http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/local/Kailua News • Culture • Community English news@thehawaiiindependent.com Copyright 2011 The Hawaii Independent Corporation Thursday, February 9 2012 9:05 AM /story/executive-chef-first-to-open-at-kailua-town-centers-phase-3 /story/executive-chef-first-to-open-at-kailua-town-centers-phase-3 KAILUA—Executive Chef has opened for business at the Kailua Town Center’s Phase 3 redevelopment project, better known to local residents as the site of the Whole Foods Market. Executive Chef is leasing 4,559 square feet of retail space, offering cookware, bakeware, barware, cutlery, and gadgets. “This is an exciting time for us as we are opening our second store in a very special town,” said Executive Chef owner Jim Russo, whose flagship store is at Ward Warehouse. “Our customers in Kailua have been anticipating our opening, and we look forward to having them stop in to see ‘what’s cooking’ and meet our friendly staff.” Kaneohe Ranch manages the Center’s property. Clothing boutique Fighting Eel has also opened, and Whole Foods is on track to open next spring, according to Kaneohe Ranch representatives. The retail shops at Kailua Town Center’s Phase 3 occupy 32,000 square feet. The Center will feature wide, meandering sidewalks, outdoor seating, a trellised open-air dining area, improved parking, and a connecting street, Hinano Way, which joins Kailua Road and Hekili Street. News Culture Community Friday, December 2 2011 1:15 AM /story/1st-annual-lanikai-surf-festival-to-celebrate-the-ocean-lifestyle /story/1st-annual-lanikai-surf-festival-to-celebrate-the-ocean-lifestyle LANIKAI — The First Annual Lanikai Surf Festival takes place over the weekend of September 23-24 at Lanikai Park, featuring a wide variety of activities from surf films to a 2.4 stand up paddle (SUP) race. The public is invited to picnic and enjoy free evening surf movie screenings by renowned filmmakers, and browse booths stocked for and by local watermen and women. Lanikai, a quiet, friendly beach community, seems the perfect place to hold an event that celebrates the ocean lifestyle. Friday’s movies include Wateman by legendary surf photographer Don King.“Talk story” sessions will feature revered surfers, shapers, photographers, and surfing industry veterans on Saturday, and a surf museum and surfing-themed craft fair will be held. All of the event proceeds will benefit AccesSurf, an non-profit organization that strives to provide recreation opportunities to people with disabilities, the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization which exists to honor and empower wounded warriors who incur service-connected wounds, injuries, and illnesses on or after September 11, 2001, and the Lanikai Association to support their efforts in maintaining Lanikai Public Park and retaining the residential feel of the community. For more information, visit www.lanikaisurffestival.com. Lanikai Surf Festival Friday-Saturday, September 23-24. Lanikai Park   News Culture Community Monday, September 12 2011 11:37 PM /story/Thielen-to-speak-at-european-wave-energy-conference /story/Thielen-to-speak-at-european-wave-energy-conference HONOLULU— Hawaii State Representative Cynthia Thielen (R—Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) will speak at the Opening Ceremony of the 9th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series (EWTEC) in September in Southampton, England. A biennial event, thi international conference brings together global leaders in ocean-based renewable energy and has a strong emphasis on academic merit, technical and scientific aspects, and policy. Thielen will present a Proclamation from the State of Hawaii during the Opening Ceremony of the EWTEC. She joins a select group of dignitaries from the United Kingdom in kicking off the week-long event, including Mr. Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. In 2008, Oceanlinx proposed a “wave farm” off of Maui in 2008 and received preliminary approval from the state in 2010. A wave energy device has be undergoing development and testing in waters off of Windward Oahu, and in 2010 became the first wave energy device in the United States to generate electricity to the grid. News Culture Community Thursday, September 1 2011 2:03 AM /story/no-real-reason-to-cut-social-studies-and-civics /story/no-real-reason-to-cut-social-studies-and-civics On Tuesday, August 16, the Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) listened to several hours of testimony from dozens of citizens (allowed two minutes each) regarding the value of the current social studies requirements for high school graduation. The board is considering eliminating the requirements based on a proposal from the Department of Education (DOE). The board has postponed their vote, previously scheduled for August 16. No date has yet been set. At the recent BOE Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting, testimony by members of the general public, scientists, teachers, students, and education specialists was unanimously in favor of the current requirements, known as Proposal 4540, and against the DOE’s proposed changes. Since June, the board had been considering whether to stop requiring both the currently mandated “civics” course called “Participation in Democracy” (PID), and the fourth