Strong gusts forecast for 5 islands
The National Weather Service is warning that wind gusts of 50 mph could hit most of the Hawaiian Islands on Monday.
A high-wind advisory is due to go into effect at 10 a.m. Monday for Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Maui and Lanai, the weather service said.
An approaching front will generate southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph Monday afternoon and possibly into Monday evening in Maui County, forecasters warn.
The warning is set to expire at 6 p.m. Monday.
The summits of Hawaii island, meanwhile, are under a high-wind warning until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Winds of 55 to 65 mph Sunday are expected to increase to 65 to 80 mph Monday, the weather service said.
There also is a small-craft advisory in effect for all Hawaii waters through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Southerly winds will gradually strengthen, especially on Kauai and Oahu, as the "vigorous" front approaches from the northwest, the weather service said.
Strong and gusty southwest winds will continue across areas to the north and east of the higher terrain on the smaller islands starting Monday as the front nears.
Moisture ahead of the front will bring showers to portions of the Big Island on Monday.
PUC might lose say on undersea cable
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would strip the Public Utilities Commission of its authority to start the process of building an interisland, high-voltage electric transmission cable.
The bill will be heard Tuesday morning in the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection.
The state Legislature began paving the way for such a cable several years ago. It was seen in part as a way to share the energy produced on neighbor islands with population-dense Oahu. But community members raised concerns, saying it would be costly and that it could reduce the adoption of renewable energy sources.
13 vying to fill Carroll’s term in Legislature
WAILUKU » Thirteen people have applied to replace District 13 state Rep. Mele Carroll.
The 13 submitted applications to represent the district for East Maui, Lanai and Molokai before the deadline Friday night, the Maui News reported.
Carroll, who had served since 2005, stepped down Feb. 1 for health reasons.
The Democratic Party District 13 Selection Committee will submit three names to Gov. David Ige, who will pick her replacement.
The list includes Lori Buchanan of Molokai, co-owner of Molokai Security Service; Shay Chan Hodges of Haiku, Maui, a freelance writer; Scott Crawford of Hana, Maui, executive director of Kipahulu Ohana; and Lynn DeCoite of Molokai, a member of the state Board of Agriculture.
Robert Parsons of Haiku, an executive assistant to Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa, Carroll’s opponent in the last election, and Barbara Haliniak of Molokai, owner of The Business Depot, who ran against Carroll in the Democratic primary, also applied to replace her.
Also applying: Alberta de Jetley of Lanai, publisher of Lanai Today; Lucienne de Naie of Huelo, Maui, a member of the Maui Cultural Lands Advisory Board; and David Fry of Haiku, owner of Tanuki Interactive, a Web firm.
The others: Susan "Netra" Halperin of Haiku, executive director of Restorative Solutions Maui; Lance Holter of Paia, Maui, ex-chairman of the Maui County Democratic Party; Kay Okamoto of Lanai, owner of Okamoto Realty; and Noelani Yamashita of Molokai, executive director of Ka Honua Momona International.
