NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Chang to ask for $33 million

Former state Rep. Jerry Chang aims to pry $33 million from the Legislature to fund construction of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that the money would be used to build the first phase — that is, the first floor — of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building. Another $5 million would be obtained through revenue bonds covered by student tuition.

A later phase would need $17 million more.

"We’ve already been doing a lot of legwork in the past," said Chang, who became UH-Hilo director of university relations Jan. 11 after representing East Hawaii in the state House for 24 years. "We’ve requested this funding before, but because of budget shortfalls, we haven’t been able to fund it the last two sessions. We are trying again, and this time we have the support of the governor, the Board of Regents — it’s one of their priorities — and our Big Island delegation."

Sens. Russell Ruderman (D, Puna) and Gilbert Kahele (D, Hilo) serve on the Ways and Means Committee.

13 quakes hit Kilauea Volcano

Lava from Kilauea Volcano continued to enter the ocean Sunday at several spots inside and outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Thirteen small earthquakes rocked the volcano over the weekend, according to the U.S. Geological Survey: six in the upper east rift zone, one in the middle east rift zone, one in the lower east rift zone and five on south flank faults.

The largest, with a magnitude of 3.2, hit at 10:44 a.m. Saturday about 10 miles southeast of Wai­mea at a depth of 13 miles.