U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono will rejoin the Judiciary Committee, where she vows to vet President-elect Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominees.

“The Senate Judiciary Committee will be on the front lines of fighting to protect Hawaii from the incoming Trump administration’s proposals that erode civil rights and target immigrants,” Hirono said in a statement Monday. “I look forward to continuing to advance Hawaii priorities on committees that are vital to our national security, growing Hawaii’s economy, and protecting the environment.”

Hirono will also continue to serve on the Senate Committees on Armed Services, Energy and Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Veterans’ Affairs.

She previously served on the Judiciary Committee until two years ago, and was a key author of the Senate’s 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill.

HAWAII ISLAND

UH-Hilo graduation rates rise

Four-year graduation rates are improving at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Of full-time freshmen who enrolled in the fall of 2012, 18.7 percent graduated this year, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports. That’s up from 13.6 percent last year and 11 percent in 2014. The number was only 8.2 percent among fall 2007 freshmen.

“We’re very excited about the gains that we’re making,” said Farrah-Marie Gomes, UH-Hilo’s vice chancellor for student affairs. “We believe these are the results from initiatives the campus has been focusing on the last several years which are directly impacting graduation rates. We’re only starting to see these results now because they have been in play for a while, before we truly saw what the results were going to be.”

The school has boosted its advising services, adding a requirement in 2013 that all freshmen meet with an adviser.

MAUI

Hana school’s water ruled OK

Hana High and Elementary School will reopen today after Maui County officials assured the Department of Education that the water at the school is safe.

The school was closed Monday due to uncertainties about the water supply.

Dave Taylor, director of the county Department of Water Supply, said by email that the new source is a well that has been under development as backup. It was due to come online early next year.

“We are simply bringing it online early,” he said. “The State Department of Health is allowing us to do so as long as all the water quality tests are acceptable.”