Bills to promote the ukulele die

Bills in the state Legislature that would’ve declared the ukulele the official instrument of Hawaii both died near the end of the legislative session.

The measures easily passed the Senate and House earlier this year, but differences meant more debate. That’s when steel guitar players stepped in, setting up a showdown between the state icons.

Alan Akaka, a music teacher with politics in his blood as the son of former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, orchestrated an email campaign arguing the instrument born in Hawaii better represents the state.

Unlike the ukulele, which descended from a little four-string guitar Portuguese immigrants brought to the islands in the late 1800s, the steel guitar’s development is credited to an Oahu man named Joseph Kekuku. Its sound has spread throughout country, bluegrass and western music.

Yet it still conjures in its dreamy, liquidy sound — made popular by such songs as Santo & Johnny’s "Sleepwalk" — the feel of a Pacific sunset blushing behind swaying palms.

"I have nothing against the ukulele," said Akaka, who mimicked the steel guitar as a child by running the bell of his clarinet along the strings of his father’s acoustic guitar. "But what is pono, what is right, is to have the instrument that was actually invented in Hawaii."

Visits again canceled at OCCC

Visitation was canceled Saturday at Oahu Community Correctional Center because of staffing shortages, the Department of Public Safety said.

It was the third weekend this month that visits at OCCC have been canceled. The prison system has been suffering from chronic weekend and holiday sick leave, resulting in canceled family visits and increased overtime costs.

DPS posts cancellation notices for the day on social media between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. Go to facebook.com/hawaiipsd or twitter.com/hawaiipsd.

Funds OK’d for UH-Hilo school

State House and Senate budget negotiators have agreed to fund the construction of a building for the pharmacy school at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The university said Friday that lawmakers agreed to provide the school with $33 million to build the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. About $28 million will come from government obligation bonds. Revenue bonds will pay for the rest.

"This project has been a collective effort from the very beginning and we want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this outcome possible," Chancellor Don Straney said.

The pharmacy college was established in 2007 and awarded its first degrees four years later. College leaders have said not having a permanent building made it hard for the school to attract top researchers, faculty and students. The national agency that regulates pharmacy schools also expressed concern.

County attorney to join Hilo firm

Hawaii County Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida will end three decades with the county when he enters private practice May 1.

Ashida narrowly lost to Mitch Roth in the race for county prosecuting attorney in 2012.

Ashida, who has been the county’s top civil attorney for 13 years, is joining the Hilo office of Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports.

Assistant Corporation Counsel Katherine Garson will fill in as a replacement.

Ashida, who was born in Hilo, became a deputy prosecuting attorney with the county in 1987. He began as a clerk with the office in 1985.