Mayor to discuss rail

Mayor Peter Carlisle will leave for Santa Fe, N.M., tomorrow to take part in the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Architectural Foundation and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He will present a transit-oriented case study for Honolulu’s proposed rail system and consult with design professionals from across the nation, his office says. The symposium, which will cover Carlisle’s travel expenses, ends Friday.

Senate confirms 2 state directors

State senators unanimously confirmed the Cabinet nominees for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands yesterday.

State Transportation Director Glenn Okimoto, 57, was most recently the budget director for the University of Hawaii system. He also has served as airports and harbors administrator as well as deputy director of the department’s administration division.

New DHHL Director Albert "Alapaki" Nahale-a has served as a member of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. He is also executive director of the Hawaii Charter Schools Network and a former president of the organization’s board.

Sewage pipes still under repair

City crews continue to repair two pressurized sewage pipes that broke Friday and Saturday, sending tens of thousands of gallons of sewage into Pearl Harbor.

The public is warned to stay out of the canal near the Leeward Community College bike path and Middle Loch.

The city is also asking residents and businesses from Red Hill to Pearl City to reduce water use through today while crews repair the damaged force mains.

The city has not yet determined the cause of the breaks.

The first sewage line broke Friday west of Lehua Avenue and flowed between 10 a.m. and 1:46 p.m. The second line broke Saturday along the Pearl Harbor bike path, which was quickly contained, and nothing reached the water, said Markus Owens, city Department of Environmental Services spokesman.

Big Island’s mayor to chat with public

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi will hold a series of community talk-story meetings.

The first starts at 6 p.m. today at the Kukuihaele Social Hall.

Kenoi and members of his Cabinet will be available to discuss community issues and answer questions from residents.

The following meetings have been scheduled. They begin at 6 p.m. unless noted:

» Tomorrow: Kula’imano Community Center, Pepeekeo
» Monday at noon: Intergenerational Center at Kamehameha Park, Kohala
» Feb. 22: Kona-waena Elementary School
» Feb. 23: Kona Imin Center, North Kona
» Feb. 25: Waikoloa Elementary School
» Feb. 28: New Hope Christian Fellowship Waimea