Panels brainstorm future for Chinatown

The city will seek the public’s opinions on the future of Honolulu’s historic Chinatown at what’s being billed a Chinatown Action Summit on Saturday.

The summit runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Golden Palace Restaurant at 111 North King St., second floor dining room.

Up to 300 are expected at the free event. Registration is required, but walk-ins will be allowed, space permitting.

City officials will join elected leaders and members of cultural, civic, arts, business and community groups and the general public. Participants will be asked to prioritize the improvements they want to see in the areas of safety and cleanliness, art, culture and historic preservation, wayfinding and pedestrian access, and economic opportunities.

Harrison Rue, the city’s administrator for community building and transit-oriented development, is leading the effort.

"We want to work with the community and come up with new uses, services and public space designs that improve on what we have, and position the neighborhood to best take advantage of rail transit in the future," Rue said in a news release.

Visit www.honolulu.gov/Tod.

Bill would let Kauai charge for fuel used in rescues

People who intentionally disregard their safety could be charged for the fuel used to rescue them, under a bill set for a public hearing on Kauai.

Bill 2589, recently approved on first reading, would add fuel expenses to Kauai County’s list of recoverable rescue expenses. Costs of materials and supplies, compensation for employee work hours, equipment rentals used in the rescue, repair of equipment used in the rescue and various other expenses are already included.

The hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Kauai County Council chambers at the Historic County Building in Lihue.

Councilman Mason Chock, who introduced the bill, said the issue came about when firefighters rescued 121 stranded hikers from the Kalalau Trail on April 7, 2014, after a flash flood made Hanakapiai Stream impassable.

Firefighters used the department’s Air One helicopter to rescue the hikers in the two-day effort. A majority of the hikers were visitors.

Chock pointed out that significant manpower was used in the rescue.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources closes the trailhead when flash flood watches or warnings are issued by the National Weather Service. In the April 2014 rescue, a spokeswoman had said there was no opportunity to warn hikers or close the trail in advance. The state did close the trail on April 8 until the rising stream waters receded.