UH center Gets $4.8M to prepare for disasters

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded more than $4.8 million to the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii, said U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.

“;The funding allows the best training possible,”; Senate Appropriations Chairman Inouye said in a statement.

“;With proper training, Hawaii and our surrounding island communities are further ensured they will be prepared and safeguarded from natural disasters, including terrorism.”;

The UH disaster training center site is one of seven in the United States that conducts training to ensure that communities are ready to respond, recover and reconstruct after natural and man-made disasters.

Funeral set for Councilman Bainum

Funeral services will take place next week for former City Councilman Duke Bainum, who died June 9 of an aneurysm.

Visitation and viewing is set to begin at noon June 26 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary, 30 N. Kukui St., with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m.

Burial is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. the following day at Diamond Head Memorial Park, 529 18th Ave.

The public is invited.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations to the Duke and Jennifer Bainum Foundation, P.O. Box 11120, Honolulu 96828.

Bainum was 56 years old.

A special mail-in election will be held to fill his vacancy on the City Council.

Panel for fellowships has isle links

President Barack Obama appointed 28 members yesterday to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, which provides “;young individuals with experience working at the highest levels of federal government,”; said the White House in a statement.

Among those chosen were two members with strong ties to Hawaii.

One of them, Pierre Omidyar, a Punahou alumnus ('84) and current trustee, founded eBay in 1995 and created what the eBay Web site describes as “;the world's largest online marketplace—where practically anyone can sell practically anything at anytime.”;

The second member with isle ties, Maya Soetoro-Ng, a former social studies lecturer at the University of Hawaii Lab School, is Obama's half sister, who had campaigned in more than a dozen states for his campaign from 2007 to 2008.

The commission will meet this weekend in Washington, D.C., to select this year's recipients for the fellowship program.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Mayor Kenoi, others to talk about traffic

Relief from Kona's “;nightmarish traffic congestion”; will be the subject of a public meeting Tuesday, the county announced.

The proposed Ane Keohokalole Highway, or mid-level road, will be discussed at 6 p.m. at Kealakehe High School by Mayor Billy Kenoi, state and federal officials and representative from Belt Collins Hawaii, the consultant for planning and design.

The draft environmental assessment also will be released Tuesday.

Phase one includes two north-bound lanes from Palani Road to Kealakehe High.

Construction of the highway will be funded through $35 million in federal stimulus funds if the project is ready to be put out to bid by October.

The county said $1 million is being set aside to preserve a 15th-century farm site near Palani Road.

The county hopes to begin construction early next year and hopes to open the road by 2013.

For more information call 327-3602 or 961-8321.