Hilo’s third annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday attracted thousands of current and former military personnel, their families, supporters, and a scattering of anti-war protestors. For the most part, the parade was peaceful with only a few verbal exchanges between parade participants and protestors. Local residents lined the usual downtown Hilo parade route to than veterans for their sacrifices and to see a wide variety of marching bands, classic cars, and even an Elvis impersonator in a Cadillac convertible. Malu Aina representative Jim Albertini told the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald” that he protested the use of two Stryker combat vehicles because of possible contamination by depleated uranium.
The Law Enforcement & Security Coalition of Hawaii has selected Detective Tod Bello as the “Top Cop” for Hawaii County. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, Bello was recognized for his work in batling the crystal methamphetamine epidemic on Hawaii Island. Bello, a native of Hilo, has been on the Ice Task Force since it began six years ago. During the past year, Bello’s efforts have resulted in 213 criminal cases, the disruption of two drug trafficing rings, and the confiscation of more than one and a half pounds of crystal methamphetamine.
Ivan Mochida Contracting of Hilo has retained two Honolulu attorneys in an attempt to collect what it claims are delinquent construction costs for the new Burgher KIng franchise on Makaala Street near the Hilo Home Depot Store. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, a court document filed on October 30th states that Kazi Restaurants of Hawaii owe the contractor more than $426,700 for building the new restaurant. The overall cost of the restaurant was placed at more than $1.364 million.
(AP). Fourteen more weeks of federal benefits will be available to jobless workers in Hawaii who previously exhausted their emergency unemployment compensation benefits. Teh state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations will mail out notices to all claimants who have exhausted their 33 weeks of benefits and may be eligible for additional benefits under the new federal legislation.
(AP). Citing a big drop in donations, the Honolulu Symphony is canceling concerts for the rest of the year and filing for bankruptcy. The symphony said it has $1 million in debt and doesn’t have enough money to support operations into November and beyond. The 109-year old body hopes to come back as a leaner and more efficient operation, but it’s not clear when concerts will resume.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is holding a series of meetings on Hawaii Island to discuss the Kahaualea’a Natural Area Reserve Extension and the Master Plan update for the Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. The Natural Area Reserve meeting will be held at 6 pm, Thursday, November 12th, at the Volcano Cooper Center. The Kealakekua Bay scoping meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, November 14th, at the Konawaena Elementary School Cafeteria.