Flags to fly half-staff for Takatani

State flags will be flown at half-staff tomorrow at state and county buildings in honor of former state Sen. Henry T. “;Hank”; Takatani.

Gov. Linda Lingle also encouraged homes and businesses to fly the state flag at half-staff in honor of Takatani, whose memorial services will be held tomorrow.

Takatani died July 6 at the age of 85.

He was a member of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and was elected to the state House in 1968. He then ran successfully for the Senate, where he served for 10 years and chaired the Senate's Higher Education Committee.

Kane is next Bishop Estate trustee

The state probate court has selected state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Micah A. Kane as the next trustee of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

Kane's five-year term will begin Sept. 1, one day after the term of outgoing trustee Robert Kihune expires.

The sole beneficiary of the multibillion-dollar trust is the Kamehameha Schools.

Gov. Linda Lingle released a written statement praising Kane's appointment.

“;He has the skills and experience, combined with the heart and compassion, to serve as a trustee of this valued organization that is of such great importance to Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike,”; Lingle said.

Council seat ballot mailing starts

Voters in City Council District 5 should be receiving ballots soon for the mail-in special election.

The City Clerk's office began mailing out yesterday about 47,000 ballots for the election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Duke Bainum.

Fourteen candidates are vying to succeed Bainum, who died June 9 of an aneurysm.

Anyone who was registered to vote in the last general election or who signed up before the July 8 registration deadline should be receiving a ballot.

Ballots are due back to the City Clerk's office by Aug. 7, when the winner will be announced.

Absentee walk-in voting is available at City Hall starting Thursday until Aug. 5.

District 5 runs from Manoa Valley to the Ala Wai Canal and includes Manoa, Palolo, Moiliili and Kapahulu.

Closing times for 2 H-1 offramps

The Punchbowl Street and Pali Highway offramps to the H-1 freeway will be closed between 5:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. tomorrow and July 26 so Hawaiian Electric Co. crews can perform utility work on Punchbowl Street between Lusitana Street and Vineyard Boulevard.

Utility work will also take place starting Monday on Makakilo Drive between Farrington Highway and the H-1 offramp. Portions of the right-hand, mauka-bound lane in the work area will be closed between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, the H-1 onramp from Makakilo Drive will be open.

Construction is expected to continue until Aug. 14.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Water pump crash affects Molokai areas

About 1,275 homes and businesses in Kaunakakai and Kalae on Molokai are experiencing water pressure problems after a pump breakdown Thursday afternoon, according to a Maui County news release.

A 5,000-gallon water tanker is at the intersection of Ala Malama Avenue and Kukui Place near the post office in Kaunakakai to allow residents to fill containers with water.

The county is urging residents to immediately conserve water and limit usage until repairs are completed.

Customers will experience low or no water pressure as water tank storage levels diminish.

A county spokeswoman said crews will be working through the weekend to fix the problem.

The county is working with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to use one of its wells to alleviate the situation.