(AP). Once again, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is opposing a bill that would give Native Hawaiians a chance to form their own government. The commission has sent a letter to Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress opposing the measure. The panel said it’s against the bill because it would further subdivide Americans.
The future of fish farming off the Kohala Coast will be the topic of an open ocean aquaculture meeting this Wednesday, 5:30 pm, at the Hamakua Mac Nut Building in Kawaihae. Guest speakers include Jim McVey of Indigo Seafood and Kale Gumapac of the Kanaka Council.
The Leeward Planning Commission has given a gated community a favorable recommendation, despite an acknowledgement that the project coulc conflict wit the Kona Community Development Plan. According to “West Hawaii Today”, the request from the Kona Country Club for rezoning of 51.1 acres of land and a special management area permit to build 60 residential units on the property mauka of Alii Highway and the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass will next go to the County Council’s planning commission for approval.
Hawaii’s four county mayors will join state and county tourism officials this week for a special marketing campaign in Los Angeles to promote Hawaii as a wonderful visitor destination. Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi said “Hawaii has so much to offer as a visitor destination, and reductions in hotel room rates and air fares make this the ideal time to experience all that Hawaii has to offer.”
The Hawaii Meth Project is holding a volunteer orientation meeting this Thursday evening at 6 at the Hilo High School Library. Cindy Adams, the executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project, tells the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald” that recent hard-hitting and graphic announcements on radio and television have gained the attention of young adults–a group that needs help in combating meth addiction. A follow up meeting is set for Setember 8th at the Kealakehe High School Cafeteria.
Hawaii Island Sports Briefs: The Big Island Auto Club hosts the 20th Annual H.J. Tommy Thompson Labor Day Drags at the Hilo Drag Strip this Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 7am both days. In UH-Hilo wahine volleyball action, hard-hitting senior middle blocker Fabiane Seben led the vulcan volleyball team to its third straight victory on Saturday, as the fired up squad beat Montana State Billings 25-14, 25-18, and 25-20. In BIIF pre-season football, Honokaa beat Konawaena, 34-22. On Friday, Waiakea squeeked past Kapaa, Kauai, 15-12. In BIIF bowling, Jessica Sagawa totaled 519 pins to lead Hilo past Waiakea as the BIIF bowling season began at the Hilo lanes. The Hilo Boy team made it a clean sweep with a 2-1 win over the Waiakea boys.
The UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy will soon install a major instrument that will help further research at the University, thanks to a gift from the Wyeth Corporation. The Bruka-Biospin Avance DRX 400 is a magnetic resonance spectrometer that will be used to identify the structures of unknown chemicals including potential new drugs. Dean John M. Pezzuto says the gift is a signal of support from the pharmaceutical industry for the growing College of Pharmacy.