Ewa school opens

Hawaii’s newest public school, Ewa Makai Middle School, opens today. Six hundred students in grades 7 and 8 will attend the school at 91-6291 Kapolei Parkway. The school is entirely air-conditioned, and students will have tools such as iPads, interactive electronic whiteboards, a virtual reality room and a dance studio.

New Year’s fireworks citations at 309

Honolulu police issued 309 citations for fireworks violations this past New Year’s.

The citations stemmed mainly from setting off fireworks outside the permitted period between 9 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday, said Michelle Yu, police spokeswoman.

Other citations, for the period from Dec. 26 to Sunday, included use of fireworks on public roadways and on beaches or near hospitals, convalescent homes or animal facilities.

Police arrested three adults and 12 juveniles for fireworks violations. They included a 29-year-old Pearl City man who was arrested at 10:17 p.m. Sunday at Mango Place and Mango Street in Wahiawa on suspicion of aerial fireworks, a petty misdemeanor. Chauncey Pia was charged with that offense and released on $1,000 bail.

Klompus finds work with Rep. Ward

Lenny Klompus, one of former Gov. Linda Lingle’s senior advisers, is taking a job with state House Minority Leader Gene Ward.

Klompus said yesterday he will help coordinate communications and policy for the eight-member Republican caucus.

Klompus was Lingle’s senior adviser for communications, earning $104,000 annually. He said he did not yet know his new salary.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Valley Isle civil defense has new chief

Maui County has a new manager overseeing emergency and civil defense affairs.

Anna Foust, previously a coordinator for the Management Information Systems Division, was named to the post last week.

A spokeswoman for Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, who was sworn in Sunday, said Foust was selected by the outgoing administration of Mayor Charmaine Tavares.

Foust’s new post is a civil service position.

According to the Maui News, she served at one time as the county’s civil defense plans and operations officer, and was director and disaster services coordinator for the Maui Branch of the Hawaii Red Cross.

Arakawa, who is starting his second stint as the county’s chief executive, vowed Sunday to "move faster and more efficiently" this time. He was mayor from 2003 through 2006, but Tavares foiled his bid for re-election.