year of (required) electives in social studies for high school graduation. Although no formal announcement has been made, DOE Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe indicated that the DOE is contemplating, but no longer requesting, the elimination of PID from the list of requirements. Current social studies requirements are: * One year of world history. * One year of U.S. history. * A third year of two required one-semester courses—Hawaiian history (mandated by law) and “Participation in Democracy” (PID). * A fourth year of two one-semester courses chosen by each student in the senior year from the roster of social studies courses offered at that particular school. Such offerings include economics, geography, psychology, and global studies, etc. (The actual offerings differ depending on the school.) Hawaii residents are at a loss to understand why the board supports this double reduction—the elimination of the fourth year of social studies electives, and of the PID course—and why the DOE included these reductions of social studies credits in Policy 4540 in the first place. In the words of one commentator following Tuesday’s meeting, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Out of the 129 written testimonies given at July’s BOE meeting, 127 were in favor of keeping the fourth credit of social studies and PID; only two were in favor Policy 4540 as it stands. A majority of commentary in publications throughout Hawaii have been in favor of keeping the fourth credit of social studies and the PID course. Several national organizations have also written open letters to the board supporting the current, more rigorous requirements. For links to more commentary, see Aloha POSSE’s webpage of articles in the press For additional resources from Aloha POSSE, click here The DOE, which initiated the changes proposed in Policy 4540, is currently at an impasse with the the way the board is considering implementing them. The DOE does not believe they themselves will be able to implement the policy for the class of 2016, as the BOE requested in their June 21 meeting. Yet so far the BOE has not taken this into account. The board has offered little explanation as to why it wants to eliminate the social studies requirements or the PID course. Was this change a mistake? When was this decided? How was this discussed internally? Is the board aware that such courses are increasingly required across the nation, and that this is a step backwards for Hawaii? The BOE is committing itself to a vote on something that has yet to be developed by the DOE. This, if enacted, would make Hawaii the only state without such a requirement. That is, of the states that have requirements. Massachusetts, for one, has no state-wide requirements. Typically in such cases, local boards establish their own requirements, and a civics course is common in such districts. There is a substantial amount of scientific research that clearly demonstrates that civics courses in high school have a positive effect on those students becoming voters and participating in their democracy. There is an even stronger correlation for immigrants. (See “Preparing for Citizenship: Immigrant High School Students’ Curriculum and Socialization,” Callahan, Muller, & Schiller, 2008, and visit the Aloha POSSE website for more research.) Furthermore, Hawaii has low voter turnout. In 2006, the Participation in Democracy course was changed from a lower grade level to the junior year specifically to find out whether positioning it closer to the time when students would be actually able to vote would increase voter turnout in Hawaii. Since the students affected by the change are only now coming of voting age, we have yet to see the results of this experiment. It seems absurd to nullify the experiment so admirably put in place such a short time ago. The BOE’s only public comment has been its June 21 recommendation memo (on the BOE website) that it supports choice for students. The implication is that the change in a social studies elective to a general elective gives students more choice.  But how does this really give students more choice? In the Step Up diploma, part of a statewide campaign that promotes college and career readiness for Hawaii’s high school students, five credits of elective choices are recommended. By eliminating the senior project, students will get one more elective choice. Six credits of elective choices is still choice. And they already have choice within the existing program of fourth-year social studies electives. In addition, the claim that Policy 4540 will offer more choice is false because it is based on unrealistic models of course offerings. As the BOE should know, the number and types of courses that can be offered at any given school are based on the way teachers are hired. And electives are actually allocated at schools. (See the White Paper posted by Aloha POSSE.) An additional problem is that the DOE has not yet defined what is meant by a “proficiency-based equivalent,” which is a major component of the new graduation requirements. The public needs to know what a proficiency based equivalent looks like in each of the subject areas, and how long it would take the DOE to develop a policy about proficiency based equivalents. Until they do, the BOE is committing itself to a vote on