice system. Lingle's acting chief of staff has jumped into the debate as well. Joy Watari accused Keller of missing the big picture. Speaking for the governor's office, Watari said late last week in a letter to news media that Superferry's actions and the brief delays the company may have caused were inconsequential when compared with the long delay by the court.


A ship off Kauai shot down a Scud-type missile late last week in another test of a new technology meant to knock down ballistic missiles in their final minute of flight. The Missile Defense Agency says a target missile was fired at 9:15 Friday night. Minutes later, soldiers with the U.S. Army's 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade launched an interceptor missile from Kauai that destroyed the target over the Pacific. Saturday's announcement said the most recent test was the 31st quote ``hit to kill'' intercept in 39 tests since 2001 by ground and sea-based interceptors against short, medium and long-range ballistic missile targets.

Army explosive experts from Oahu were called on last Wednesday to dispose of a land mine found at a Kapaa park. The Kauai Police Department says the ordnance disposal team buried the M-6 land mine in the sand at the north end of Moana Kai Beach and detonated it by remote control. Police say the device was unearthed Tuesday at Lihi Park in Kapaa by a crew from Akahi Services Inc. doing trench work on a bicycle and pedestrian path. Officers blocked off the area and remained at the scene until the ordnance disposal team arrived. Police say it's not known how long the land mine measuring about 10 inches in diameter had been in the ground.

Construction of an inline baggage screening system equipped with an explosive detection system is set to begin in April at Lihue Airport on Kauai. Gov. Linda Lingle has released $6 million for the project that will cost an estimated $23 million. More than $2 million has already been allocated. The federal government is chipping in more than $9 million. And close to $5 million will be included in the state budget for fiscal year 2009. Lingle says the project will streamline the screening of passengers' checked baggage at Lihue Airport. The project is part of a 12-year, $2 billion airports modernization plan.

In community news – Beginning tonight, the county is sponsoring its next series of free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training. The training will begin tonight and will continue for the next 5 Mondays at the Anahola Clubhouse, from 5:30 to 9:30 p-m. Advance registration is required as space is limited. Topics to be covered include: disaster preparedness; disaster fire suppression; medical operations; light search and rescue operations; disaster psychology and team organization; and disaster simulation. To register for the CERT training, contact Catherine Stovall, Mayor’s Office, at 241-6398 or via email at cstovall@kauai.gov. Anyone with special needs wishing to participate should call Stovall prior to their attendance. Again, beginning tonight at 5:30, Community Emergency Response Team Training takes place at the Anahola Clubhouse.

Officials with the Kaua‘i Police Department are asking for the public’s help with finding a runaway teen. According to police, 16-year-old Mahealani Goodwin was last seen on Oct. 18 leaving Kapa‘a High School in a white car driven by her boyfriend and hasn’t been seen since then. Goodwin is five feet tall and has brown eyes and brown hair. She has a two-inch, five-point red star tattoo on her inner right wrist. Goodwin is of Hawaiian descent and has a tan complexion and a small build. Anyone with information about Goodwin is urged to call Police Dispatch at 241-1711, KPD’s Investigative Services Bureau, 241-1696, or Crime Stoppers, 241-1887.

The state Department of Transportation has lowered the maximum vehicle weight limit for Wainiha Bridge #3 on the North Shore of Kaua‘i to three tons following a recent bridge inspection. The latest weight restrictions will allow primarily passenger vehicles to cross. Recent bridge tests have found the bridge’s structure to be deteriorating. Short-term emergency repairs have been performed, but the bridge will eventually need to be replaced. The bridge is located on Kūhiō Highway (Route 560) between mileposts 6 and 7. Police and security guards will monitor vehicle crossings at the bridge 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure motorists are following the vehicle weight limit until the bridge is replaced. DOT officials are finalizing plans to construct a temporary bridge at Wainiha Bridge #3, similar to the temporary bridge replaced at Wainiha Bridge #2 in October 2004. The DOT has been meeting with the North Shore community of Kaua‘i to discuss the design of the permanent bridges for all three Wainiha Stream bridges.

