Students can help with mural

The 50th Anniversary of Hawaii Statehood Commission is asking students across the island and nation for drawings that will become part of a giant mosaic mural.

“;The mosaic mural will be a gift to future generations of Hawaii residents to commemorate the progress we have made since statehood,”; said Tammy Kubo, the commission's vice chairwoman for education.

The 8-by-20-foot mosaic will be displayed in August at the Honolulu Airport.

The Statehood Commission is joining with Project SNAP, a nonprofit organization that teaches children to use art to send a message.

Drawings should focus on the theme “;Commemorating 50 Years of Statehood: What I Love About Hawaii.”;

Artwork must be submitted by June 30 via mail or online at www.projectsnap.org/hawaii.html.

Hannemann to meet with FTA chief

Mayor Mufi Hannemann plans to meet with the new director of the Federal Transit Administration while on a seven-day, three-city visit on the mainland.

Hannemann will be meeting with FTA Director Peter Rogoff, who indicated during his confirmation hearing that he strongly supported Honolulu's rail transit project, the mayor's office said.

Hannemann is scheduled to return Wednesday.

The mayor plans to talk about President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package and ways to leverage it in Honolulu, when he attends the 77th Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Providence, R.I. this weekend.

Hannemann will meet Tuesday with a U.S. State Department official about Honolulu's proposal to host the 2011 meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Two other finalists as APEC meeting sites are Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The mayor plans to deliver a speech Wednesday at the American Public Transportation Association's rail conference in Chicago.

136 cited for tobacco sales violations

A total of 136 stores across Hawaii have been cited since September for selling tobacco to underage youths.

The state Health Department says that amounts to a 13 percent violation rate out of the 1,028 stores visited during the sting.

Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona says Hawaii's violation rate is higher than the national average.

He urges retailers to comply with the law and keep youths from picking up what he calls “;a deadly habit.”;

Oahu had the highest violation rate at 14 percent; Kauai had the lowest at 9 percent.

Fines for selling tobacco to anyone under 18 are $500 for the first offense and up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses.

Forum to discuss 'Future of Korea'

A forum called “;The Future of Korea,”; featuring experts from Washington, D.C., will be held Tuesday by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council.

U.S.-Korean relations and current developments will be discussed from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza Club, 900 Fort Street Mall, on the 20th floor.

Greg Scarlatoiu, director of public affairs and business issues at the Korea Economic Institute, and Paul Loh, political-military officer for the Office of Korean Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, will be the guest speakers, a release said.

Registration is $25 for members of sponsoring agencies: PAAC, the East-West Center, the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Pacific University and the Pacific Forum CSIS; and $35 for nonmembers. Dinner will be included.

PAAC will also award academic and travel scholarships to high school students, of which 22 will travel to South Korea for a two-week summer study tour on a Freeman Foundation grant.

For information, call Doua Kue-Morris at 944-7783 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Energy funds available for ranchers

Ranchers and farmers can apply for grants and loan guarantees to buy and install renewable-energy systems through the federal Rural Educational Achievement Program.

Grant applications must be received by July 31.

For more information, contact Hilo Rural Energy Coordinator Timothy O'Connell at 933-8313 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Garden isle to celebrate coastal trail

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. is inviting residents and visitors to participate in the first “;Mayor-A-Thon,”; an 8-mile walk along the coastal path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae.

Participants can walk, run, stroll, jog or bike along two, four, six or eight miles from Kapaa Beach Park to Kuna Bay.

The event celebrates the grand opening of phase two of the path from Lihi Park to Ahihi Point. The path will eventually run from Nawiliwili to Anahola and will be completed through six phases.

This month's event is co-sponsored by the mayor, Get Fit Kauai, the Kauai County Department of Parks and Recreation and Kauai Path.

It will be held June 27 from 7 to 11 a.m.

The first 300 entries will receive a commemorative shirt.

For more information go to www.kauaipath.org/node/218.