$1 million awarded to KCCA Preschools

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is awarding nearly $1 million to KCCA Preschools of Hawaii to establish a center that will train educators of young children.

The center will serve as a professional development community hub. It will work with the new early learning system the state is designing.

It’s expected to open in December at KCCA’s Mother Rice campus in Moiliili.

KCCA was established in 1985 as the Free Kindergarten and Children’s Aid Association. It operates seven nationally accredited preschools on Oahu, serving nearly 1,000 children each year.

The foundation will formally present the $930,000 award at a ceremony in Waikiki on Tuesday.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

County nixes charter vote on mayoral power

Kauai County voters won’t be asked whether they want a County Charter amendment to clarify whether the mayor has legal authority over department heads, such as the police chief, appointed by a county commission.

The County Council did not pass a resolution that was prompted when Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. placed Police Chief Darryl Perry on leave while the county investigated an employee complaint. Perry claimed only the Police Commission had the authority to do so.

The Garden Island newspaper reported Friday that the charter says the mayor has direct supervision over all departments "except as otherwise provided." A county attorney interpreted that as authorizing Carvalho to place Perry on leave.

The mayor later allowed Perry to return to his job.

The Police Commission has filed a lawsuit seeking court clarification on the issue.

Pet owners warned after dogs kill birds

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is urging people on Kauai to keep their pet dogs under control following the recent killing of eight Laysan albatrosses on the North Shore by two dogs in June.

Five other birds underwent treatment at the Kauai Humane Society for treatment and rehabilitation. One of the treated birds later died from its injuries.

Officials are distributing fliers to inform people of the incident and remind them to restrain pets and to report incidents to the DLNR conservation hot line at 634-DLNR (634-3567).