something that has yet to be developed by the DOE. Some have surmised that the thinking behind the recommendations for the new diploma in Policy 4540 are that it is more rigorous. But this is also a false assumption. The current BOE recognition diploma/Step Up diploma is more rigorous. The current diploma requires four credits of math: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II or its equivalent (because of common core, which allows the creation of new course that might supplant Algebra II); three credits of science including two lab sciences; four credits of Language Arts; and a half-credit that is expository ... plus the senior project. In total, the BOE recognition/Step Up diploma has 25 credits including a senior project. For full details, see the graduation requirements here and the Step Up diploma here. Compared to the Policy 4540, the current BOE recognition diploma/Step Up diploma requires one more credit of math and social studies, including a senior project. (Science and language arts are the same.)  This is the first time since 1967, when citizens of Hawaii voted to elect the BOE rather than have a Board appointed by the governor—a decision we reversed in the last election—that a governor-appointed school board will make a major decision of this magnitude or affecting so many students (now 180,000).  The elimination of the social studies elective and the PID course, with the addition of one more elective, weakens the DOE’s ability to achieve their vision for Hawaii’s students. Our graduates are expected to “possess the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to contribute positively and compete in a global society; exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.” It is the responsibility of the new, appointed BOE to demonstrate their commitment to the ideals of democracy and to the welfare of our state and of its students by voting the proposal down as soon as possible. News Culture Community Saturday, August 20 2011 12:26 AM /story/over-a-hundred-volunteer-hands-in-kawainui-marsh-restoration /story/over-a-hundred-volunteer-hands-in-kawainui-marsh-restoration HONOLULU—More than 100 volunteers from Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), under the direction of “Doc” Burrows, cleared invasive plants, removed tree trimmings, and planted native plants in an effort to help restore the native wetland bird habitat at Kawainui Marsh. Kawainui Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in Hawaii and encompasses about 830 acres of land in Kailua. It is an area of cultural and archeological significance, a habitat for endangered species and introduced wildlife, and a critical flood control basin. HECO volunteers also worked in the lo’i kalo and weeded the area around the Ulupo Heiau. News Culture Community Tuesday, August 16 2011 2:21 PM /story/kailua-beach-park-boat-ramp-closed-till-sunday /story/kailua-beach-park-boat-ramp-closed-till-sunday HONOLULU—Temporary closure of the Kailua Beach Park boat ramp and adjacent parking lot will be extended an additional day. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) crews will begin pouring concrete to shore up and repair areas of the ramp on Friday, August 12, and curing of the concrete will take an additional day, according to DPR Director Gary Cabato. The boat ramp should be open and ready for public use by Sunday, August 14, Cabato said. For more information, contact District Director Miles Hazama at (808) 233-7300. News Culture Community Thursday, August 11 2011 5:22 AM /story/learning-center-keeps-families-together-prevents-intergenerational-incarcer /story/learning-center-keeps-families-together-prevents-intergenerational-incarcer HONOLULU—Summer is a time when moms don’t have to wake their kids up at the crack of dawn, get them out of bed, prepare breakfast or pack their lunch. It’s a time where moms and kids can sleep in or relax at the beach; luxuries that the incarcerated mother does not have. Keiki O Ka `Aina Family Learning Centers (KOKA) offers opportunities for mothers and children to cuddle, read, paint nails, and play games together; reigniting the mother child bond during Keiki Fun Days. In a unique partnership with the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) in Kailua, KOKA offers six “Keiki Fun Days” annually. The Mothers Day Fun Day, to be held Saturday, August 6 from noon to 2:00 p.m. will give mothers and their children a chance to do what so many mothers and their children do on the outside: relax, play, eat and bond together. Keiki booths are set up in a carnival like setting; mats, books, and toys envelop the grounds; craft and game centers are located under an outdoor pavilion. A scrumptious mother’s day buffet awaits each mother and grandmother and their children or grandchildren. In a report published by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, “Hawaii has the largest proportion of its population of women in prison” (September 2010). They alone are mothers and grandmothers to over 300 island children (Warden Patterson 2008). KOKA’s mentoring program addresses the direct impact parental incarceration has on families in hopes of preventing the children of these inmates from entering prison themselves.  