Kauai boy spells ‘lamentation’ for bee win
Akira Takabayashi, an eighth-grader from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai, was named the Hawaii State Spelling Bee champion Saturday and will represent Hawaii in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Takabayashi correctly spelled "lamentation" to win the bee, which was broadcast on PBS Hawaii. The contest is sponsored by the aio Foundation, a nonprofit established in 1998 to support and develop programs that promote improved health, education and welfare for Hawaii’s children.
The competition featured 14 fifth- to eighth-graders representing Honolulu, Central Oahu, Leeward Oahu, Windward Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui County and Kauai.
The 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee competition will be held May 29-31 and will air live on ESPN.
Haiku Stairs’ future on meeting agenda
A nonprofit is encouraging the city to reopen access roads to the Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, and implement a management program similar to the one at Hanauma Bay.
"Haiku Stairs is an historic marvel that is far too valuable to destroy — particularly when there are more effective, sensible solutions available," said Vernon Ansdell, president of Friends of Haiku Stairs, in a statement. "There are four access roads that can be reopened to allow hikers to approach the stairs during daylight hours without disturbing the neighborhoods."
Some Haiku Valley residents want to stop illegal trespassing through their yards by tearing down the stairs.
The city Parks and Recreation Committee will hear testimony about the future of the site at a meeting at 10:30 a.m. today.
Jeep crash on highway kills driver, 19
A 19-year-old Lahaina man died early Sunday morning when he was ejected from his vehicle after it overturned and hit a telephone pole, Maui County police said.
Jared K.S. Alvarez was traveling north on Honoapiilani Highway in Olowalu when his Jeep Grand Cherokee went onto the shoulder, then went back on the road and crossed over the solid double yellow lines. The vehicle then overturned and struck a telephone pole.
Police said Alvarez was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is unknown whether speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash, which happened just after 2:30 a.m.
This was Maui County’s fourth traffic fatality for 2013, compared with five at the same time last year.
Kauai voters add 3 to board of utility co-op
Three new directors have been elected to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s nine-member board.
Jan TenBruggencate, Carol Bain and Allan A. Smith will be inaugurated Thursday to serve three-year terms.
Of 5,823 ballots cast, TenBruggencate received 2,977 votes; Bain, 2,858; and Smith, 2,835. Voters could select up to three of six candidates.
Votes were counted by California-based Merriman River Group, and the results were announced Saturday.
TenBruggencate is a former Kauai correspondent for The Honolulu Advertiser.
