Plane damaged in hard landing
A Cessna 172 single-engine plane with three people on board flipped over after a hard landing at Dillingham Airfield Wednesday afternoon.
The plane was substantially damaged but there were no injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. An FAA spokesman said the incident took place during an instructional flight. The instructor and two students aboard the plane, registered to Noah Flying Inc., were not hurt in the 3:15 p.m. incident.
On Jan. 26 a 20-year-old student pilot also had a hard landing when the gear on her single-engine Cessna collapsed at Honolulu Airport. She was not injured.
That incident happened on the runway near Lagoon Drive. The incident did not disrupt airport operations, state Department of Transportation spokesman Dan Meisenzahl reported. The aircraft was registered to Hawaii Aircraft Leasing and operated by Moore Air Flight School.
New House member resigns
State Rep. Tom Okamura, who was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in January to fill a House vacancy in Aiea, has resigned for health reasons.
Okamura, 63, replaced former House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro, who left office last year to become Abercrombie’s deputy chief of staff.
The resignation surprised Abercrombie’s staff and many Democrats at the state Capitol.
Okamura, who had previously served in the House for two decades, chose not to seek re-election in 2000 because he was suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. But he sought the appointment to replace Oshiro and was selected by the governor over two others recommended by the Democratic Party of Hawaii.
"We wish Tom the best in taking care of his health. That should be the No. 1 priority," said Donalyn Dela Cruz, an Abercrombie spokeswoman.
The governor will have to make another appointment from a list recommended by the party.
"I want to thank Rep. Tom Okamura for his service to the state Legislature over the course of his career," House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise-Palolo Valley) said in a statement. "During the few weeks this year that he’s been with the House, he has graced us with his unique knowledge, expertise and wisdom as a veteran lawmaker and true public servant.
"His health, however, has become a concern, and Rep. Okamura has placed the needs of his district first. He wants to ensure that the district and his constituents receive the best representation possible and has, therefore, chosen to step down at this time. We wish him well as he attends to his health."
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kenoi is ahead in fundraising
HILO » Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi raised more than $140,000 for his re-election campaign during the last six months of 2011.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Thursday that figures filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission show the campaign has raised nearly $330,000 since 2010, has no debt and a cash balance topping $150,000.
Mayoral hopeful and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong raised $500 between July 1 and Dec. 31, leaving a campaign balance of $144. Yagong acknowledged he hadn’t raised much money and is relying on grass-roots support.
Another candidate, Ann Marsh, who recently announced her candidacy, didn’t file a report.