The average age of children with an incarcerated parent is eight years old; 22 percent of children are under the age of five. Angel Tree Prison Ministry’s listing of keiki dealing with parental incarcerations in our islands has reached an all time high of 2,000 (January 2010). In order to help rehabilitate the women and help mothers reenter into the community, WCCC and KOKA recognize the importance of working with the whole family.  Former inmate Jackie Bissen shares that Keiki Fun Days like this one helped her to bond with her son. “It gave me reason to live,” says Jackie, “a chance to be a mom, a chance to hold my son like I never did before and give to him what I always wanted; my love and attention.” Warden Patterson knows just how critical events like Keiki Fun Days are. “Such special events,” says Patterson, “help maintain the bond between mother and child in an effort to prevent intergenerational incarceration.”  According to Rucker Johnson, Phd. of The University of California at Berkley Goldman School of Public Policy, over 70 percent of children with a parent in prison will enter or be involved in the criminal justice system by age 16. On the flip side, 30 percent of children impacted by parental incarceration who have a mentor for one year or more help to prevent the intergenerational cycle of incarceration (Amachi Coalition Project 2010). According to The Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, D.C., the average age of children with an incarcerated parent is eight years old; 22 percent of children are under the age of five. “Keeping families together and strong, supporting parents as their child’s first teacher and supporting the unique bond between parent and child is what KOKA’s mentoring program is all about,” says Momi Akana, KOKA’s executive director. “Participating parents make positive decisions to change their lives, to have healthy and meaningful relationships with their children and to stay on track once they return home to their families.”  Jackie and her son participated in Keiki Fun Days and Keiki Hale preschool while she was detained at WCCC. In addition, Jackie’s son had a caring mentor from KOKA’s Mentoring Children of Promise Program. Mentor Kimberly Feliciano became a mentor because mentoring was a way to give back to her community and provide hope to a child. “Mentoring has changed my life,” says Feliciano. Jackie’s son has ambitions of becoming a counselor, helping other children in similar situations with his mind, hands, and heart. Jackie is married, employed and just gave birth to a new baby boy. For more information about mentoring a child of promise or if you know of a child affected by parental incarceration, please contact Momi Akana at (808) 843-2502 or mentoring@keikiokaaina.org. News Culture Community Wednesday, August 3 2011 9:19 PM /story/20000-gallons-of-untreated-wastewater-overflow-at-kailua-regional-wastewate /story/20000-gallons-of-untreated-wastewater-overflow-at-kailua-regional-wastewate HONOLULU—The City’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) responded this morning to a sanitary sewer overflow at its Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. A sewer pipe broke around 7:00 a.m. causing an estimated 20,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into an in-plant storm drain that was contained in an adjacent drainage ditch.  The flow to the pipe has resumed while crews were dispatched to do repair work. ENV notified the state Department of Health. State officials said the affected area has been cleaned, disinfected, and deodorized. Signing has been initiated. News Culture Community Monday, August 1 2011 11:06 PM /story/water-main-break-closes-pali-golf-course /story/water-main-break-closes-pali-golf-course KAILUA—The City’s Pali Golf Course has been temporarily closed due to a water main break in Kaneohe that has disrupted water service to the course. The course will reopen when water service is restored. Golfers already on the course will be allowed to complete their round, and water coolers will be available for them. Board of Water Supply crews have isolated the water main break and expect repair work to continue through the evening. News Culture Community Wednesday, June 15 2011 12:51 AM /story/kailua-gears-up-for-bike-sharing /story/kailua-gears-up-for-bike-sharing KAILUA—Hawaii’s first bike-sharing venture has been launched in Kailua as part of a $100,000 pilot project of the State Department of Health’s Healthy Hawaii Initiative. On Friday, May 20, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, project leaders will formally unveil the program to the community. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn how the system works and experience riding the bikes around Kailua town. The bikes have been available at the two stations for limited use since April 28 in order to test and ensure the proper functioning of the high-tech payment, locking, and tracking systems. Kaneohe Ranch partnered with the State to provide, at no charge, land for two bike stations in prime locations. The sites are at the Davis Building at 767 Kailua Rd. and Hahani Plaza at 515 Kailua Rd. Wisconsin-based B-cycle, LLC has subcontracted with Nguyen Le, founder of Hawaii B-cycle, to operate, maintain and expand the program on Oahu. Le said bike-sharing programs around the world have proven successful at reducing traffic, enhancing public transit ridership and promoting a