Dry conditions prompt fire weather watch

Strong tradewinds and dry weather have combined to put the islands under a fire weather watch through tomorrow night, according to the National Weather Service.

A fire weather watch means that a combination of conditions conducive to wildfires is expected.

The watch is for Leeward Kauai, the Waianae Mountains and Leeward and North Shore areas of Oahu, Leeward Molokai, Leeward and Central Valley areas of Maui, and Kona and Kohala areas of the Big Island.

“;Strong and gusty tradewinds combined with dry weather and dry foliage will create the potential for critical fire weather conditions,”; forecasters said yesterday.

Strong tradewinds are expected through Thursday afternoon, weakening Thursday night through late Friday and strengthening again Saturday, according to the weather service. Rainfall is expected to be light during the week.

Dismissal of hotel servers' suit likely

A federal judge is poised to dismiss a lawsuit by banquet servers at the Four Seasons Resorts on Maui and the Big Island who sued their employer because they did not receive all of the service fee money their employer charged their customers.

State law requires hotels and restaurants to inform their customers if all of the service fees they charge is not paid to their employees as tips.

But only consumers, the state attorney general or the executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection can sue businesses for unfair or deceptive practices for violating the law. According to state case law, the only grounds left on which the workers can sue is whether the actions of their employer created unfair competition.

U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor asked the Hawaii Supreme Court whether the banquet employees can still sue their employers for damages even if they didn't state the nature of the competition and how the actions of their employers negatively affected it.

A 4-1 majority of the justices ruled yesterday that the banquet workers cannot. Justice Simeon Acoba Jr. filed his own dissenting opinion.

After the Four Seasons' banquet workers filed their federal lawsuit last year, other banquet workers at other hotels filed similar suits.

Congressional race up for debate again

The public is invited to attend a Congressional debate on April 13 in Moiliili among three candidates vying to fill the vacancy for the 1st Congressional District.

Candidates Ed Case, Charles Djou and Colleen Hanabusa will debate at Willows Restaurant at 901 Hausten St. Entry is $10 and includes pupus.

The event, co-hosted by Moiliili Matters, will begin with a meet-and-greet at 5:45 p.m.

To RSVP, go to the Web site www.moiliilimatters.com, e-mail Derek Kauanoe at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or call 489-5316.

Students compete in geography bee

Sixty-one Hawaii students in grades 4 through 8 will compete at the state level of the 2010 National Geographic Bee at the Hawaii Convention Center on April 9. The preliminary round begins at 9 a.m. and the final round starts at 11:30 a.m.

Hawaii's winner will represent the aloha state at the 22nd annual National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C., on May 25 and 26.

The final round will be moderated by “;Jeopardy!”; host Alex Trebek and will air nationally on the National Geographic Channel and regionally on public television stations.

Maui's Molina favors copter ambulance

WAILUKU » A proposal to eliminate Maui County's only helicopter ambulance service isn't flying with County Council Vice Chairman Mike Molina.

Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares made the proposal last week in the face of a $56 million budget gap. But Molina said a price can't be put on anyone's life.

He said the county's emergency fund could be tapped or taxes could be raised to keep the 6-year-old service going.

The county pays about $672,000 a year for the service, while the state Department of Health picks up the rest of the $1.2 million tab.

County Transportation Department Director Don Medeiros said use of the helicopter has dropped by about 50 percent since a second fixed-wing airplane medical transport company began operating a few years ago.