HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Abandoned boat runs aground
Advertiser Staff
LIHU'E — An abandoned 29-foot sailboat, whose skipper was rescued by the Coast Guard on Sunday, ran aground yesterday off Anahola on Kaua'i's northeast coastline.
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Todd Offutt said the sloop Getaway is believed to have less than 100 gallons of diesel fuel aboard and did not appear to be leaking any.
Clifford Inn, State Department of Land and Natural Resources public affairs officer, said the state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation would attempt to pull the boat off the rocks if its owner signs it over to the state.
The vessel was left adrift Sunday after it lost its mast about 35 miles from Kaua'i. A Coast Guard helicopter picked up its skipper, identified as Maui resident Ken Keyes. The vessel drifted nearer to Kaua'i and Keyes reportedly tried to arrange for a contractor to recover it. Poor conditions may have delayed the effort, and the vessel went onto rocks off Kahala Point near Anahola.
COUNTY DONATING LAND TO SCHOOL
Kalaheo Elementary School's campus on Kaua'i will grow by 2.8 acres this year, with land to be donated to the school by Kaua'i County.
The state expects to spend $75,000 in land acquisition studies and an environmental assessment before accepting the donation, which is to be complete by December. Gov. Linda Lingle has released $35,000 in planning money to start the work.
HONOLULU
'OPIHI SALES BILL ADVANCES
A bill to prohibit the commercial sale of 'opihi is ready for final reading in the state Senate and will move on to the House for further action.
Bill sponsor Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), said he expects it will be well-received, although nothing is for certain.
The three edible species of Hawaiian 'opihi are a delicacy, but stocks of the coastal limpets have been driven so low that in some areas it is difficult to find legal-sized 'opihi.
Hee's original bill would have banned the sale of 'opihi to remove the economic pressure on the animals. Based on a suggestion by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the bill was amended to limit anyone to a quart of 'opihi. Any more than that "shall be presumed to be collected for commercial sale purposes and shall be prohibited," the amended bill reads.
The measure may be further amended to allow the 200 residents of the privately owned island of Ni'ihau to continue to collect and sell 'opihi, Hee said.
MAUI
LA'IE WETLANDS CLEANUP PLANNED
Volunteers will clean up the La'ie wetlands from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Work on the 6-acre parcel, just south of St. Theresa's Church, will include removal of water hyacinth and torpedo grass. Among the agencies participating in the project are the Community Work Day Program, the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation & Development Council, Keiki 'O Ka 'Aina Eco-Village 'Ohana, and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management.
For further information or to volunteer, contact Rob Parsons at (808) 270-7960 or Philip Thomas at kiheiwetlands@philipt.com.
NEW SCHOLARSHIP FOR CULINARY ARTS
A $35,000 grant from the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation has been used to create the A&B Culinary Arts Scholarship at Maui Community College.
The gift is the first endowed scholarship for the college's Maui Culinary Academy. A scholarship covering tuition, books and supplies will be awarded to one Maui high school graduate annually.
The academy's associate in applied science specialty degrees in culinary arts and baking are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Foundation. The program works closely with Maui's hospitality industry.
For more information, visit www.maui.hawaii.edu or www.mauiculinary.com.
HOSPITALS GETTING REPAIR MONEY
Maui's two hospitals are getting more than $1 million in state money released by Gov. Linda Lingle.
Maui Memorial Medical Center will use $750,000 to replace aging roofs.
Kula Hospital will spend $280,000 for accessibility improvements and $30,000 to repair the damaged roof of the maintenance facility.
$5,000 TO HELP FISHPOND PROJECT
The Ko'ie'ie fishpond restoration project in Kihei received a $5,000 grant from Monsanto Hawaii to help restore and preserve the ancient fishpond and its surrounding area for cultural, historic and educational purposes.
The fishpond at Kalepolepo Park is under the stewardship of the nonprofit 'Ao'ao O Na Loko I'a O Maui. It is listed on the national and state registers of historic places.
MANOA
INDIAN DIPLOMAT GUEST AT FORUM
India's ambassador to the United States, Ronen Sen, will talk about U.S.-India relations at a luncheon forum scheduled for noon March 16 at the East-West Center's Imin Center-Jefferson Hall.
The program will be held on the Garden Level of Imin Center. The event is co-sponsored by the East-West Center, the Friends of the East-West Center, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and the University of Hawai'i Center for South Asian Studies.
The luncheon is open to the public at a charge of $20 for members of the co-sponsors and $23 for nonmembers. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. For reservations or more information, call 944-7111 or e-mail ewcinfo@eastwestcenter.org. Reservations must be made by March 14.
STATEWIDE
'CONTRIBUTIONS' BENEFIT SCHOOLS
Hawai'i tax filers can provide additional support to public school facilities and public libraries through voluntary contributions on their state income tax returns.
On state tax forms N-11, N-12, N-13 and N-15 under "contributions," filers can donate to the Hawai'i Schools Repairs and Maintenance Fund and the Hawaii Public Libraries Fund. For each fund, the filer can contribute $2. The designated contribution will either be subtracted from the refund or the amount owed.
The school repair and maintenance fund first appeared on 2001 tax returns and generated $6,350. Returns for the next three years raised a total of $351,740.
