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State Capitol news veteran
Dunford retires from AP
Bruce Dunford, a 37-year veteran of the Associated Press's Honolulu bureau, retires this week after serving as the AP's state Capitol bureau chief for 24 years.
Dunford, 62, was honored last week by Gov. Linda Lingle, who said Dunford was appreciated for his "straightforward, accurate reporting."
"Bruce Dunford is a fixture in Hawaii media," Lingle said as she declared Tuesday "Bruce Dunford Day."
The motorcycle-riding grandfather of two said he had no plans as he started retirement, except that he wanted to do a lot more fishing and body surfing.
Much of Dunford's reporting has been for the neighbor island newspapers as he followed the legislators from the Big Island, Maui and Kauai for the AP. West Hawaii Today Editor Reed Flickinger said Dunford has been a constant feature on his paper's front page.
"He has been the name and voice and the word. Bruce Dunford has been a reliable and accurate source of information for this island and has illuminated a lot of topics that are of critical importance to neighbor island residents," Flickinger said.
Group forms to support Honolulu rail transit
Residents, public officials and transportation professionals have formed a group to support rail transit in Honolulu.The Committee for Balanced Transportation will support legislative actions to set up and fund rail transit.
"Anyone who drives on Oahu knows we have a serious problem," said Darrlyn Bunda, spokeswoman for the organization.
The group will meet at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 8 in Honolulu I Room in the Tapa Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
For information, visit the group's Web site at www.saveoahu.org.
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