State parks, small boat harbors to reopen
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will reopen all state parks, state small boat harbors and managed forest areas Tuesday.
These state lands were closed Friday for public safety due to anticipated heavy rain, flooding, high surf and surge from Hurricane Ana, DLNR said in a news release Monday.
Assessments conducted by DLNR personnel found minimal impacts from Hurricane Ana, which passed Kauai on Sunday, the release said.
Issuance of all state forest camping and state park camping permits has been restored via the Wiki permit online reservations website at camping.ehawaii.gov/camping/welcome.html.
Any persons holding valid permits for state camping areas over the past weekend should contact DLNR for refunds.
State Senate considers judicial appointees
The state Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday started confirmation hearings on judicial appointments.
The committee is reviewing the appointments of attorney Jeffrey P. Crabtree and District Family Court Judge Christine E. Kuriyama to the Oahu Circuit Court bench, and Margaret K. Masunaga, Hawaii County deputy corporation counsel, as a district judge for Hawaii island.
The Judiciary Committee will hold decision-making on the confirmation and consideration of the appointees at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Room 016 of the state Capitol.
At 11 a.m. Thursday the full Senate will reconvene to vote on the recommendations made by the Judiciary Committee.
Kilauea Volcano lava front shows minimal activity
Lava from Kilauea Volcano has stalled again.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said Monday the lava flow had little activity.
"Activity on the flow front is minimal," he said.
Hawaii County officials report there’s been no advancement of the flow front since Sunday. It is about 0.6 mile from the Apaa Street area near the Pahoa Transfer Station.
A narrow finger along the east edge of the front has broken out and advanced approximately 30 yards. The finger is behind or in back of the flow front and is moving slowly. There was little burning activity reported Monday, and smoke conditions were light to moderate.
The next community lava update meeting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pahoa High School cafeteria.
Officials said the current flow activity does not pose an immediate threat.
Puna man charged in machete attack
Hawaii County police charged a Puna man Sunday with attempted murder for allegedly striking a 21-year-old man in the neck with a machete Saturday.
According to police, the victim was attempting to break up a fight between a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy in Hilo when suspect Atkinson Nakashima attacked him.
The victim, 21, sustained a neck injury and remained in stable condition at Hilo Medical Center, police said.
Nakashima was arrested at the scene. His bail was set at $50,000.
