Djou fundraising ahead in race for House seat

Republican Charles Djou has raised more than $60,000 in the third quarter of this year in his bid for a U.S. House seat, outpacing Democrat Ed Case in campaign contributions.

Djou, a Honolulu councilman, collected $60,500 between July 1 and Sept. 30.

Among the donations were $2,400 each from dentist Lawrence K.W. Tseu and Dr. Bradford S. Burton. A National Republican Party group gave him $2,500.

Case represented Hawaii in the House from 2002 through 2006. He raised $41,400.

Among his contributions were $2,300 each from Outrigger Hotels chief David P. Carey III and HSI Electric Inc. chief Robert Dewitz.

Democrat Colleen Hanabusa recently announced her campaign and will file a report in January.

Hawaii gets $150,000 to aid hazard response

Hawaii is being awarded a $150,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

It is part of nearly $21 million in grants to states, territories and American Indian tribes to improve the nation's response to transportation incidents involving hazardous materials.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said yesterday in a Washington news release that the program “;strengthens local emergency response capabilities and serves a vital role in a comprehensive hazmat safety program.”;

Guam is getting a $113,000 grant.

The grants from the department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are funded by user fees paid by shippers and carriers of certain hazardous materials.

Hurricane watch issued for Johnston Island

A hurricane watch has been issued for Johnston Island as Tropical Storm Neki churns in the Pacific south of Hawaii.

A watch mean that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.

The storm is not expected to affect the state. At 5 p.m. yesterday Neki was about 700 miles west-southwest of Honolulu and about 670 miles east-southeast of Johnston, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. The storm has sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving toward the northwest at 17 mph.

It is expected to become a hurricane by tomorrow or Thursday.

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Star-Bulletin staff and Associated Press

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Construction closes Kauai beach park

Haena Beach Park on Kauai's Na Pali Coast has been closed to campers while a new comfort station is being built.

The 11-mile Kalalau Trail begins at Kee Beach in Haena. The trail remains open.

The park will reopen upon completion of the comfort station, which is scheduled for early next year.

Shioi Construction Inc. was awarded the $549,000 contract, with $250,000 coming from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

The HTA funds come from a grant designated for projects to improve natural resource sites frequented by visitors.

The company will demolish the existing comfort station and build a new one, install sidewalks and parking stalls that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards as well as improve the parking area, according to the Kauai County Department of Parks and Recreation.