Hazardous surf conditions are forecast

The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf advisory for windward shores of the main Hawaiian Islands until 6 p.m. today.

Surf along east-facing shores will be 6 to 8 feet.

A high-surf advisory means waves along the affected shores will be higher than normal. The weather service warns of hazardous waves and strong rip currents and urges people to stay out of the water and away from the shore break.

The weather service also is warning mariners around the main Hawaiian Islands of winds approaching 30 mph and seas of 9 feet. The small-craft advisory is in effect through early this morning.

Wreck off Maui is WWII dive bomber

WAILUKU » A maritime archaeologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a Navy plane wreck at the bottom of the ocean south of Maui is that of a SBC-2 Helldiver from World War II.

After diving to the site Saturday, Hans Van Tilburg confirmed the plane's identity.

According to Navy crash records, the plane went down when it had mechanical problems during a dive-bombing practice run in August 1944.

The records show the pilot, Lt. William Dill, was able to land the plane on the water and survived without injuries.

The Helldiver is one of 1,484 naval aircraft known to have gone down in waters off Hawaii.

The plane was an aircraft-based dive bomber designed to carry 1,000-pound bombs.

Groups blast 'pork-barrel' spending

Two watchdog groups are criticizing what they consider “;pork-barrel”; spending by state and city governments in Hawaii.

The Grassroot Institute and Citizens Against Government Waste released their second annual “;Hawaii Pork Report”; on Wednesday.

The study targets several instances of state and local spending on schools, transportation, parks and other government programs.

It takes particular aim at marketing and public relations expenses for the city's proposed rail transit project.

The report also cites a $99,500 settlement with a Big Island woman who was injured in a 2006 traffic accident involving then-Mayor Harry Kim, and a $112,200 loss the state suffered from an ill-fated Chinese technology park.

Grassroot Institute
www.grassrootinstitute.org
Citizens Against Government Waste
www.cagw.org/newsroom/releases/2010/hawaii-grassroot-institute.html

Bag-fee measure stalls in House

A proposal to charge customers 5 cents per paper or plastic bag is not advancing at the state Capitol.

The House Finance Committee heard the bill last week but did not hold a vote to bring the bill to the full House.

The measure would have required businesses to collect a 5-cent fee for each disposable checkout bag distributed to customers.

All money raised from the measure would have been paid into the state's budget.

Maui and Kauai County Councils have already passed bans on plastic bags.

Kaiser promotes H1N1 flu shots

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is encouraging its members to get the H1N1 flu vaccine and is still taking appointments.

Those considered to be at “;high risk”; are especially encouraged to get vaccinated, Kaiser said in a news release.

High-risk individuals are pregnant women, those in regular contact with infants under 6 months old, health care personnel, people between the ages of 6 months and 24 years, and people between the ages of 25 and 64 who have certain medical conditions.

Kaiser members should call their clinic to make an appointment. For more information about the H1N1 flu, visit kp.org.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Delay sought for energy standards

HILO » Hawaii County Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason has introduced a bill to delay implementation of new energy-efficiency building standards until January.

The county is ready to start enforcing the standards in May, but Naeole-Beason says the standards will be expensive to meet, possibly unnecessary and may outlaw common home designs.

She says the postponement is needed to provide time to assess the new law that she and her colleagues passed last year.

The law's author, Councilman Pete Hoffmann, is against a delay, saying such a move would delay energy bill savings. He says putting off the building requirements also would disqualify Hawaii from competing for “;green”; stimulus money from the federal government.