No rabies found in captured bat

A live bat in a shipment of radishes and turnips from Korea tested negative for rabies after it was discovered in a Pearl City produce storage facility last week, state agriculture officials said yesterday.

The brown-colored bat, with a wingspan of about 7 inches, was killed out of concerns it could have rabies, agriculture officials said.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state — and one of the few places in the world — that is free of rabies, agriculture officials said.

The bat was captured alive from under a pallet in a refrigerated container of radishes and turnips by workers at the storage facility.

The bat had been in the container for about 30 days, and agriculture officials believe it went into hibernation and was caught before it warmed up.

Agriculture officials were trying to identify its species.

Tissue samples sent to the state laboratory at the Department of Health were negative on Friday for the rabies virus.

In 2006 a live Mexican fishing bat was found in an office at Aloha Tower. It also tested negative for rabies.

Agriculture officials ask people who see or capture illegal and invasive species to call the state’s Pest Hotline at 643-PEST (7378).

Student art at Capitol

Artwork from students at Aikahi Elementary School is on display on the chamber level of the state Capitol. The art review program was established by state Sen. Jill Tokuda in 2007 as a showcase for the talents of students in Windward Oahu schools. This year’s work can be viewed Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (excluding holidays) and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 587-7215.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

3 nominated to replace Kokubun

HILO » The list of candidates to take the Senate seat formerly held by Russell Kokubun has been narrowed to three.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported yesterday that the Hawaii County Democratic Party chose a businessman, computer expert and veteran campaign organizer as the finalists seeking an appointment to represent the district after Kokubun was nominated as Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s agriculture director.

Abercrombie will pick the Democrat who will serve Kokubun’s four-year term, which lasts until 2012.

The candidates are businessman Russell Ruderman, database administrator Anthony Marzi and Gil Kahele, East Hawaii chairman for Abercrombie’s campaign.

They beat out state Rep. Faye Hanohano and former Big Island Council Chairman Gary Safarik for the nomination.