healthy lifestyle. “We hope a successful pilot program in Kailua will help bring bike sharing to communities throughout the state, and make them better, more sustainable places to live,” Le said. Riders can subscribe online at www.HawaiiBcycle.com for a monthly ($30) or annual ($50) “B-card,” which lets them check out the bikes for free for the first 30 minutes. A one-day pass can also be purchased for $5 at the stations. After the initial half-hour, all users are charged $2.50 for every half-hour that they keep the bikes. This is intended to encourage short rides and the return of the bikes to the stations so that they can be “shared” by other users. Once a bike has been checked out, the user will be responsible for it until they return it to either station. Each of the 12 cruiser-style bikes has multiple integrated locking mechanisms to prevent theft and tamper resistant hardware to guard against vandalism. High-tech features on each bike include radio-frequency identification and GPS to track miles ridden, calories burned, and carbon offsets. Mobi PCS, through their Hele Wireless Broadband device, is providing the mobile broadband technology to keep the stations connected to remote operating systems. Kailua was specifically chosen because of its favorable geographic characteristics: small area, high-population density, short commute distances, and generally flat topography. “Kailua provides a cost-efficient test case for this community initiative,” said Kimo Steinwascher, vice president of Leasing & Development of Kaneohe Ranch. “Property owners in Kailua were the first to volunteer sites for the bike stations, and Kaneohe Ranch enthusiastically supports a program that promotes bicycling and healthy initiatives.” “Active transportation, including bike riding, is a great way to get the recommended amount of physical activity into your day. It also helps prevent chronic disease and combat obesity,” said Lola Irvin, Tobacco Settlement project manager for the Healthy Hawaii Initiative. She hopes that as people see how successful the program is in Kailua, other businesses and organizations will want to sponsor bike-sharing stations to expand the program in their community.  Contact Hawaii B-cycle at (808) 221-6698 or MMHawaii@gmail.com and visit www.HawaiiBcycle.com for more information on how to sponsor a station. Related Story: Segway debate steered by larger tourism concerns News Culture Community Tuesday, May 17 2011 7:33 PM /story/land-and-development-for-koolaupoko-knowing-the-past-shaping-the-future /story/land-and-development-for-koolaupoko-knowing-the-past-shaping-the-future When: Monday, April 18th, 6:00-7:30 pm Where: Windward Community College Akoakoa Room #105 Join us for a panel discussion with business, cultural, preservation, agricultural, and civic leaders who will share their perspectives on and real experiences in the history of land development on the Windward side, and discuss together as a community some of the current development debates, including those surrounding Lā‘ie. This event is based on the idea that we must know the past in order to make the best decisions for our shared future in Ko‘olaupoko. All are welcome to attend. Moderated by The Hawai‘i Independent. For more information, see http://thevalueofhawaii.com or call 808-358-0871. Sponsored by The Hawai‘i Council for the Humanities, The Hawaii Independent, and The Center for Biographical Research. This event is made possible with generous support from Windward Community College. Speaker Bios: Alice P. Hewett is the current president of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club and has spent over forty years working with Police Activities League (PAL) and youth athletics in the Kāne‘ohe area. She is a kupa ‘āina (grassroots) resident of Kāne‘ohe and the mother of Kumu Hula Frank Hewett. Leialoha “Rocky” Kaluhiwa, vice-president of the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, has spent most of her life as a community advocate, most notably working to preserve the rural lands of Ko‘olaupoko for agriculture and open space. A longtime member of the Kahalu‘u Neighborhood Board, she also monitors and advocates for protecting Kāne‘ohe Bay. Herb Lee, Jr. has long been involved with organizations that protect and preserve environment resources, culture, and the arts. He is the president of Lee Communications, Inc. since 1988, founder of the Waikalua Loko Fishpond Preservation Society in 1995, president of Aloha First International, and past president of the Kaneohe Business Group and Kaneohe Rotary Club. He is current chair of the Pohai Nani Advisory Board since 2000, and since 2005, executive director of the Pacific American Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help improve the lives of all Pacific Islanders. Herb is also a professional musician, songwriter, and recording artist. Davianna Pōmaika‘i McGregor is a Professor and founding member of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Dr. McGregor is a historian of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. She lives in Kaiwi‘ula, O‘ahu and Ho‘olehua, Moloka‘i, and helps steward Kanaloa Kaho‘olawe as a member of the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana. Her book, Nā Kua‘āina: Living Hawaiian Culture (U of Hawai‘i P, 2007) focuses on Hawaiian cultural