Student essays sought for contest

Former Gov. George Ariyoshi yesterday challenged Hawaii public high school and charter school students to write an essay on, "What do you think needs to happen in the next 50 years for Hawaii to be the best place to work and live?"

The essay contest is being held in partnership with the state Department of Education.

Entries are limited to 500 words. Prizes range from $50 to $500. Students will submit entries to their schools, which will each pick one school winner by Dec. 3. For details, go to www.hawaiinext50.com.

‘Hawaii Five-0’ month

In honor of the CBS remake of "Hawaii Five-0," Gov. Linda Lingle has declared September as "Hawaii Five-0 Month" and wished the cast and crew of the series good luck.

The new version of the television show premiered Monday night at Sunset on the Beach and will debut on CBS on Sept. 20.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Growers face new coffee bean rules

KAILUA-KONA » Authorities would have to quarantine Big Island coffee beans if state and federal officials don’t find the coffee berry borer pest on other islands in the state.

State Department of Agriculture Plant Industry Division Administrator Lyle Wong says a quarantine would mean growers would have to follow quarantine rules regarding treatment of the beans.

West Hawaii Today reported Wong said Monday that growers wouldn’t be prohibited from shipping their beans to other islands.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this month confirmed the pest native to central Africa has been found on several coffee farms in Kona.