Beware of scam, HECO warns

Hawaiian Electric Co. is warning about a telephone scam that targets HECO customers.

Scam artists have called residents and businesses on Oahu and the Big Island, telling them their electric bill is overdue and must be paid or electric service will be disconnected, a HECO news release said.

Customers should not provide personal, confidential or financial information to an unidentified individual, the release said.

Call HECO's customer service department for questions or concerns at 548-7311 on Oahu, 969-6999 on the Big Island, and 871-9777 on Maui.

Suspicious activity should be reported to the company or to police.

$1.7M for rockfall, stream work

About $1.7 million has been released by Gov. Linda Lingle for projects on Maui, Kauai and Oahu to mitigate rockfalls and restore streams.

Of that amount, $965,000 would be used to remove boulder and rock outcroppings near private residences in Lanikai.

Also, $700,000 would supplement federal funds to cover restoration work on Makaua Stream on Oahu, and Wailapa Stream on Kauai. The rest of the money would go toward rockfall mitigation at Pauoa on Oahu, and Koko Beach on Maui.

Hirono holds meetings on 3 isles

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono will hold a series of town hall meetings on three islands at the end of this month. The meetings will be held:

» Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. at Lanai Elementary and High School on Lanai.

» Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m. at Kaneohe Elementary School.

» Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at Kaunakakai Elementary School on Molokai.

Japan-exchange sessions set

Informational meetings will be held this month on the Japan Exchange and Teaching program, or JET, that offers opportunities for American citizens to teach foreign languages in Japan.

Meetings will be held:

» Today at 11 a.m. at Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Aloha Center ballroom

» Wednesday at noon at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Campus Center, Rooms 307-308

» Next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hawaii Tokai University, 2241 Kapiolani Blvd., eighth floor.

» Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Room UCB 10.

For information, contact the JET Program office at the Japanese Consulate at 543-3126 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).