TV officials slam funding cutback

Hawaii's community television officials are blasting state funding cuts they contend will force more reductions in its services.

'Olelo Community Media President Kealii Lopez said in a statement Friday that the funding cuts will be devastating.

She says the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is continuing to hold back millions of dollars in money that Oceanic Time Warner pays the state to operate the community television system.

'Olelo cut staffing by 10 percent last year and reduced hours at its six neighborhood media centers.

Lopez says the department's decisions will force more cuts in center hours and services, such as video production.

She says funds are available to head off additional cuts, but the agency refuses to budge.

Isle events to honor King's memory

Hawaii joins the rest of the nation today in honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

In Honolulu the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade starts from Magic Island at 9 a.m.

The parade will make its way through Waikiki along Kalakaua Avenue to Kapiolani Park.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition-Hawaii says the parade will be followed by a Unity Rally at the park.

It says the rally will feature music and entertainment, local and ethnic foods, a children's playground, community booths and vendors.

The group says last year more than 50 units and some 1,000 people marched or rode in the parade, many thousands watched along the parade route and an estimated 3,000 attended the post-parade celebration.

UH professors to be repaid in 2012

University professors will get back the money they lose in a pay cut over 18 months in three lump sum payments beginning Aug. 1, 2012.

Electronic ratification voting begins Thursday for members of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly on a tentative agreement with UH.

The tentative agreement calls for a 6.7 percent pay cut for union members through June 30, 2011. The salary cut, which began Jan. 1, was challenged in court by the union before Saturday's announcement that a tentative deal had been reached.

Other details:

» Salaries cut on Jan. 1 will be restored to Dec. 31, 2009, rates on July 1, 2011.

» Lump sum payment on Aug. 1, 2012, and Aug. 1, 2013; each equal to 25 percent of total reduction in compensation.

» Lump sum payment on Aug. 1, 2014, equal to 50 percent of total reduction in compensation.

» Three percent raise on July 1, 2013, and on July 1, 2014.

» Payroll lag beginning with June 30 paycheck.

UH professors will eventually be paid on the 5th and 20th of each month, consistent with other public employees unions.

The contract would expire on June 30, 2015.

Results of ratification voting will be announced on Jan. 26.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kilauea pond is lighting up Big Island sky

VOLCANO, Hawaii » A sloshing, surging lava pond deep within the summit of Kilauea volcano is creating a bright glow and lighting up the nighttime sky.

The molten rock has illuminated Halemaumau crater since Thursday, a result of an interruption in the volcano's flow since early January.

Magma returning to the volcano following the interruption has caused the pond to rise within 400 feet of the crater floor. The pond is normally about 660 feet below the crater's surface.

Geologist Tim Orr said heat from the loud, spattering lava flow could be felt from more than 800 feet above the pond.

Orr estimated the pond was slightly smaller than Hilo Bay's Coconut Island, about 230 to 330 feet across.