Barbers Point commissary will shut down

The commissary at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station will close April 30 and the 20,000-square-foot store at Kalaeloa will be turned over to Ford Island Ventures on June 1.

The store's 41 employees will be offered jobs at other Navy facilities.

Barbers Point Golf Course, the picnic area and cottages at White Plains and Nimitz beaches continue to be operated by the Navy's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department.

The Navy Exchange will continue to operate the Touch 'N Go Mini-Mart Gas Station through next year. The Subway Sandwich Shop and a child-care center, now operating as Kamaaina Kids and serving military and civilian families in West Oahu, are operating under an agreement with Ford island Ventures.

The athletic fields also are open to the public, and the bowling center re-opened to the public earlier this year.

Warmer temperatures on the way

The weather should start warming up today after a cool front passed through the islands, tying a record for the lowest high temperature in Honolulu, National Weather Service says.

Tradewinds should replace the cool and gusty winds, and overcast skies should start to clear, allowing more sunshine through to heat things up, according to meteorologist Vladimir Ryshko.

Temperatures this week should be in the 80s, more normal for this time of year.

On Friday, the high temperature was 74 degrees, tying a record for the lowest high temperature set in 1948 and previously matched in 1962.

Sewage spills into Pearl Harbor

The Navy has notified the state of an 800-gallon sewage spill following a break in a 16-inch main, the state Department of Health said yesterday.

The sewage spilled into a storm drain at Merry Point and entered Pearl Harbor. Work crews are repairing the break, and warning signs have been posted.

Pinwheels to reflect child welfare

The public is invited to plant colorful pinwheels on the state Capitol's front lawn from 2 to 4 p.m. today to emphasize the importance of protecting Hawaii's children from abuse and neglect.

The display of more than 10,000 metallic blue and white pinwheels will remain through next Sunday.

The event is one of many activities funded this month by the state Department of Health to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Mudslide blocks trail to Kalaupapa

A mudslide has blocked the only land route to the Kalaupapa leprosy settlement on Molokai.

Heavy rains triggered the mudslide last week, seriously damaging a footbridge on the narrow, winding trail leading down to the isolated peninsula from 2,000-foot-high cliffs.

Molokai Mule Ride President Roy Horner says mules can't get down the trail at all. He says a person would need to “;hug the mountainside”; to pass the slippery bridge and eroded soil.

Kalaupapa National Historical Park Superintendent Stephen Prokop said the trail is unsafe and that it will cost about $150,000 and take several weeks to repair the bridge. The settlement can otherwise be reached only by plane or boat.

Volcanoes park entry free for week

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is offering free admission this week in celebration of National Park Week.

Starting today, visitors won't have to pay an entrance fee at any of the country's 392 national parks.

Visitors will have to pay entrance fees again starting April 26.

The park has activities visitors can participate in, including removing non-native faya trees to restore the forest near Keanakakoi Crater.

Others may help repair fences that safeguard the park's five horses and two mules.