(AP). Water haulers are keeping busy on the Big Island as a drought forces some residents to have water delivered to their homes. With about one out of three homes on the island on rainwater catchment, some homeowners from the Hamakua Coast to Puna have been relying on water companies to have water hauled to homes. Residents pay about $130 to have an order of 4,000 gallons.
(AP). A Honolulu-based contractor will build the first phase of Kailua-Kona’s Ane Keohokalole Highway. County officials say Nan, Inc. submitted the low bid of $29.9 million for the work. Four companies bid on the project, with the highest bid comin in at $35 million. A “notice to proceed” is expected to be issued by mid-March.\
Last Thursday (2/11), Rowenn Cabalo of Waimea, the father of two young children, lost his life while he was surfing. The family is devastated and is in desperate need of donations to help them through this crisis. A Celebration of Life for Rowenn will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, at Anaeho’omalu Bay. Any donation will be appreciated. Contact Chantelle Cabalo at P.O. Box 7045, Kamuela, HI, 96743. You can call Shannon Rudolph for details–322-6604.
(AP). Governor Linda Lingle will be away from the state for the next several days as she travels to Washington, D.C. On Friday, she’ll meet with Assistant Secretary of Energy Cathy Zoi, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebbelius. The National Governors Association will meet for three days starting Saturday, and a White House dinner is set for Sunday. Lingle will return to Hawaii on February 23rd.
The Big Island Autio Club presents the season opening drag race this Saturday and Sunday at the Hilo Drag Strip. Gates open at 7 a.m. both days.
According to the “Honolulu Advertiser”, gambling interests spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbying and public relations in Hawaii nearly a decade ago, tempting state legislators with new tax revenue from a grand resort or casino. This year, those efforts may result in some form of legalized gambling, either through a single casino on Oahu or casinos on Hawaiian Home Lands. State representative Marcus Oshiro says a public hearing should be held to discuss fully the gambling bills now before lawmakers.
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