customs, beliefs, and practices in cultural kīpuka. John Reppun is the director of KEY Project in Kahalu‘u. News Culture Community Monday, April 11 2011 8:49 AM /story/pali-highway-landslide-cleared /story/pali-highway-landslide-cleared News Culture Community Monday, February 28 2011 7:52 PM /story/alert-flash-flood-warning-for-oahu-windward-side-experiencing-flooding /story/alert-flash-flood-warning-for-oahu-windward-side-experiencing-flooding HONOLULU—The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Oahu from Kaneohe to Maunawili. Spotters reported flooding along Kaneohe Bay Drive. The area of heavy rain was nearly stationary. Other locations in the warning include but are not limited to Kailua, Waimanalo, Waiahole, Waikane, Kaneohe, Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, Hawaii Kai, and Kahaluu. A Flash Flood Warning means flash flooding is imminent or occurring in streams, roads, and low lying areas and people in the storm’s path should move to higher ground now. At 5:45 p.m., the National Weather Service issued the warning through 8:45 p.m. The Flash Flood Warning may be extended if flooding persists. A Flash Flood Watch continues for Kauai, Niihau, and Oahu through late Wednesday, February 23. A Flash Flood Watch continues for Kahoolawe, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii Island through the morning on Friday, February 25. Flash floods occur during extended rainfall events or within a few hours after the rainfall, according to the Pacific Disaster Center. Generally, if rainfall is of long enough duration, it will eventually cause flooding along the rivers, creeks, and streams draining the catchment area where the rain is being collected. But if the intensity of the rain—the number of inches of rain falling in a given time frame—is too great for the stream system, including flood plains, to carry the water away, flash flooding occurs. The words “watch” and “warning” are used for two different levels of flood alerts. A flash flood watch or flood watch means that flooding or flash flood is possible in the area. The basic message of a flood watch is exactly what it sounds like: “Watch closely, conditions suggest a high likelihood of flooding.” When the word “watch” is replaced by the word “warning,” flooding or flash flooding is imminent or already beginning to occur. If you are in a low-lying or flood-prone area, act immediately to ensure the safety of your family. When a warning is issued, it is too late to prepare property to withstand flooding. You may have only seconds to act. For updated information from the National Weather Service, click here News Culture Community Thursday, February 24 2011 4:38 AM /story/traffic-16-sewer-projects-to-look-out-for-in-february /story/traffic-16-sewer-projects-to-look-out-for-in-february HONOLULU—Approximately 129 projects underway are focused on Oahu’s wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and collection system. The projects are part of $578 million worth of ongoing wastewater projects, including planning, designing, construction, project management and equipment project phases. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services has 16 sewer projects in February that may impact roadways and traffic on Oahu. The projects include: *    Ala Moana Sewer Project—Installation of a new sewer line along the Ewa bound lanes of Ala Moana Blvd., between Atkinson Drive and Queen Street. *    Amelia Street Sewer Relief Sewer—Installation of gravity lines along Amelia and School streets (between Amelia Street and Kino Street). *    Beachwalk Wastewater Pump Station to Ala Moana Park Sewer Phase 1, Force Main System—Installation of a new sewer line along Ala Moana Boulevard (between Atkinson Drive and Ala Wai Canal), and along Ala Wai Boulevard (between Kalakaua Avenue to the dead end of Ala Wai Boulevard). *    Foster Village Sewer Rehabilitation/Reconstruction—Installation of a new sewer line along Hakupapa, Haloa Drive, Piikea Street and Punihi Street.  Rehabilitation of certain sewer manholes on Hakupapa Street, Olino Street, Palanihu Place and Piikea Street. *    Houghtailing Street Area Sewer Rehabilitation—Sewer rehabilitation work in Kamehameha Heights area on various streets within the area bordered by North School Street, Kokea Street, Kamalii Street, Aulii Street, Ilima Drive, Makanani Drive and Kapalama Drive. *    Kahanu Street, School Street, and Umi Street—Spot repairs along Dillingham Blvd., between McNeill Street and Kalihi Street and along Kalihi Street between Dillingham and North King Street.  Installation of new sewer lines along Kahanu Street, Puuhale Road, Stanley Street, Wilcox Lane, Umi Street, King Street and Haunapo Lane between Kalihi Street.  Sewer rehabilitation work along School Street between Liliha Street and the School Street (Ewa Bound) off ramp.  *    Kailua/Kaneohe Sewer Rehabilitation Phase 2—Installation of new gravity sewer lines on Papalani Street (Kailua) and Likeke Place (Kaneohe). *    Kalakaua Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation—Open-cut trench digging replacing 1,500 lineal feet of 6- and 8-inch sewer pipe along Kalakaua Avenue between Philip Street and Kapiolani Boulevard. *    Kalanianaole Highway Sewer System Improvements—Sewer rehabilitation work along Kalanianaole Highway between Wailupe Beach Park to Kawaikui Beach Park and between Halemaumau Street and Paiko Drive.  *    Kalihi/Nuuanu Area Sewer Rehabilitation (All Phases)—Sewer rehabilitation work on School Street (east of Nuuanu Avenue), Kuakini Street (west of Nuuanu Avenue), Liliha Street and Malanai Place. *    Peterson Lane and Pua Lane Sewer Rehabilitation—Installation of a new gravity sewer line on King Street, Peterson Lane, Dillingham Boulevard and Pua Lane. *    Rose Street and Kamehameha IV Road, Richard Lane and Linapuni Street Sewer Rehabilitation—Installation of new gravity sewer lines on Rose Street, Kamehameha IV Road, Richard Lane and Linapuni Street. *    Saint Louis Heights Sewer Rehabilitation—Sewer rehabilitation work on various streets with the area bordered by Bertram Street, Kaminaka Drive, Saint Louis Drive and Dole Street. *    Waimalu Sewer Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Phase I—Installation of a gravity sewer line along Olepe Loop, Hekaha, Lokwai, Lii-Ipo, Pahemo and Kanuku streets. *    Waipahu Street/Plantation Village Sewer Reconstruction—Installation of gravity sewer line within Plantation Village. *    Wilhelmina Rise Sewer Rehabilitation—Sewer rehabilitation work in Wilhelmina Rise area on various streets within the area bordered by Paula Drive, Lurline Drive, Wilhelmina Rise, Keanu Street and Claudine Street. News Culture Community Wednesday, February 2 2011 7:17 PM /story/afghanistan-no-where-to-run /story/afghanistan-no-where-to-run News Culture Community Monday, January 31 2011 7:58 PM /story/uh-students-head-to-capitol-hill-as-part-of-congressional-intern-program /story/uh-students-head-to-capitol-hill-as-part-of-congressional-intern-program HONOLULU—Four University of Hawaii at Manoa students will be spending the Spring 2011 semester in Washington, D.C., as Fellows interning in all four offices of Hawaii’s Congressional delegation. The students are: Sean T. Callahan, 26, of Kailua, who is serving in the office of U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Callahan, a senior who will graduate in May with a B.A. in Economics, served with U.S. military forces in Djibouti (Africa) as a logistics coordinator for a private global engineering contractor before returning to college. Elyse C.N. Oyama, 21, of Kailua, who is serving in the office of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka. Oyama, a senior who will graduate in May with a B.A. in Economics Honors and Psychology, is president of the Golden Key International Honour Society on campus, and a Peer Advisor Leader at Mānoa Peer Advisors and a Peer Advisor at the Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center. Sun Young “Kelly” Park, 21, of Hawaii Kai, who is serving in the office of U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono. Park, a junior who intends to graduate in 2012 with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics, is a mentor for the children of inmates through Keiki O Ka Aina, and an officer of both UH Manoa’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the International Golden Key Honour Society. Edward Y. Toyozaki, 22, of St. Louis Heights, who is serving in the office of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye. Toyozaki, a senior who will graduate in May with a B.A. in Speech-Communication Honors, worked as an office assistant in the state House Majority Staff Office in his freshman year in 2008. “Crucial to the mission of UH Manoa is giving our students the opportunity for real-world experiences that will help prepare them for their future careers,” said Reed Dasenbrock, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Scholarship funding covers a full semester’s tuition and earns each intern 15 credits toward graduation. Also covered are the costs of air fare to and from Washington, D.C., paid dormitory housing, a food and winter clothing allowance, and a stipend for incidentals. In addition to its Congressional Intern Program, UH Manoa will place 10 student interns in the 2011 session of the Hawaii State Legislature and a student intern in the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney. News Culture Community Saturday, January 8 2011 12:25 AM /story/michelle-malia-and-sasha-make-their-way-to-kailua-barack-waiting-for-a-few- /story/michelle-malia-and-sasha-make-their-way-to-kailua-barack-waiting-for-a-few- Hawaii Magazine’s Catherine Toth blogs about the arrival of the “First Family” on Oahu for the holidays. Michelle, Malia, and Sasha will again be staying in Kailua, in the same 7,000-square-foot beachfront home on Kailuana Place the family has rented for the last three Christmases. The President is slated to join them here in the islands once a few more things are settled on Capitol Hill, like the New START arms-control treaty and the 9/11 Health Bill. For a list of bills the President has signed into law this December, click here The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cThe Daily Show on Facebook Related Story: U.S. Senate repeals “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy News Culture Community Tuesday, December 21 2010 3:39 AM /story/december-4-kaneohe-christmas-parade-gets-a-steppin-this-saturday /story/december-4-kaneohe-christmas-parade-gets-a-steppin-this-saturday KANEOHE—Each year Kaneohe rings in the holiday season with its historic parade starting