Committee will assess Maui hospital

The state House Health Committee will travel to Maui on Monday to investigate the financial crisis at Maui Memorial Medical Center, a state-run facility that is the island’s only acute-care facility.

The hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Maui Waena Intermediate School, 795 One­hee St., Kahu­lui.

The Maui facility faces a deficit projected to reach $39 million for fiscal 2016, which begins on July 1, Maui hospital Chief Executive Officer Wes Lo said.

The Maui health facility is the largest hospital in the Hawaii Health System Corp., composed of 12 public hospitals. It employs more than 1,400 workers.

Big Isle mayor adds big names to team

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi has hired a well-known comic to talk to schoolchildren about physical fitness and bullying.

Kenoi tells West Hawaii Today that Augusto Tulba, also known as "Augie T," is perfect for the job because children already know him from TV.

Kenoi also hired Peter Boylan, who served as chief of staff for the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye and most recently worked on U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa’s Senate campaign.

Kenoi says adding two high-profile names to his staff is not a sign of higher political aspirations.

He says he plans to return to private law practice at the end of his second term as mayor. Kenoi says there’s no higher political office on Hawaii island.