Lingle hunts federal disaster funds

Gov. Linda Lingle signed a letter yesterday requesting a presidential disaster declaration in response to the storm that struck Hawaii two weeks ago.

Lingle is requesting individual and public assistance for Oahu and public assistance for Kauai.

Individual assistance provides loans and services to residents who suffered losses from the flooding, heavy rain and wind from the storm that struck the islands Dec. 10. Public assistance provides funds to state and local governments and some nonprofit agencies to repair damage caused by the storm to structures.

More than 500 Oahu residents have reported storm damage to their homes, apartments or vehicles. Kauai residents also suffered losses and damage to public facilities that exceeded $2.5 million.

City starts storm debris curb pickup

The city has begun a special collection to remove storm debris for residents most affected by the heavy rain earlier this month, Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced yesterday.

The city will increase the automated and manual trash collections in these areas, which include Waianae, Laie, Waimanalo, Waikalani Valley and the North Shore.

“;We are assigning extra refuse collection workers to those areas hardest hit by the high winds, rains and flooding,”; Hannemann said in a news release. “;Tons of storm damaged debris will be collected from both public facilities and private residences.”;

The city is asking residents to bring their trash to the curb and separate it into four categories:

» Green waste.

» White goods such as hot water heaters, refrigerators and other appliances.

» Household hazardous waste. Call the city at 768-3201 to identify the materials.

» Construction and demolition debris such as lumber, wood, roofing material and carpeting.

All other trash should go into the gray bins for regular pickup.

Marine protection plan is drafted

State and federal agencies have drafted a plan for managing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

It vows to protect, conserve and - where feasible - restore wildlife and their habitats.

The plan calls for reducing threats from invasive species, marine debris and grounded vessels.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources developed the plan with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They collaborated with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

President Bush made way for the protections by naming the 140,000-square-mile island chain in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a national monument in 2006.

The plan can be found at Hawaii public libraries and online at www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.