Abercrombie speaks to Leilehua freshmen

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is giving a speech today to the freshman class of Leilehua High School in Central Oahu.

Abercrombie planned to address students in the school’s gym during their freshman orientation.

Leilehua Principal Samiann "Aloha" Coleman was named the Hawaii high school principal of the year in May by Metlife and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Waste-water spill prompts testing at pond

State health officials were sampling water from Nuupia Pond on Sunday after 20,000 gallons of waste water poured into a storm drain.

The waste water flowed from a force main at the west entrance of the Kailua waste-water treatment facility and flowed into a marsh area near Nuupia Pond.

Kona girl finds note in a bottle from boy in Oregon

A message in a bottle that a 10-year-old boy tossed into the ocean off Oregon has turned up in Kailua-Kona.

The bottle was found in a tide pool by Trinity Ballesteros, 9, West Hawaii Today reports. Inside was a note from Thomas Craig of Silverton, Ore.

"Dear finder of my message, My name is Thomas and I live in Oregon," said the note, scribbled on binder paper. "I’m ten years old and this week I’m salmon fishing deep in the ocean. I would like to hear from you. … Please wright back, Thomas."

The message included a hard-to-read email address belonging to Thomas’ mother.

With the help of her grandfather and parents, Trinity sent messages to several different email addresses about two weeks ago. Thomas, now 11, responded last week.

The two children have been exchanging emails and plan to become pen pals.

Trauma care earns new designation for 2 hospitals

Two Big Island hospitals are due to be recognized this week for providing Level III trauma care.

Both Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospitals have received the designation, which means they have trauma-trained surgeons, emergency department physicians and nurses available 24 hours a day. It also means the hospitals have 24-hour anesthesia, laboratory and radiology services.

Kona Community Hospital says the designations mean Hawaii County is better equipped to reduce death rates from trauma.