Greeters barred from Kauai harbor

NAWILIWILI, Kauai » Cruise ship visitors to Kauai this year won't get the greeting they may be used to.

After decades of meeting cruise ship tourists, Hawaii officials banned greeters who work for private tour companies or even free shuttles from harbor property effective Jan. 1.

“;What they're taking away is the aloha spirit,”; said Ephraim Kaleiohi, owner of Aloha Discovery Island Tours.

The state Department of Transportation said it changed its greeter policy due to increased traffic congestion at Nawiliwili Harbor. No business should be conducted inside harbor fences until a set of administrative rules are put in place, said Mike Formby, deputy director for the state Department of Transportation.

He said he doesn't want greeters inside the harbor, “;yelling and shouting,”; to be viewed as solicitors or “;hawks.”;

Tour operators who are scheduled to meet customers will still be allowed to pick them up at the ship.

Rules governing acceptable solicitation at the harbor are already being crafted, and they could be complete by the end of this year, Formby said.

Between 1,900 and 2,400 visitors arrive on Kauai with each cruise, and the greeters fight for their dollars the moment they reach land.

Grant awarded for fighting fire

The Honolulu Fire Department received $141,695 in federal money to help pay for the cost of fighting a Waialua brush fire in 2007, a department news release said.

Federal Emergency Management Agency provided the funds as part of the Fire Management Assistance Grant.

The 7,000-acre fire started Aug. 12 on the slope of an irrigation reservoir near Poamoho Gulch and burned for 10 days. It is believed to have been started by an arsonist. Strong winds and dry fuel fed the fire, which damaged farming equipment and crops. It forced evacuations, closed roads, and caused power outages.

City, state and federal agencies assisted in fighting the fire.

The grant program provides 75 percent of the eligible costs to help control wild-land fires that threaten to cause major disasters.

UH raises $419K for United Way

University of Hawaii campuses on Oahu raised $419,537 for the Aloha United Way, the highest total ever for UH-Manoa, UH-West Oahu and the four community colleges here, the university said in a news release.

The university has participated in the Aloha United Way campaign for the past 15 years and has raised more than $5 million in total. The money comes from employee campaigns, fundraising events and an annual softball tournament.

The UH campaign for AUW is still accepting donations. People interested in contributing can contact Mel Colquitt at 543-2243 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).