at Windward Mall and ending at Castle High School. The 2010 Kaneohe Christmas Parade gets marching on the Windward side on Saturday, December 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., along the following route: From Haiku Road and Alaloa, makai on Haiku Road, right on Kamehameha Highway (remaining in the Honolulu-bound lanes until Hoene Place intersection). The parade will then cross over to the Kahaluu-bound lanes of Kamehameha Highway, left on Kaneohe Bay Drive, and right into Castle High School parking lot. The parade is sponsored by the Kaneohe Christmas Parade Committee. The event is expected to have 1,800 marchers, 25 vehicles, 16 floats, and 8 bands. For more information, contact Anna Kuulei Richardson Olsen at (808) 348-2749 and kuuleir@aol.com. News Culture Community Friday, December 3 2010 3:16 AM /story/jw-11-10-blues-explosion-this-weekend /story/jw-11-10-blues-explosion-this-weekend It’s a busy weekend approaching for the Honolulu Blues Co-Op, with several shows around Oahu beginning Thursday, November 11 when the Slim Jr. duo of Larry Spalding and Rick Smith perform at Morning Brew Coffee Bistro in Kailua at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, November 13, a special “down-plugged” performance of the entire six-piece Blues Co-Op ensemble will take place at Ward’s Rafters—the cozy, residential venue that has quietly become a favorite among discerning music lovers in Honolulu. The Co-Op features the searing fiddle work of Lisa Gomes. Legendary Honolulu blues outfit Bluzilla performs Sunday, November 14 at Anna O’Brien’s beginning at 5:00 p.m. There will be no cover charge for the concert, which is also open to all ages. Honolulu blues fans have lots of options to see live blues over the weekend, with each venue unique in its commitment to presenting quality, local blues music. Honolulu Blues Co-Op Thursday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m. Morning Brew Coffee Bistro 527 Kailua Road Honolulu Blues Co-Op ensemble performance Saturday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. Ward’s Rafters 3810 Maunaloa Ave. Bluzilla Sunday, November 14 at 5:00 p.m. Anna O’Brien’s 2440 South Beretania Street News Culture Community Thursday, November 11 2010 1:43 AM /story/state-funds-released-for-boys-and-girls-club-of-hawaiis-windward-clubhouse /story/state-funds-released-for-boys-and-girls-club-of-hawaiis-windward-clubhouse KAILUA—Gov. Linda Lingle has released a $1.5 million capital improvement project grant that will go toward the building of a permanent Windward Clubhouse for the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.  Under a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii and the Department of Education, the facility will be located on the grounds of Kailua Intermediate School. The state funds will be used to renovate the existing boys locker room in the physical education building into two new locker rooms and showers—one for boys and one for girls. Other components of the planned Windward Clubhouse include developing a media center, erecting an additional building to house a social recreational facility, and covering a portion of the existing basketball courts. The Clubhouse will be available to youth from all schools on the Windward side of Oahu during non-school hours, including afterschool, intersession, and holidays. It will offer youth development programs that emphasize character and leadership development; education, technology, and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness, and recreation. During regular school hours, the Windward Clubhouse will be used by Kailua Intermediate’s approximately 650-670 students. “This is an extremely exciting opportunity to create an educational experience for young people,” said David Nakada, executive director, Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.  “By partnering with the State DOE we are able to build a facility and offer a program that will seamlessly create an 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in-school and afterschool day at Kailua Intermediate School. We could not have come this far without the visionary leadership and perseverance of Kailua Intermediate School Principal Suzanne Mulcahy,” Nakada added. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5 million. The Boys and Girls Club has successfully raised the remaining $3.5 million through private donations from corporations, foundations, and individuals. The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii operates seven facilities on Oahu and two on Kauai where members can access programs and services that guide them to become responsible citizens. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” Boys and Girls Club clubhouses and outreach sites provide guidance-oriented character development programs six days a week for children 7 to 17 years old. Annual membership is $1. The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii is a charter member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and has been operating in Hawaii since 1976. The organization touches the lives of nearly 4,800 members and provides services to an additional 5,000 youths each year, many from disadvantaged circumstances. For more information, visit http://www.bgch.com. News Culture Community Thursday, October 28 2010 12:22 AM