Council rejects charter measure
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Voters won’t be asked if they want a Kauai County Charter amendment to clarify whether the mayor has legal authority over commission-appointed department heads.
The resolution defeated by the county council came up after a controversy over Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. placing Police Chief Darryl Perry on leave while the county investigated an employee complaint. Perry claimed only the police commission had the authority to do so.
Current charter language says the mayor has direct supervision over all departments “except as otherwise provided.” A county attorney interpreted that as giving Carvalho power to place Perry on leave.
The mayor later allowed Perry to return to his job. The police commission has filed a lawsuit asking for court clarification.
Preschools to get $930,000
HONOLULU (AP) — The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is awarding $930,000 to KCCA Preschools of Hawaii to establish a center that will train educators of young children.
The center will serve as a professional development community hub. It will work with the new early learning system the state is designing. It’s expected to open in December at KCCA’s Mother Rice campus in Moiliili.
KCCA operates seven nationally accredited preschools on Oahu, serving nearly 1,000 children each year.
Hoku Corp.
will delist stock
HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu-based commercial solar power company Hoku Corp. will delist its stock from Nasdaq.
The company said Friday it’s been unable to maintain a minimum $1 bid price for its stock, placing it in violation of Nasdaq’s listing requirements.
Hoku says it will soon file a form with the Securities and Exchange Commission to voluntarily terminate the listing.
Nasdaq halted trading of Hoku’s common stock on July 5. Hoku’s CEO resigned last month.
The company also said it was exploring selling its subsidiary Hoku Solar.
In May, the company announced subsidiary Hoku Materials would lay off about 100 employees at an Idaho manufacturing plant. The Pocatello plant was to have made silicon for solar panels. Construction work at the facility stopped in April.
