Hundreds of beer lovers and the merely curious decended on Kailua-Kona Saturday for the 15th Annual Kona Brewers Festival. Some 1,450 people jammmed the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds, sampling brews from 33 breweries across the nation and tasting savory and sweet dishes from more than 30 restaurants. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, the Festival has raised more than $360,000 for charity. This year’s goal was $50,000.
(AP). Uncertainty is rising within Hawaii political circles over whether the state’s primary election in September will be moved to an earlier date and, if so, the impact that will have on candidates. Some candidates are devising two sets of schedules and strategies–one based on the current September 18th primary and the other for a primary in early August.
(AP). Native Hawaiian are closer than ever to setting up their own federally sanctioned government. The U.S. Senate may consider the legislation as soon as this month after the House passed it last month. And Hawaii-born President Barack Obama has said he supports the effort.
The state Department of Transportation has awarded Goodfellow Brothers, Incorporated the contract for the second phase of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway Project. This is the third time the contractor has taken the bid for the design and build road project. Regional manager Ed Brown told “West Hawaii Today” he is very excited to finally start building the road, saying “the community is finally going to get the road they want.” DOT Director Brennon Morioka said a design notice could be issued in June.
(AP). More than 40 historic preservation organizations will be at the Hawaii Capitol today to raise awreness about preserving Hawaii’s heritage. The groups are gathering for the eighth annual Historic Preservation Awareness Day, sponored by the Historic Hawaii Foundation and the Legislature’s Heritage Caucus.
The Big Island Auto Club presents the March Points Meet, March 20/21 at the Hilo Drag Strip. This race will feature the Pro-Bike Shootout. Gates open 7 a.m. both days. Race updates will be aired over KBIG-FM, KAPA-FM, and Native-FM.
Pamela Day will present a “Keiki Hawaiian La’au Lapa’au Class” on April 9/10, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at the Ke Ola Mau Loa Church in Kamuela. Deadline to sign up is March 31st. For details, call 775-1725.
Notice to motorists: Single lane closures along the Queen Kaahumanu Highway from Lako Street to Henry Street will be in effect from March 15th through March 19th, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The closure is necessary for pavement marking and highway signage installations. One lane of traffic in each direction will be open at all times.
Notice to motorists in the Ookala area: One lane will be closed 24 hours a day through mid-March for construction of roadway approaches to the new Kealakaha Bridge replacement. Temporary traffic signals will control traffic through this lane closure.
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