Discussion on education

Chaminade University will host a discussion on "The Value of Public Education in Hawaii" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the university’s Ching Conference Center. Guest speakers are Mari Matsuda of the UH Richardson Law School and Mitch D’Olier, president and chief executive of Kaneohe Ranch and the Harold Castle Foundation. Both are keen advocates for public education in Hawaii, coming at the issue from different angles. Free and open to the public.

Kahele to fill Big Island Senate seat

Former Hawaii County Police Commission Chairman Gilbert Kahele has been appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy in Senate District 2, representing Hilo-Naalehu.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment yesterday. Kahele will fill the final two years of the term of former state Sen. Russell Kokubun, who was named director of the Department of Agriculture last month.

"Gil is a respected community leader who understands the issues facing Hawaii Island and our state," Abercrombie said in a news release.

Kahele, 68, served in the Marine Corps from 1960 to 1964 and retired from the Department of Defense in 2000 after 37 years of service, the Governor’s Office said. He worked in the Public Works Division at the Naval Communication Station in Wahiawa and at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.

Governor names 4 agency heads

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named leaders of state agencies that focus on youths, seniors, taxation and consumer affairs.

Abercrombie announced yesterday that Bert Matsuoka would direct the Office of Youth Services and that Wesley Lum would be executive director of the Office on Aging.

Matsuoka has most recently been contract manager for Securitas Security Services and previously was an investigator for the Department of Human Services.

Lum is an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work and a longtime advocate for the aging.

Abercrombie also tapped Randy Baldemor to be deputy director of the Taxation Department, and Everett Kaneshige to be deputy director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Residents of Kula told to boil water

The Maui County Department of Water Supply is advising Upper Kula residents and businesses to boil water before drinking it, following a break in a water line during heavy rain Monday night.

The advisory is for businesses from Waiakoa Road to Kanaio. The affected area includes Alae, Naalae Road, Waipoli, Polipoli, Waiohuli, Keokea, Ulupalakua and Kanaio.

The broken waterline might have compromised the water quality in the water system.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms.

Portable water tankers were stationed near Ching Store and on Middle Road below the Waiohuli Tank.

For information, call Jacky Takakura at 270-8046 during business hours. The department’s 24-hour service line is also available at 270-7633 for water service problems.

Program finds use for banned bags

The Community Work Day Program on Maui is conducting a program to accept unused plastic checkout bags from merchants and distribute them to people to be used for animal waste and as trash bags.

Maui and Kauai counties implemented laws, effective yesterday, that ban the use of plastic checkout bags by businesses.

Unused stocks of shopping bags cannot be placed in landfill because they might get blown away, the program said. In order to receive plastic bags under the reuse program, residents must show that they own three reusable shopping bags.

For information, call 877-2524 or e-mail info@cwdhawaii.org.