Tropical storm near Mexico likely to grow

A new tropical storm has formed off Mexico and another storm system closer to Hawaii has the potential to grow into a tropical cyclone, forecasters said Wednesday.

"Just because we had one, doesn’t mean we’re done for the year," said National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Birchard. "It bears watching."

The weather service was monitoring an area of weather disturbance 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hawaii on Wednesday. It has a 50 percent chance of developing into a cyclone by Friday afternoon, Birchard said.

Tropical Storm Karina is forecast to be a Category 1 hurricane by Monday, when it will be about 1,400 miles east of the Hawaii island and moving westward.

Weight-based trash fee urged

LIHUE » County officials on Kauai are considering a new proposal to charge people by the pound for trash pickup.

The Garden Island newspaper reported Wednesday the County Council is considering a new waste management program dubbed "pay as you throw."

Advocates say it would divert waste from the landfill and bolster recycling.

Coordinator Allison Fraley of the county’s solid waste program says managing waste and recycling for Kauai costs the county $15.5 million per year. She says the changes would raise awareness about how much waste people are generating.

Inmate back beyond bars

Hawaii County police have arrested Richard Elliston, a Hale Nani inmate who failed to return from a work furlough pass on May 8.

He was returned to Hawaii Community Correctional Center on Monday, the county said in a release.

Elliston was serving time for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. He will now be charged with escape. Hale Nani is a reintegration program 5 miles from HCCC.

Parks still shut due to storm

Kula Forest Reserve and Polipoli State Park on Maui and Lava Tree State Recreation Area and MacKenzie State Park on Hawaii island remain closed in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle. Also closed is the left loop to Akaka Falls, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday.

Removing downed trees from interior roads at Kula and Polipoli is expected to take several weeks, the department said.