4 schools win state testing appeals

After successful appeals, four more Hawaii public schools have met "adequate yearly progress" goals under the No Child Left Behind Act.

For a school to attain the federal goals this year on the Hawaii State Assessment, 58 percent of students had to demonstrate proficiency in reading and 46 percent had to be proficient in math.

The schools bring the total number of schools that met AYP to 145 out of 286 — or 51 percent of public schools.

The four schools are Kaunakakai Elementary, Red Hill Elementary, Kawananakoa Middle School and West Hawaii Explorations Academy.

State to offer coupons for food donations

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources invites the public to the 20th annual Hunting and Fishing Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Koko Head public shooting range.

For every can of food or $1 donated to the Hawaii Foodbank, an activity coupon is provided that is good for the various firearms, archery or fish-casting activities.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Rare bird grows rarer on Big Island

A new survey says the population of the endangered palila bird is continuing to drop dramatically.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday there are only about 1,200 birds left of the species, which is found only on the Big Island.

This is down from 2,200 in recent years and nearly 75 percent from about 4,400 in 2003.

The songbird lives in mamane and naio forests on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

Officials say feral sheep and goats are destroying the mamane trees the bird relies on for much of its diet. Severe drought has further cut the bird’s food supply.

Predatory attacks from feral cats also are killing the birds.

Big Isle police want to lease more laptops

HILO » The Hawaii County Police Department is seeking another 100 leased laptop computers to put into patrol cars.

Technical Services Maj. Larry Weber told West Hawaii Today on Tuesday that the initial 100 arrived this summer, and will be installed soon.

Weber says the computers will be distributed in all police districts. He said that if the Hawaii County Council approves a request to lease 100 more, most patrol officers will have computers.

The computers can remotely access the department’s database to check for warrants, restraining orders and arrest information.