The first-ever 12-hour Youth Xchange Video Marathon will be held at Pearlridge Center's Downtown Center Court today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

All 565 student-produced videos entered in the sixth annual 'Olelo Youth Xchange statewide student video competition will be continuously shown on three large-screen monitors on the ground level.

'Olelo staff will also be available to provide information about the video training programs and community access services and resources it offers.

FUNDS RELEASED FOR WATER SYSTEM WORK

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $1,777,000 in construction money for water system improvements at the Hawai'i Army National Guard's Pu'unene Armory on Maui, Lingle's office said yesterday.

Maui County's Department of Water Supply has notified the National Guard that water pressure currently available at the Pu'unene Armory will be reduced in the future. Existing water systems would not be able to function at the lower water pressure, making these improvements critical to the facility's ongoing operation.

Project improvements will include construction of a 250,000 gallon fire-flow storage tank and a 3,000 gallon water tank, the installation of water pumps, fire sprinkler pumps and iron water piping, as well as pipe chlorination, landscape irrigation and various electrical work.

NAVY TO DEPLOY 37 IN UNIT TO MIDDLE EAST

The Navy said 37 sailors with the Hawai'i-based Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One will deploy today to the Middle East to provide command and control of explosive ordnance disposal operations throughout the region.

This will be MDSU One's second deployment to Bah-rain; unit members previously deployed to Bahrain in 2008 to perform the same functions, officials said.

"From participating in exercises with India, conducting harbor clearance operations in Saipan, to de-beaching the USS Port Royal, MDSU One has once again proved we are trained and ready to go," said Cmdr. John Moulton, the unit's commanding officer.

The Pearl Harbor cruiser Port Royal ran aground off Honolulu airport on Feb. 5, and it took 3 1/2 days of efforts by divers and Navy and civilian tugs to pull the 9,600-ton warship off the reef.

MDSU One's headquarters element and Company 1-3 will be based in Bahrain and will conduct theater-wide diving, salvage and explosive ordnance disposal operations, including anti-terrorism and force protection, as well as exercises with partner nations.

MDSU One is one of only two such units in the Navy. On Jan. 12 it helped with the recovery of a Marine assault amphibious vehicle that sank off Bellows Beach. The team rigged the 26-ton vehicle with Kevlar straps and lift pontoons to raise it.

Navy Times reported in February that the Pearl Harbor-based unit will be decommissioned by Oct. 1.

Gone will be 67 diving and support billets, according to Navy Times, including the commanding officer, executive officer and the command master chief billets.

HPU TO RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL ALUMNI

Hawai'i Pacific University will recognize three alumni for their accomplishments at its ninth annual Paul C.T. Loo Distinguished Alumni Awards, at 6 p.m. Friday at the Waialae Country Club.

The annual award ceremony is named in recognition of Paul C.T. Loo, one of the founders of the university.

Graduates of HPU are honored in three categories including the Young Alumni Award, for serving as an outstanding role model for future alumni; the Professional Achievement Award, for distinguished career accomplishments; and the Alumni Service Award, for outstanding service to the community and to HPU.

For more information about the Paul C.T. Loo Alumni Awards, contact HPU Alumni Relations at 544-0840. For more information, visit www.hpu.edu/looreservation.

UH TO CONDUCT INSURANCE STUDY

The University of Hawai'i will conduct a feasibility study on establishing and operating an owner-controlled insurance program.

The study was approved by the UH Board of Regents.

Such a program would provide an array of insurance coverage for contractors and subcontractors working on designated construction projects throughout the university system.

The university said Thursday that $482 million in construction should be taking place within the next two years.

University officials say the system could possibly realize $5 million to $10 million in savings with the program.

It would provide workers' compensation, employers' liability, general liability, excess liability and builders' risk insurance.