UH praised for serving veggies

Even though they serve Spam musubi on campus, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is in contention to be among the top vegetarian-friendly college campuses in the nation.

Peta2, the youth organization for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says UH-Manoa is the first college from Hawaii to be nominated in its annual Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges list.

“;The University of Hawaii at Manoa is showing its respect for students by offering them food choices that are good for their health, animals, and the planet,”; said peta2's Ryan Huling in a news release. “;When it comes to serving great meatless options and teaching students a valuable lesson in nutrition and compassion, UH is in the running for vegan valedictorian.”;

UH-Manoa was cited for its active student Veggie Club and a menu that includes a vegan “;full o' beans”; bagel sandwich, tofu Cantonese with black-bean sauce and vegan shepherd's pie.

The final list will be compiled through online voting. UH-Manoa is up against the University of California, Los Angeles, in the initial round.

The voting ends Nov. 6 at peta2.com/College.

Last week, PETA took Maui-born baseball player Shane Victorino to task for acknowledging his love of Spam musubi. The national animal rights group complained that Spam is made from pigs that are abused at one farm.

UH-Hilo garden named for Wongs

The 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo dedicated a community garden to the memory of Betsy Nip and Kenneth Aloiau Wong last month, according to a University of Hawaii Foundation news release.

The garden was named in honor of the Wongs through a gift made to 'Imiloa when the center opened in 2006, by their children Sybil Wong Kyi, Sharlyn Wong Rayment and Kenneth A. Wong Jr.

The Wong Garden at 'Imiloa focuses on indigenous plants used for medicinal purposes.

The amount of the gift was not disclosed, but the foundation said other spaces in the garden around the center are available for naming for donations of between $30,000 to $125,000.

Catfishing season extended

Catfishing season at a Nuuanu reservoir was extended to mid-November to accommodate a high number of applicants.

The season at Nuuanu Reservoir No. 4 began at the end of August. So far, 1,834 anglers have caught 1,691 catfish, with the largest weighing 15 pounds. The extension will replace the November season held every year.

The next catfishing season will begin Jan. 10. Prospective anglers may pick up applications for entry fishing cards at the Department of Land and Natural Resource's Division of Aquatic Resources at 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330, and at fishing supply stores starting Dec. 1.

Applications must be submitted in person or postmarked by 4 p.m. Dec. 19.

Makua Stream cleanup discussed

The public is invited to attend a meeting Wednesday to discuss plans to remove debris and restore parts of Makua Stream in Windward Oahu.

The stream was heavily damaged by a severe storm in March 2006. The restoration project will start in November, and federal funds will cover 75 percent of the construction cost.

The meeting will be held at Kaaawa Elementary School cafeteria from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The state Department of Natural Resources will provide information on the project, and the contractor will be available to answer questions.

City Lights permits available

Nonprofit groups that want to create displays to accompany the annual Honolulu City Lights exhibition should submit applications to the Neighborhood Commission Office by Nov. 14.

Permits for five displays will be issued Nov. 17 via a lottery. The lottery was begun several years ago after private groups asked to put up displays at the same time as the holiday event.

Contact Joan Manke in the Neighborhood Commission Office at 768-3710 to request a copy of the application and rules.

Forum on alternative energy set

“;Energy Alternatives in Hawaii”; will be presented by Maria Tome of the Hawaii State Energy Office at a forum from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Windward Community College.

The event, co-sponsored by the American Chemical Society-Hawaii Section, VWR International and INBRE, will be in the Science Complex, Hale 'Imiloa 111.

Tome will discuss renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, ocean, geothermal and biomass and how technology and policies might affect Hawaii's dependence on fossil fuels.

For more information, call 236-9120.