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WAILUKU, Maui >> Maui County is seeking $160,000 from condo, vacation rental and timeshare owners to help fund a study into ways to keep their beachfront property from washing away.
The Maui News reports beaches fronting nine condominiums in Kahana are quickly eroding, with waves already crashing into swimming pools and first-floor units.
The county hopes to match funds from property owners and conduct a feasibility study exploring offshore sand mining and possible structures to mitigate the erosion. Officials say offshore sand mining would be a temporary solution and could cost $5 million. Seawalls also would work, but would eliminate the beach.
Gay dad sues over alleged bullying of sons
KAILUA-KONA >> A father has filed a lawsuit claiming East Hawaii public schools have failed to protect his children from bullying stemming from his sexual orientation.
Joshua Alameda Franklin filed a lawsuit Aug. 7 naming the Department of Education, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and others as defendants, West Hawaii Today reported.
Franklin says Poha Stevens-Alameda, 9, and Alea Stevens-Alameda, 10, have been bullied for years because he is gay. The two boys say they’ve been taunted with homophobic slurs at Hilo Union Elementary, Waiakeawaena Elementary and other schools, the suit says.
A YouTube video where Alea says he has to defend his dad’s sexuality to other kids has been viewed about 57,000 times and resulted in a letter to parents from the Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area superintendent at the time, Valerie Takata.
“We are addressing the claims raised in that video and realize the issue of bullying goes beyond our schools,” the letter said.