$3.5M approved for Hawaii island eruption cleanup

The federal government has approved $3.5 million in grant funding to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to help pay for cleanup efforts in areas of Hawaii island affected by the Kilauea eruption, according to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

The Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant will employ approximately 175 individuals.

“With this funding, many people who are already doing the hard work of cleaning up will be paid for their efforts,” said Schatz in a news release. “This is one of several steps the federal government has taken to help people rebuild and recover from the volcano, and we’re grateful for the fast and flexible response.”

In May the White House approved a presidential disaster declaration requested by the state, making it eligible for federal disaster recovery funding.

Food assistance available for lava victims

Families affected by the Kilauea eruption may apply for short-term food assistance starting Wednesday in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. The benefits, offered through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP, are typically available within 72 hours of approval. They are issued via electronic benefits transfer cards (EBT) and may be used to purchase food at grocery stores and other retailers that accept SNAP. Households that qualify may receive one month of benefits, equivalent to the maximum amount normally issued to a SNAP household of their size.

Applications are available at the South Hilo Processing Center, 1990 Kinoole St., Suite 109; and at the West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway. Hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays until Aug. 2. Call 981-2754.

MAUI

Visitor center restrooms closed for service

The Haleakala Visitor Center restrooms at the 7,000-foot elevation level of Haleakala National Park will be closed for three days, starting Wednesday, for maintenance.

Portable toilets will be available for visitor use during the closure, according to the National Park Service. The restrooms are scheduled to reopen Saturday morning.

The Haleakala Visitor Center restrooms at the 9,740-foot elevation will remain open, as will the toilets at Hosmer Grove, Halemau‘u Trailhead and Kalahaku Overlook.

Some pools to close for all-day training, tests

The Coach Soichi Sakamoto Pool at the War Memorial Complex will be closed all day Friday for recruitment testing, according to a statement from Maui’s Department of Parks and Recreation. It is one of several pools on the island that will be closed for training and testing. The other pools are:

>> Aug. 7: Kihei Aquatic Center, 303 E. Lipoa St., and the Coach Spencer Shiraishi Pool, 145 Kaulawahine St., Kahului, will be closed for emergency medical response training.

>> Aug. 15: Lahaina Aquatic Center, 245 Shaw St., will be closed for emergency medical response training.

>> Aug. 22: Upcountry Pool, 90 Pukalani St., will be closed for emergency medical response training.

>> Sept. 7: Kokua Pool, 275 Uhu St., Kahului, and Wailuku Pool, at Wells and Pakahi streets, will be closed for emergency medical response training.

For information, contact the Aquatics Division at 270-6137.