Newswatch

Fasis back Hannemann for governor

Joyce Fasi, widow of Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, has endorsed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for governor.

"I just want to tell you how proud we are as a family to be supporting Mufi," said Fasi, who appeared with several of her children at a news conference at the Hannemann campaign headquarters on Beretania Street. "He’s almost like family, you know, and he reminds me so much of Frank, a younger Frank at that time.

"But I think mainly it’s because Mufi has emulated so much of what Frank has done. Frank looked out for the little guy, you know that. And everything he did was to make their lives better, to make our community better, and I think Mufi has proven that he’s done the same thing."

Fasi, who served as mayor for 22 years, died in February at age 89.

Fate of whale rescued on Maui unclear

Volunteers from the University of Hawaii at Hilo continue to tend a rare Blainville’s beaked whale rescued on Maui earlier this month.

The 14-foot-long, 1,900-pound whale was reported in guarded condition Wednesday at the Hawaii Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility on the Big Island.

The whale was rescued Aug. 16 from South Maui and flown to the marine mammal hospital, which opened in December.

David Schofield, marine mammal response coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says 15 to 20 volunteers are working around the clock to help save the whale.

Schofield says he is unsure of the whale’s prognosis, in part because it remains unwilling to eat solid food.

Transit meeting

The public is invited to a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the McKinley High School cafeteria to learn more about the Hawaii Statewide Transportation Plan: Hawaii’s Multi-Modal and Inter-Modal Network.

The plan covers airports, harbors and highway planners, including planners of bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities.