Newswatch

Register to vote

Aug. 19 is the last day to register to vote in the Sept. 18 primary election.

An application and instructions can be downloaded from the state Office of Elections website, hawaii.gov/elections/voters/registration.htm.

Proof of identification is required for first-time voters, who must be 18 or older by Election Day.

UH-Hilo gets its largest cash gift ever

The estate of two former University of Hawaii at Hilo professors has donated a bequest gift of $810,000 to UH-Hilo. This is the university’s largest bequest gift ever.

The gift from the late Howard and Yoneko Droste will enhance the university’s art and English departments, UH-Hilo said.

Howard Droste was an art professor and Yoneko Yamanoha Droste was an associate professor of English for a combined total of 45 years at the university.

"This generous gift will underwrite new exhibitions and equipment, and most importantly support a groundbreaking new course through which a steady stream of visiting artists will teach and inspire our students," Art Department Chairman Michael Marshall said in a news release.

In addition to creating an annual scholarship for an outstanding senior, the English department also plans to use the money to support teaching and research.

"A gift of this magnitude is a godsend for the English department at a time when there is little financial incentive or support for the study of literature," said Seri Luangphinith, UH-Hilo English department chairperson.