--turning to news from across the state and across the region -- An 8-foot long hammerhead shark that may have been the one recently sighted close to the south Maui shoreline was found dead on Thursday in an illegally set gill net. Lifeguard Capt. Jeff Meadows says whoever set the net probably had no intention of catching the shark. While no one could be sure, this shark may have been the same one that has been lurking in shallow waters, keeping people out of the water. Some observers had speculated that the shark was coming close to shore because it was sick. The dead hammerhead had a large number of parasites that looked like brownish-black worms or slugs around its head, mouth and gill slits.

The first U.S. nuclear submarine to shed its arsenal of nuclear ballistic missiles for conventional Tomahawk cruise missiles will spend a few weeks in Hawaii before embarking on a new mission in the western Pacific. The USS Ohio will train in Hawaii waters and then serve as a launch pad for Tomahawk cruise missiles and Navy SEALs in the war on terrorism. Captain Chris Ratliff says the sub will be used to collect intelligence, but he declined to name specific areas in Asia where it will travel. The 560-foot submarine was armed with 24 Trident nuclear missiles in its launch tubes for its first 22 years in service. The military spent $750 million to convert two of Ohio's 24 missile tubes to be able to launch and recover Navy commandos. Fifteen of the missile tubes have been reconfigured, and each will be armed with seven Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The U.S. House has passed the Hawaiian Recognition bill. The House approved the bill 261-153 to support the House version of the Akaka bill in the Senate. Earlier, the House rejected a motion that Congressman Neil Abercrombie said could have undermined the legislation which is identical to the Akaka bill in the Senate. Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flake sponsored the amendment which he said was aimed at ensuring that no racially defined exceptions to law are granted to Hawaiians. Abercrombie is leading proponents of the legislation in the House. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono says the vote on the House version of the bill shows the majority recognize justice for Native Hawaiians is long overdue. The bill must still pass the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. Last year, the legislation fell four votes short of the 60 needed to advance to a final vote in the Senate. Sen. Daniel Akaka, the bill's namesake, says he was thrilled to see bipartisan support for the legislation. He says the bill underscores Hawaii's efforts toward reconciliation.

A confirmation hearing for Laura Thielen's appointment to head the state Department of Land and Natural Resources got under way late last week in the state Senate. The department has been plagued by low morale, high turnover and conflicts with management in some of its divisions. Most witnesses described Thielen as a bright and energetic leader who has the communication skills to repair the broken department. But several people at the hearing complained about Thielen's initial management of the State Historic Preservation Division. It has been criticized for its handling of Native Hawaiian remains disinterred from the site of a planned Whole Foods on Oahu.

Substitute teachers have lost a suit for higher pay. Circuit Judge Victoria Marks has ruled that education officials are not required to pay a four percent raise to an estimated 4,000 substitutes. That's the increase awarded to regular public school teachers in August. Attorney Bruce Wakuzawa says he plans to file an appeal on behalf of the substitutes. Substitutes get different daily rates according to their experience, ranging from $125 for teaches without degrees to $147 for those with full teaching credentials. The substitutes recently won a separate class action suit over back pay, but the state has appealed that one.

Dateline San Diego - A defense contractor has emphatically denied bribing former U.S. Rep. Randy ``Duke'' Cunningham with Hawaii prostitutes and other perks. Brent Wilkes took the stand Friday to say that he never bribed Cunningham or asked him to do anything for any reason other than that they believed in the projects. He has steadfastly denied prosecutors' claims that he bribed Cunningham with luxurious trips, meals and even a rendezvous with prostitutes at a Hawaiian resort in exchange for help securing nearly $90 million in federal contracts. Wilkes' attorney has said the transactions between Wilkes and the lawmaker were all legitimate. Wilkes insisted he had never hired prostitutes for himself or the congressman. Two escorts who testified for the government said they had been paid to join the men in the hot tub of their private bungalow at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel in August 2003.

