City sewage overflow reaches ocean

The city posted signs yesterday along the shoreline from Point Panic to Fort Armstrong, warning people of a sewage overflow in Kakaako.

About 5,406 gallons of untreated sewage flowed from the Ala Moana No. 2 Pump Station, the city Department of Environmental Services said in a news release. City crews using “;vactor trucks”; recovered 4,500 gallons, but 906 gallons went down a storm drain. An open valve caused a wet well at the pump station to overflow, the city said.

Water woes close Sand Island park

The state closed Sand Island State Park yesterday after a leak affected the park's water system, according to a news release. The park could be closed up to two days while a contractor repairs the leak.

The state does not expect to have to cancel camping permits for the Admission Day holiday Friday.

Guillermo could temper tradewinds

Tropical Storm Guillermo is quickly dying and is expected to be downgraded to a tropical depression or a remnant low within the next day or two, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

At 5 p.m. yesterday the storm was about 525 miles east-northeast of Hilo and 660 miles east-northeast of Honolulu. Its maximum sustained winds were near 45 mph, with higher gusts. The storm was moving over colder water, which weakens it, and was also being torn apart by shearing winds from the west-southwest, according to the hurricane center Web site.

The storm's path toward the west-northwest will temporarily block the tradewind flow, according to the National Weather Service, but trades could return Thursday along with the possibility of rain.

U.S. Senate looks at state's use of stimulus funds

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, which is led by Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye, will hold a special meeting in Honolulu on Monday.

The hearing will focus on how the state has spent more than $1 billion it received from the federal economic stimulus law that was promoted by President Barack Obama and enacted by Congress.

According to a statement from Inouye's office, the senator wants to ensure the federal money is being carefully spent and used to create jobs and bolster support services.

Gov. Linda Lingle, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann are among those expected to testify.

The hearing is to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the state Capitol.