Class of 18 deputy sheriffs graduates

Hawaii’s Sheriff Division now has 18 more deputies.

The first class of recruits since 2009 graduated Friday. Six will work in Hawaii County, two are going to Maui and one is going to Kauai. The others will protect Circuit Court, District Court and the state Capitol.

Sheriff Shawn Tsuha said the division has 314 sworn personnel and that about 24 vacancies remain.

In recent years there wasn’t an appropriation to cover training for a recruit class. The cost for the latest class was about $180,000.

Duties of the Department of Public Safety division include protecting the governor and Honolulu Airport.

Supernova study points to stars’ collisions

A new study by American, Israeli and Japanese astronomers based on observations from the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea is shedding light on the origins of the stellar explosions known as supernovae.

The prevailing theory held that supernovae are generated when white dwarf stars — stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel and are collapsing under their own weight — pull so much matter from surrounding stellar bodies that they explode. But the new study indicates that many so-called Type 1A supernovae result from the merging and annihilation of two separate white dwarf stars.

"The main goal of this survey was to measure the statistics of a large population of supernovae at a very early time, to get a look at possible star systems," said co-author Dovi Poznanski in a news release issued by the University of California, Berkeley. "Two white dwarfs merging can explain well what we are seeing."

The findings will be published in the scientific journal Monthly Notes of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The survey from the Subaru Telescope accumulated observations of 150 distant supernovae that exploded between 5 billion and 10 billion years ago.

Kauai County clerk returns to planning roots in new job

A senior position in the Kauai County Planning Department will be filled by County Clerk Peter Nakamura as of today.

Kauai County announced the move Saturday.

Nakamura was planning director for Kauai County from 1990 to 1992 and has more than a decade of experience in planning-related positions.

"It has been an honor to serve the legislative branch for the past 12 years, but I felt it was time to return to my long-standing interest in planning," said Nakamura, county clerk since 1999.

Management of the Office of the County Clerk will be assumed by Council Services Administrator Rick Watanabe until Nakamura’s replacement is named.

Police captain promoted to major, Area II oversight

Hawaii County Police Chief Harry Kubojiri has promoted Capt. James O’Connor to major effective Oct. 16.

O’Connor, now in charge of the Internal Affairs and Criminal Intelligence units, will be assigned to Area II Operations in West Hawaii.

On the same date, Maj. Randy Apele, now assigned to Area II Operations, will transfer to Area I Operations in East Hawaii.

Meanwhile, law enforcement in Kau will be the subject of a community meeting from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Naalehu Community Center.

The public can meet the department’s command staff and discuss concerns with the police chief and commanders who oversee police operations in Kau. Community meetings are rotated throughout the eight police districts on the island.