Some of Hawaii's most violent criminals will be kept locked up for decades under a bill heading for quick passage at the Capitol. The push for the law follows a recent Hawaii Supreme Court decision. It said the state's extended sentencing law violates defendants' constitutional right to a jury trial because it allowed judges to determine facts resulting in longer sentences. Without it, more than 100 prisoners on Oahu alone could seek shorter sentences and get back on the streets. The bill will head to the Senate this week after it passed through a House committee on Friday without much opposition. --

-- and in a related story -- Hawaii state lawmakers are expected to visit two privately run prisons in Arizona early next month that hold inmates from Hawaii. Clayton Frank, the interim director of the Department of Public Safety, plans to show the lawmakers the facilities along with Deputy Director of Corrections Tommy Johnson. Hawaii holds almost half of its prison population out of state because it lacks enough prison space in the islands to detain them here. The lawmakers will visit Saguaro Correction Center, which houses only prisoners from Hawaii. The $95 million, 1,896-bed medium-security prison opened in June. They will also see Red Rock Correctional Center nearby, where more Hawaii prisoners are kept.

The Hawaii State Bar Association has failed to give a unanimous endorsement to one of Gov. Linda Lingle's judicial nominees. Some bar members are not convinced that Randal Lee is qualified to sit on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. His nomination is being considered by the state Senate in special session this week. Lee is an Oahu Circuit Court judge and a former deputy prosecutor. The board vote on his nomination was split among three options -- highly qualified, qualified and not qualified. The split decision of his colleagues could give Lee some trouble when his nomination comes to a Senate vote. Without giving specifics, bar officials say some members are concerned over some of Lee's rulings.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is releasing $6 million for programs to help Native Hawaiians. The biggest amount is $1.2 million for a transitional housing and vocational education shelter on Oahu's Leeward Coast. The University of Hawaii's College of Education is getting $750,000 to help prepare teachers and educational leaders for Hawaiian communities, and another $630,000 goes to the UH law school's Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law. Four grants of $500,000 each go to a homeowner assistance program; to a residential shelter in Ewa; for renovation of historic Kalaneanaole Hall on Molokai; and for a career and learning center in Kapolei Business Park.

Lava flowing from a new vent on Kilauea's eastern flank is now feeding into a lava tube that could allow it to flow farther and faster. Geologists say the formation of lava tubes can be worrisome because they insulate the lava, which has advanced 1.5 miles from the end of the open lava channel. But Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's daily assessment reported Sunday that there's no immediate threat. That means thousands of lower Puna residents remain at a safe distance. Geologist Frank Trusdell says there needs to be a steady supply of lava for it to travel a long distance, but the level of the channel has fluctuated over time. Kilauea has been erupting for 24 years. On July 21, a new outbreak of lava occurred to the east of Puu Oo vent. It was the first time lava erupted in the area outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park since 1992.

--and finally -- A French museum that offered to return a preserved, tattooed Maori head to New Zealand has run into a problem. Authorities in the Normandy city of Rouen (ROO-OHN) got a scolding from the culture minister for not checking with national authorities first. And Rouen administrative court ruled that, pending a decision later this year, the Maori head must remain in France. For years, New Zealand has sought the return of mummified Maori heads and other remains. Many were collected by Westerners in a grisly exchange for weapons and other goods. Rouen's Maori head was given to the city's natural history museum in unclear circumstances in 1875. It was on display there until 1996.

~ segue to surf / weather ~

Our island weather should be mostly cloudy with scattered showers for the remainder of the afternoon. Highs near 85, lows near 64. Winds between 10 and 20 miles per hours. Chance of rain 50 percent, especially during the overnight hours. And the water temperature this morning at Nawiliwili Bay was 79 degrees.

Let's check the surf forecast. There is a high surf advisory for all East-facing shores. Surf is very active all around Kauai today. Strong Easterly Trade winds PLUS Northwest & South swells are creating rough, potentially dangerous conditions at many beaches around the island today. Beaches exposed to open-ocean will experience higher surf and associated currents. For calmer / safer swimming, check out protected areas near lifeguards like Hanalei Pavilion, & Salt Pond. Expect to encounter strong currents around any surf zone. Outlook through Thurs.: A series of NW & NE swells and small S surf is expected into next week. Always ask lifeguards for the best swimming and snorkeling locations. Again, there is a high surf advisory for all East-facing shores.

