The Week: Aug. 28-Sept. 3

LOCAL

» The Walt Disney Co. opened Aulani, its $800 million luxury hotel and timeshare complex at Ko Olina Resort, on Monday. Aulani is planned for 840 rooms, water features, retail shops and restaurants and will eventually employ about 1,200 people.

» A south swell generated by a winter storm from near New Zealand brought rare 15-foot surf to Oahu’s South Shore during the middle of the week. Lifeguards on Tuesday, for example, made about 150 rescues and issued 700 warnings.

» The city will install 34 security cameras, at a cost of about $1.5 million in Waikiki, downtown Honolulu and Ko Olina for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in November. After the conference, the cameras will be used to monitor traffic.

» Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced Tuesday he will run for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District seat (rural Oahu and neighbor islands) being vacated by Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is running for Senate.

» Aloha shirts will adorn a series of five postcard stamps to be released in 2012, the U.S. Postal Service said Monday. The 29-cent stamps will feature photographs by Kaimuki photographer Ric Noyle. Earlier in August, paintings of bonsai plants by Hilo artist John D. Dawson were announced for a series of five first-class stamps in 2012.

MAINLAND

» Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc after roaring up the East Coast, leaving more than 45 dead and damage estimated in the billions. The storm was felt throughout the week as New England towns battled flooding and millions were without power. Following on Irene’s heels, Tropical Storm Lee drenched the Southeast.

» Anticipation of President Barack Obama’s plan for creating jobs while cutting deficits was heightened by a scheduling controversy over his prime-time address to Congress on Thursday. Obama asked to address the House and Senate on Wednesday but House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, insisted on moving the speech to the following day.

» The risk that an earthquake would cause a serious accident at an American nuclear plant is greater than previously thought, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. The country’s nuclear regulator believes a quarter of America’s reactors might need modifications to make them safer.

WORLD

» Libyan rebel forces continued to advance toward Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown despite an extension of the deadline for the town’s surrender. U.N. officials warned that Libya faces critical shortages of drinking water, food and other supplies.

» Japan’s sixth prime minister in five years took the reins last week. Yoshihiko Noda promised Friday to keep Japan on its path of phasing out nuclear power after the March 11 tsunami severely damaged a nuclear plant in the northeast.

» August, the month of Ramadan, was the deadliest month this year for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. At least 83 foreign soldiers died in August, the highest number in 2011. The majority, at 65, were U.S. troops. The news was better in Iraq where, for the first time since the U.S. invasion, an entire month passed without a single U.S. service member dying.

THIS WEEK, SEPT. 4-10

MAINLAND

» Monday: U.S. stock and bond markets are closed for Labor Day.

» Tuesday: Congress returns from its break.

» Tuesday: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the U.S. Postal Service.

» Wednesday: President Barack Obama meets with NASCAR drivers at the White House.

» Wednesday: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on protecting cyberspace.

» Thursday: President Obama will address Congress on his jobs plan.

WORLD

» Monday: World Bank President Robert Zoellick will hold a news conference on a visit to China.

» Friday: Finance Ministers from the Group of Seven leading economies gather in Marseille, France, amid jitters about Europe’s debt crisis and the health of the global economy.