Recycle plastic at Goodwill

Plastic bottle caps and lids can now be recycled at select Goodwill redemption centers on Oahu.

The project aims to reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean and help save endangered birds.

Laysan and black-footed albatrosses mistake brightly colored plastic caps floating on the surface of the ocean for food, according to the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, or BEACH, which is organizing the recycling drive.

The plastic caps and lids can be dropped off at the Beretania, Kapahulu, Mapunapuna and Wahiawa Goodwill locations.

Accepted for recycling are caps and lids made from No. 2, 4 and 5 type plastic. The lids will be shipped to the mainland for recycling, free of charge, by Matson Navigation Co.

For more information on the recycling campaign, visit www.b-e-a-c-h.org/recycling.html or call 393-2168.

Student to intern at White House

A student from Hawaii may get a chance to meet the president this summer.

Honolulu native Kevin Cronin, a student at Duke University, is spending this summer in Washington, D.C., as an intern in the White House.

Interns work in one of the White House departments, including the Office of Cabinet Affairs, the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Office of Health Reform, the Office of Legislative Affairs, the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Energy and Climate Change, the National Economic Council, the Office of Presidential Correspondence, the Office of Presidential Personnel, the Communications Department, the Domestic Policy Council, the Office of the First Lady and the Office of the Vice President.

Round Top Drive roadwork begins

Construction might cause traffic delays on Round Top Drive through the end of October as the state constructs drainage culverts to help prevent flooding.

Crews will begin working today on a concrete dispersion channel along the road to collect rain runoff and spread it over a larger area, allowing the water to seep into the ground easier.

In 2006 heavy rain caused mudslides that closed Round Top Drive and threatened several homes.

Drivers on Round Top Drive can expect a backup from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, with the exception of holidays.

The DLNR is asking for the public’s patience during this time. For more information on the project, call 587-0276.

Big Isle reservoir needs more time

KAILUA-KONA » The Hawaii County Board of Water Supply plans to consider a request for a 73-day extension to complete repairs at the earthquake-damaged Waikoloa Reservoir 2.

The water board staff said the request to be heard tomorrow is justified.

The 50-million-gallon reservoir has been empty since October 2006 when a magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit off the Big Island, shaking the entire state.

Construction to repair the reservoir began in February 2009. But there have been several setbacks caused by bad weather, change orders to investigate additional damage, and delays in the arrival of materials.

The project is estimated to cost nearly $2 million, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency picking up about $900,000 of the tab.