Beachgoers save
deer in ocean
WAILEA, Maui (AP) — Beachgoers, resort workers and a lifeguard sprang into action when they saw an axis deer struggling to keep its head above water off the coast of Maui.
Video of the Oct. 28 rescue posted by KITV shows the group working together to save the animal after it took a Pacific Ocean plunge off Wailea Beach.
Michael Boyer of the Four Seasons Resort Maui said the mammal sprinted directly into the ocean. By the time the group had herded it back to shore, it was too exhausted to stand. The deer was taken back to the woods, where Boyer says it stared at its rescuers, “almost like a thank you.”
Boat removed from Oahu reef
KANEOHE, Oahu (AP) — Crews have removed a grounded 40-foot boat that had been damaging coral in Kaneohe Bay.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said the boat is now sitting at He‘eia Pier. The vessel had been grounded since Tuesday and several unsuccessful attempts to remove it were made before it was freed Saturday morning.
Depending on the condition of boat, it will either be crushed at the He‘eia Pier and disposed of, or taken to the Ke‘ehi Lagoon Boat Harbor for repairs.
Hawaiians get help for college
HONOLULU (AP) — The University of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs are offering free presentations on resources and financial aid available to Native Hawaiian students interested in attending college.
They’ll make 18 presentations on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii islands over the next two months. The presentations will include a brief workshop on filling out financial aid applications and strategies on earning scholarships.
The sessions are part of a statewide initiative to bring Native Hawaiian scholarship opportunities to underserved communities.
UH and OHA are working together with a federal program called GEAR UP Hawaii on the project.
Panel will meet on ballot issue
HONOLULU (AP) — The state Elections Commission will meet next month to discuss problems that occurred on Election Day when numerous polling places on Oahu ran short or ran out of paper ballots. The meeting is set for the week of Dec. 10.
Chief Election Officer Scott Nago sent commission members a four-page memo last week that included a detailed explanation of what led to the Nov. 6 shortages. Nago says the shortages were the “result of a deficient model” that was used for ordering ballots.
He says the problem was compound by a failure to follow safeguards to modify the order or reallocate existing ballots before Election Day. The problem was made worse on Election Day when ballots didn’t get to where they were needed.
