Caldwell won't run for council

City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell said yesterday he will not run in the special election for the City Council seat of the late Duke Bainum.

“;Mayor (Mufi) Hannemann gave me a tremendous responsibility and a strong vote of confidence when he appointed me to serve as the city's managing director,”; Caldwell said in a news release, adding that the job “;has given me opportunities for executive leadership,”; including on the city's rail transit project and other “;far-reaching public policies.”;

The former state House majority leader was appointed managing director after being disqualified last year to run in the election for the same Council seat (Manoa-Makiki-Moiliili-Kaimuki) against Bainum because Caldwell failed to resign the House seat before filing his Council nomination papers. Caldwell tried to enter the Council race at the behest of Hannemann.

Friends group seeks funds to drydock Falls of Clyde

A fundraiser will be held June 30 to help offset the costs of towing the Falls of Clyde ship from Honolulu Harbor to Kalaeloa.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of Falls of Clyde, will take place at the Dillingham Transportation Building's arcade in front of the Honolulu Cafe, 741 Bishop St. from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tow costs are estimated at $12,000. Bruce McEwan, president of the nonprofit organization, said the group hopes to raise $5,000. Grants and other donations are also being sought. The historic ship will be towed to a drydock in Kalaeloa by the end of July, where it will remain for 10 days.

Tickets are $40 each. Half of the ticket cost is tax-deductible. The organization will also launch the Bob Krauss Million Quarter Drive. The drive is similar to the Million Penny Drive that Krauss started nearly 50 years ago to bring the ship back to the islands for restoration. Money raised will be used for initial preservation work to begin in early August.

For more information and to make reservations, call Shannon Wood at 224-4496 by 2 p.m. Friday or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your full name, number of people in your party and contact information.

State to get $610,704 grant for wildlife protection

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will receive $610,704 in federal funds for protection of island wildlife and habitats.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono announced the release of Hawaii's share of $61 million distributed through the U.S. Department of Interior State Wildlife Grants Program. The money goes for research, surveys, species and habitat management and other conservation efforts, according to a release.

County works to reopen boat ramp

HiLO » A Hawaii County official hopes to have a short-term solution in place in time to reopen the deteriorating Laupahoehoe boat ramp by the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Clayton Honma, deputy director the county's Department of Parks and Recreation, says the only boat ramp along the Hamakua Coast was closed June 9 because it was unsafe.

Waves caused the concrete to crumble, exposing jagged reinforcing steel bars. Uneven surfaces have also left the facility unusable.

Honma says the ramp at the county's Laupahoehoe Point Beach Park is used by recreational and subsistence fishermen.

He says there is no other boat ramp for about 40 miles in either direction.