The following information was provided by ocean safety officials at the island’s seven lifeguard towers – they’re listed clockwise from Ha`ena to Kekaha. Please remember ocean conditions can change rapidly. When in doubt, check with a lifeguard. The following heights are the forecast heights of the faces of the waves.
Ha`ena – 6 to 8 feet, visibility is fair;
Hanalei – 3 to 5 feet with fair visibility;
Kealia - 8 to 10 feet with poor visibility;
Lydgate – 6 to 8 feet with higher sets, visibility is poor;
Po`ipu – 4 to 6 feet, visibility is fair;
Salt Pond – 2 to 4 feet with fair visibility;
and, at Kekaha – 1 to 3 feet, visibility is poor.
For more information about the current conditions on Garden Island beaches – updated by Kaua`i’s lifeguards each morning – visit kauaiexplorer.com and click the ocean report link.

Did you know that Kaua`i has the highest number of drownings in the state per capita? Even when the ocean appears calm, safety officials recommend using extreme caution anytime you’re in or near Kaua`i’s waters. Statistically, small surf is more treacherous because the dangers are not readily apparent. Expect to encounter rip currents around every surf zone. During periods of large surf, beware of hazardous conditions on the beach as well as in the ocean – use caution when walking in areas with wet sand. While in the ocean, beware of strong rip currents, powerful shore-breaks and other hazards. Remember, check with a lifeguard before going into the water, never swim alone, and never turn your back on the ocean. Keep in mind the island saying ~ when in doubt, don’t go out!

The sun will set tonight at 6:03, and it will rise tomorrow morning at 6:41. The waning gibbous moon will rise tonight at 9:34, and it will set at 11:45 tomorrow morning. The moon will transit the meridian and appear directly overhead at 9:51 p-m, with 81 percent of its visible disk illuminated. The Hawaiian name for the moon is Mahina (MAH-hee-nuh).

Mahalo for tuning into KKCR’s NewsBriefs. Please join us Monday through Thursday evenings before Free Speech Radio News for local news updates. Mahalo to Laura Christine from Lolouila (LO-lo-WEE-lah) for giving KKCR’s website an effective, creative and user-friendly overhaul. You can access TODAY's NewsBriefs online. Visit kkcr.org and click the News link. We welcome your input – news tips, questions, sports scores and more. Visit kkcr.org for more information. Please stay tuned for the Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Can You Dig It Jazz with Cousin Rich. Aloha.

KKCR Newsbriefs for Monday 22 October 2007

Aloha and welcome to KKCR’s NewsBriefs for Monday, October 22nd, 2007. Please stay tuned for some local news stories, followed by Free Speech Radio News at 5:30, and at 6 p-m, Sunset Jazz with Richard Fernandez.

Leading off our local news -- Kauai residents told state senators yesterday they oppose creating a new law to allow the Hawaii Superferry to sail without having to go through an environmental study first. The crowd of more than 300 community members was civil but anxious as they packed the King Kaumuali'i Elementary School cafeteria to tell lawmakers their opinions on the Superferry. All but a handful of people who testified said they oppose convening an emergency session to pass a bill that would allow the Hawaii Superferry to resume interisland service. Kauai resident Janos Samu made his point when he asked those in the room to raise their hands if they wanted the Superferry's 350-foot catamaran to operate before a complete environmental review. Only a few arms went up. The meeting was the first of three on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Lawmakers could meet at the Capitol as soon as Wednesday to consider the Superferry bill. --

-- State senators and environmentalists say if Governor Lingle wants to save the Hawaii Superferry so badly, she should be responsible for making sure it doesn't damage the environment. Most state senators want Gov. Linda Lingle to create and enforce environmental rules, and to have strict oversight as she develops the rules, that the Superferry would have to follow before resuming service. But environmentalists have told Senate President Colleen Hanabusa they oppose that position. Their attorney, Isa