UH school gets endowed professorship
The University of Hawaii is announcing a new endowed professorship at the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work.
The Richard S. Takasaki Endowed Professorship is being funded by a $1 million gift from the late Richard and Rose Takasaki.
The university said Friday the position will be held by a full professor in the School of Social Work. It will be awarded on the basis of scholarly achievement in the field of social policy.
Richard Takasaki held various positions during his career, including chief of research and statistics for the state, director of finance for Honolulu and acting president at UH. He taught social work courses at the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work.
Rose Takasaki was a teacher at Manoa Elementary, Laupahoehoe and Hilo Intermediate School.
Brush fire burns 1,000-plus acres
A brush fire burning near Hulikoa Drive in Kailua-Kona scorched more than 1,000 acres and was still not contained or controlled Sunday.
The fire, which was first reported at about 11:15 a.m. Saturday, prompted an evacuation of 300 residents of the nearby Lokahi Makai apartments.
Firefighters worked Saturday to protect structures in the subdivision.
The West Hawaii Civic Center was opened shortly after the evacuations were ordered, but few people used it, Deputy Fire Chief Glenn Honda told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Residents were allowed to return home around 5 p.m. Saturday.
The fire was burning in an area of dead trees and grass northeast of Hulikoa Drive into Kaiminani Drive.
Police closed Hulikoa Drive and Kakahiaka Street for several hours as firefighters battled the blaze and reopened it early Sunday morning.
Firefighters keep eyes on Kaupo
Maui firefighters continued to monitor acres of charred landscape on the southern slopes of Haleakala during the weekend.
No flare-ups were reported Saturday or Sunday.
The fire began July 13 near mile marker 27 on Piilani Highway, on the Ulupalakua side of Manawainui Gulch in Kaupo. The blaze quickly consumed about 65 acres on the mauka side of the highway up to the 1,500-foot elevation.
Officials said fireworks were the likely cause.
The fire was contained July 14 and was believed extinguished early the next morning, but it rekindled later in the day with occasional flare-ups within the perimeter.
On Friday "the ground looked pretty cold for the second day in a row," Chief Lee Mainaga said by email.
