Coast Guard to boost patrols off Waikiki this weekend ADVERTISING Coast Guard to boost patrols off Waikiki this weekend HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii plans to increase its patrols off Waikiki during the upcoming weekend for
Coast Guard to boost patrols off Waikiki this weekend
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard in Hawaii plans to increase its patrols off Waikiki during the upcoming weekend for spring break.
The agency said in a statement Thursday an influx of college students and tourists generates numerous water safety concerns each year.
It says in previous years, people were drinking alcohol on large flotillas on the water and posing a danger to public safety.
The Coast Guard says Hawaii state law prohibits anyone from operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Through the patrols, the agency says it wants to prevent the need for searches and rescues. The Coast Guard also aims to deter illegal activities.
US environmental agency awards $1M to Northern Marianas
HONOLULU (AP) — The Unites States Environmental Protection Agency is giving nearly $1 million to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for coral reef protection, cleaning up contaminated sites and monitoring pesticide use.
The agency announced the award Thursday, saying the money would help strengthen the commonwealth’s ability to protect the environment and the health of those who live there.
The money will be used by the islands’ Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, which used previous funds from the EPA to recover from Typhoon Soudelor. The storm slammed into Saipan as one of the strongest typhoons of 2015, causing widespread damage.
The bureau will also use a portion of the latest EPA funds to help hotels become environmentally sustainable.
Nesting native bird delays $8 million Honolulu project
HONOLULU (AP) — A Native Hawaiian seabird nesting in the middle of downtown Honolulu is delaying a multimillion-dollar project to renovate a building home to the Hawaii State Art Museum and other state department offices.
The white tern can be spotted sitting atop the third-floor balcony of the Capitol District Building protecting an egg that was laid there, KHON-TV reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2nxcLU2).
The state had planned to start $8 million of improvements to the building, which included termite fumigation, painting and tile work. But the work will have to wait until the egg hatches and the chick learns how to fly. The process could take about four to five months.
“This population is the only one in the world known to lay eggs and raise their young in an urban environment and they chose Honolulu,” said Rich Downs from Hui Manu O Ku, a group that tracks white terns.
Downs said the seabirds enjoy Honolulu because the city’s proximity to the ocean provides a short trip to food. The birds pluck fish out of the water and take them back to their chicks.
The threatened species is protected under state law and cannot be disturbed while nesting.
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources says the white tern is the official bird of Honolulu and is thriving in the urban area.
Family’s pet dog shot, killed at Honolulu airport
HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities are investigating after a security officer shot and killed a family’s pet dog at Honolulu International Airport.
“I was just in shock.He was such a sweetheart,” said Leisha Ramos of her 2-year-old pit bull. “He never attacked anybody.”
Ramos had flown in from the Big Island on Tuesday night. She said her boyfriend parked his car in a vehicle holding area near the Hawaiian Airlines terminal to help gather her luggage and had chained Kaiele to a nearby tree.
Ramos said a security officer approached them and told them they had to leave and that her boyfriend began arguing with the unidentified Securitas employee.
She said at some point the dog’s chain broke loose but that Kaiele was not acting aggressively. Ramos, who had been holding her 5-month-old baby, tried unsuccessfully to grab the dog’s collar.
The officer shot the dog in the head.
The Department of Public Safety confirmed Wednesday that an investigation is underway but did not release further details.
“It would be premature to release findings until the investigation is complete,” the department said in a statement.
Securitas Security Services USA officials did not respond to questions about the incident.
