Union official nominated for state post
Veteran labor union official Leonard Hoshijo was nominated by Gov. David Ige on Thursday to serve as deputy director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Hoshijo most recently has been education and political director for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters. Previously, he held various positions in the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
The appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate.
Last month Ige announced Elizabeth Kim would be the state’s new labor director. But that nomination was pulled back because Kim failed to meet residency requirements. Another nominee has yet to be named.
Large breakout rerouting lava from flows
PAHOA, Hawaii » A molten-rock breakout near Puu Oo Crater at the Kilauea Volcano appears to be diverting lava from the path to the June 27 flow’s front, which has been stalled for longer than a week.
Situated about 0.36 mile from Highway 130 near Pahoa’s police and fire stations, the front hasn’t advanced since the end of January. In addition to numerous breakouts flowing behind the front, volcano scientists are saying a large breakout near the crater appears to be rerouting lava from previously advancing flows.
"Clearly, this breakout is helping to limit the amount of lava that can make its way down to the lava tube near the flow front above Pahoa," said Steve Brantley, acting scientist-in-charge for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Located about 2 miles northeast of Puu Oo Crater, the breakout — estimated to be several hundred yards long — is moving across an older lava flow.
The flow’s front last advanced 50 yards Jan. 26.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Observatories at Haleakala wait for power
At least three observatories on Haleakala have remained without electrical service since Wednesday as a result of a power failure.
Michael Maberry, assistant director of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, said Maui Electric workers plan to restore power to the observatories Friday.
Maberry said some observatories, including the Air Force’s Maui Optical Station, were operating through backup generators. Maberry said the LCOGT Faulkes Observatory and an observatory operated by Tohoku University were without backup power.
Maui Electric spokeswoman Kaui Awai-Dickson said the power outage to the summit of Haleakala National Park and the observatories occurred a little after 1 p.m. Wednesday. She said some power was restored at 3:15 p.m. Thursday to the summit, including the park’s ranger station, restoring restroom and water service and some radio towers.
Awai-Dickson said high winds prevented aerial reconnaissance Wednesday.
She said the lines apparently downed by high winds were on the western slope of Haleakala leading to the crater.
Park spokeswoman Polly Angelakis said the outage Wednesday affected restrooms and water service at the summit, but visitors were able to access facilities at the visitor center at the 7,000-foot elevation.
Angelakis said Thursday that Hosmer’s Grove was closed because of downed trees, but the park at Haleakala and Kipahulu remained open.
