St. Andrew takes up collections

The Cathedral of St. Andrew is taking up special collections today to assist victims of natural disasters in Samoa, the Philippines, and Indonesia this week through the Episcopal Relief & Development.

“;There's a real need for us to respond immediately,”; said the Very Rev. Timothy W. Sexton, Cathedral Provost. “;Our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world need our help. We can't always go to where people are suffering, but we can make sacrifices in our own lives so that we can give financial support.”;

Collections are being made at the Holy Eucharist services, a special noontime pet blessing honoring St. Francis Day, and the Choral Evensong service.

Checks made out to “;Episcopal Relief and Development”; may also be mailed to Cathedral of St. Andrew, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Churches collect for disaster victims

Catholic churches in Honolulu will be collecting money during Mass today to help victims of the earthquakes, tsunami and storms in Samoa/American Samoa, Tonga, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.

“;Many Catholics have family and friends in those areas and are eager to do what they can to restore a sense of dignity to life in the midst of these natural disasters,”; said Iwie Tamashiro, Parish Social Ministry co-director.

The money will be forwarded to Catholic Relief Services, which will distribute the funds. The agency has committed $1 million for the initial regional relief effort.

Donations can also be given directly via the agency's Web site at http://www.crs.org.

Warnings posted after sewage spill

The city's Department of Environmental Services posted signs and took water samples this morning after a 1,500 gallon sewage spill near the Queen's Medical Center, the city said in a news release.

Rags blocked an 8-inch clay pipe which sent the untreated wastewater out of a manhole at 550 S. Beretania Street. About 1,450 gallons made its way to a storm drain which leads to Honolulu Harbor.

The spill was reported at 5 p.m. Friday.

City crews cleaned, disinfected and deodorized the area surrounding the overflow. The state Department of Health was also notified.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Inventory continues at Kulani prison

The state is continuing to do inventory at the Hawaii island's vacated Kulani prison before turning it over to the Hawaii National Guard for use as a youth academy, possibly at the end of the year.

With the 123 Kulani prisoners moved to prisons on Oahu last month, the state has been able to save money for its sex offender treatment program, said Department of Public Safety Deputy Director Tommy Johnson.

Prisoners moved to Oahu can finish the program in half the time because therapists don't have to fly to the Big Island, Johnson said. Previously, therapists flew to there once a week, but now can hold two to three sessions a week, and inmates can finish the two-year program in half the time, Johnson said.

The savings will be returned to the program.

Kulani's 76 employees continue to do inventory and will be transferred to the Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo. The state is continuing to look at placing some employees in positions around the state.