Gabbard raises $203K in bid for Congress
City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard raised more than $203,000 in the past three months in her Democratic primary campaign for the U.S. House, her campaign said Wednesday.
Gabbard has raised more than $351,700 so far.
Erika Tsuji, finance director of the Gabbard campaign, said much of Gabbard’s financial support has come from Hawaii and through smaller donations.
“People are tired of the influence of the wealthy and the well-connected in Congress,” Tsuji said in a statement. “That’s why we’re so pleased to have such strong grassroots support from the voters of Hawaii.”
Gabbard faces former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, state Office of Hawaiian Affairs chief advocate Esther Kiaaina, Hilo attorney Bob Marx and patients’ rights advocate Rafael Del Castillo in the primary for the 2nd Congressional District, which covers rural Oahu and the neighbor islands.
Waste water spills onto road, into stream
Warning signs are being posted in Ahuimanu and Kalihi after two waste-water spills overnight Tuesday .
About 5,000 gallons of waste water spilled along Kahekili Highway from a broken valve along the Ahuimanu force main at 5:55 a.m. Wednesday, a spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Services said. Crews disinfected and deodorized the area and the state Department of Health was notified.
Another spill at 2152 N. School St. Tuesday night resulted in more than 75 gallons of waste water flowing into Kalihi Stream with a grease blockage causing 110 gallons to enter a storm drain, the Health Department reported. The public is advised to stay out of Kalihi Stream.
Hawaii mayor signs bag bill
HILO >> Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill joining Hawaii island with two other counties in Hawaii that ban giving out plastic bags at stores.
Kenoi signed the bag-reduction bill Tuesday, which goes into effect in a year. After that, businesses can sell plastic bags for another year. Maui and Kauai counties have had similar bans for about a year.
The mayor is in Washington, D.C., for a conference, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Retail Merchants of Hawaii President Carol Pregill told West Hawaii Today that having different counties across the state with varying ordinances adds to the cost of doing business, which is passed onto the consumer.
Woman in fatal crash identified
A 57-year-old Hana woman who died after she was thrown from a Jeep that dropped off Hana Highway was identified Wednesday by Maui police as Camile Ulani Combo.
Combo, who was a passenger in the Jeep, was Maui’s first traffic fatality for 2012 compared with none at this time last year.
Police suspect speed and alcohol were factors in the deadly crash at 3:42 p.m. Monday.
Police said Ricky Johnson was driving a Jeep Wrangler toward Hana on Hana Highway when he crossed the center line and drove off the makai side of the road, east of Nahiku Road. The Jeep fell about five feet and overturned.
Combo was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. She died several hours later at the hospital.
Johnson, 39, was using his seat belt and was treated and released from the hospital. He was booked and released for investigation of first-degree negligent homicide.
