Volunteers sought for annual whale count

Volunteers are needed to count humpback whales from the shores of Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii island.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary says volunteers will take note of the number of whales they see in the ocean. The annual count will take place on the mornings of Jan. 28, Feb. 25 and March 31.

Volunteers should register at www.hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

Southerly winds bring vog to Oahu skies

Winds from the south are bringing vog from Kilauea volcano and relatively moist air from the tropics, the National Weather Service said Monday. A series of cold fronts have stalled north of the island, causing the southerly winds and cutting off cooling trade winds, forecasters say.

The humid and hazy weather will continue until at least Wednesday as the winds shift to the east. Tradewinds could return Friday.

Meanwhile, a high surf advisory was issued Monday for the west shores of Kauai and Niihau through 6 p.m. today. Waves up to 16 feet are expected.

A flood advisory for Hawaii island was lifted at 1 p.m. Monday after heavy rain hit the Puna district.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Firefighters struggle to rein in small blaze

Hawaii County firefighters had to bring in heavy equipment to extinguish a small but stubborn fire in a green waste and fill pile near the Keauhou landfill Sunday afternoon.

The fire only burned about 1,000 square feet of county land below the landfill. But because the fire was deep in the green waste pile, a county excavator and loader were called in to help firefighters go through the pile of green waste and extinguish the fire.

The fire was reported at 2:46 p.m., but it wasn’t until 4:54 p.m. that it was declared under control.

Twenty-five firefighters worked until 6:22 p.m. to finally extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

County officials plan meetings with the public

A Maui "County on Your Corner" meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 28 at Queen Kaahumanu Center near Center Stage in Kahului.

"It is important to connect with people face to face," Mayor Alan Arakawa said in a county newsletter. "County on Your Corner, which is scheduled in a different location each month, is a good way for myself and members of my Cabinet to interact with the community on the issues that are of most interest to them."

Joining Arakawa will be Managing Director Keith Regan and other members of Arakawa’s Cabinet as well as members of the Maui County Council.

For more information, call 280-1299.