Education bills advancing to full House and Senate
HONOLULU — House and Senate conference committees plan to forward a host of education-related bills this week to the full House and Senate for final approval. That includes a statewide registry, which would document and share all school staff misdeeds, along with other bills to ease qualifications for teacher licenses in Hawai‘i and provide more funding for Hawaiian immersion education.
Hawai‘i lawmakers reduce financial grants
HONOLULU — State lawmakers this year dialed back financial grants awarded to private projects and programs with public purposes, but kept the level of giving on par with other recent years.
Obituaries for Monday, April 29, 2024
• Rose W. Kahookele • Myrtle Leinaala Pratt
STRIVE program seeking applicants
LIHU‘E — A limited number of seats are available for the free nine-week Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship (STRIVE) program presented by Kaua‘i Community College and the Kaua‘i Veterans Council.
Legislation aims to help tourism recover
HONOLULU — Hawai‘i’s hotel booking pace is in the red through December, but legislative funding has allowed the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to support a new multimillion-dollar marketing campaign aimed at U.S. visitors.
Happy Camper for Monday, April 29, 2024
Keeping track of four Central Pacific Bank Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation championship over a matter of three days can be taxing … how many people are taking advantage of Sunday to sleep in after the marathon three days, or prepare for this week’s big events?
Storm damage assessment process continues on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Local, state and federal officials will embark on a process aimed at validating damage data from heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding earlier this month on the island.
Obituaries for Saturday, April 27, 2024
• Borita ‘Grandma Bo’ Becker • Frederick Kenneth Chaundy • Arthur Wentworth Keale
Births for Saturday, April 27, 2024
• Cove Kokee Brandeburg • Raja Kai Mariquit Macarubbo • Charlotte Kamakanamaikalani Kinney • Ka‘imipono Maikalani Mawae
ERSOY: The most popular beverage (part 1)
Probably you already guessed, yes it’s coffee! The earth’s population is around 8 billion people, and about 1 billion of them are daily coffee drinkers. However, 66 percent of Americans drink coffee every day.
CRITTER: Controlling shark behavior face-to-face
I was surfing in Hanalei Bay one sunny afternoon with a group of friends that surf there often, and we were all talking about sharks while we waited for a set to roll in.
ISLAND HISTORY: Original Coco Palms Hotel employee Andrew Kane
At the opening of Kaua‘i’s Coco Palms Hotel in 1953, one of the first people manager Grace Buscher (1910-2000) hired was Andrew Kane (1923-1991).
RICK STEVES: Italy connoisseurs choose leisurely Lucca
On a sunny summer evening in Lucca, Italy, I witnessed the simple joy of an old man bicycling with his granddaughter atop the town’s wide, fortified wall.
House bill seeks to increase tobacco tax for cancer research
HONOLULU — A bill seeking to increase the tax on cigarettes and vaping products at the state Legislature is moving forward, but without the actual increase first proposed.
Construction work on tap for recreational areas
LIHU‘E — A couple of County of Kaua‘i recreational areas are being closed in order for maintenance work to be done ahead of the summer season.
Obituaries for Friday, April 26, 2024
• Aletha ‘Puna’ Kawelukawahinehololioolimaloa Goodwin Kaohi • Kelvin K. Kanahele, Sr. • Rochelle Nora Paalua (Nishibata) San Agustin • Glenda Vierra
Lifeguard tower hours extended on Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — Swimming is one of the most popular activities on the Garden Island and officials with the Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB) have committed more of their time to assist residents and guests so they can continue to have a safe and enjoyable visit at the beach.
Search continues for hit-and-run driver in Koloa
KOLOA — The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) continues to search for the driver involved in last week’s hit-and-run that left a 72-year-old Koloa resident in serious condition.
Obituaries for Thursday, April 25, 2024
• Annette Cha Cha Kaluahine • Aletha Kawelukawahinehololioolimaloa Goodwin Kaohi • Rochelle Nora Paalua (Nishibata) San Agustin • Matthew James Ornellas Jr.
Gov. Green pledges to sign rentals legislation
HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green on Tuesday pledged to sign a bill into law that would give each county clear authority over vacation rentals — including the possibility of banning them — if it arrives on his desk, as expected.