Showers, some heavy, expected all day

Honolulu Marathon participants can expect wet conditions today, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service predicts cloudy, breezy conditions with isolated thunderstorms.

Scattered showers are expected this morning, with isolated showers in the afternoon. Locally heavily rainfall is possible.

Meanwhile, the weather service has issued a flash flood watch for all islands through this afternoon.

According to the weather service, a developing low aloft will bring instability across the state and combine with increased moisture from the east, resulting in potentially heavy rainfall.

The weather service also issued a winter weather advisory for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii island through noon today.

Federal funds to aid families

HILO » Hawaii County is getting an unexpected windfall for community housing projects, but it comes with strings attached.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that the county will receive $3 million in federal funds, but has only until Jan. 5 to accept applications from nonprofits and government agencies that would use the funds to assist low-income families.

The money could go toward rental housing, home ownership and tenant-based rental assistance programs.

The Tribune-Herald says the federal funding was sent down by the state and will be administered by the county Office of Housing and Community Development.

Kauai names energy team

Kauai County officials announced that Ben Sullivan has been named the county’s new energy coordinator and that Public Works employee Brian Inouye’s position has been upgraded to building manager with duties to include energy-related projects.

Sullivan’s selection, along with Inouye’s recent upgrade, rounds out the staffing requirements laid out in the Kauai Energy Sustainability Plan, initiated by Council Chairman Jay Furfaro and Vice Chairwoman JoAnn Yukimura.

For three years, Sullivan has served as a director on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board, including two years as chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee. He will resign from his board post as of Jan. 1.

Leading the county sustainability team’s efforts will be Sustainability Manager Glenn Sato, who was promoted in September from his longtime post as energy coordinator.