South shores under advisory as surf rolls in
Surfers can expect waves along all shores through the beginning of the weekend.
The National Weather Service has issued a high-surf advisory for south shores because of potentially dangerous surf on all islands from 6 a.m. today through 6 p.m. Friday. Surf is expected to rise to 6- to 8-foot wave faces this morning.
A declining north swell and a new swell coming in Friday is expected to bring 3- to 5-foot waves to the North Shore. A small, new north-northwest swell is expected Friday and will peak this weekend.
Forecasters say the south swell could last into Saturday.
Opihi research will aid habitat restoration
Researchers have returned from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands with new information on opihi reproduction.
Scientists with the team that returned Tuesday say they gathered evidence that female opihi live higher on the rocky shore than male opihi. This discovery will help when considering restoration of opihi habitat in populated areas such as Oahu.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the information gathered at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument will help lead to better management of the highly sought-after delicacy. Consumers pay a premium for the small limpets that cling to rocks in high surf, making them dangerous to harvest.
Kauai named disaster area for bad drought
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Kauai County as a disaster area because of ongoing drought.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a letter sent Wednesday to Gov. Neil Abercrombie that the declaration will give farmers access to assistance.
The letter says Kauai is on the list because it has had at least eight straight weeks of severe drought during the growing season. Honolulu, Hawaii and Maui counties already have the designation.
Vilsack last week announced $11.8 million in federal aid to help crop and livestock producers in 22 states — not including Hawaii — use conservation practices that reduce the effects of drought.
Manslaughter suspect to get mental exam
A state judge ordered a mental evaluation Tuesday for a California man who pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend during a Maui vacation last year.
Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza did not rule on a request by Gerald Galaway, 39, of Santa Cruz, to change his plea.
Galaway has said he felt pressured to accept a plea agreement to the reduced charge of manslaughter in the death of Santa Cruz attorney Celestial Cassman.
Galaway was originally charged with second-degree murder.
The couple were vacationing on Maui when Cassman, 35, was killed on Sept. 1, 2011. Cassman’s body was found under a tree off Kahekili Highway near Nakalele Point. Police arrested Galaway nearby.
Galaway is to return to court next week.
