By local and wire sources
2012 nomination papers available
Nomination papers for the 2012 election will be made available Wednesday in the Hawaii County Clerk Election Division offices in Hilo and Kona. The last day to obtain and file nomination papers with the County Clerk is June 5 at 4:30 p.m., according to Jamae K. K. Kawauchi, county clerk.
Nomination papers will be available for the following offices: U.S. senator; U.S. representative congressional district I and II; Hawaii County mayor; Hawaii County Council districts 1 through 9; Hawaii County prosecuting attorney; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, no island residency and resident of Hawaii.
Nomination papers are available at the following locations: Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division — Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg. B, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (Wednesday, by appointment only, at this location. Please call the Elections Division at 961-8277 to schedule an appointment). Also, in Hilo at the Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division, 25 Aupuni St.
Until the Reapportionment Plan for the state Legislature is filed, no nomination papers will be available for state Senate and state House offices.
Mauka-bound Palani lanes remain closed
The mauka-bound lanes of Palani Road, from Queen Kaahumanu Highway to Henry Street, will remain closed this week.
Because of the closure, motorists cannot make a right or left turn from Queen Kaahumanu Highway onto Palani Road, according to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. The closure will remain in effect for up to two months.
Motorists looking to head mauka on Palani Road must use Henry Street, according to the department. There are also no left turns permitted off Henry Street onto Palani Road.
High surf forecast for west-facing shores
The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a high surf advisory for west-facing shores of the Big Island through 6 p.m. today.
The service forecasts the waves would range in height from 6 to 8 feet. The waves are expected to gradually lower in height throughout the day, according to the service.
A high surf advisory means that high surf could affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion, according to the service.
More road work on tap this week
Alternating lane closures in both directions are planned this week on Mamalahoa Highway between mile markers 27 and 31, in the vicinity of Makalei, for guardrail installation and pavement striping work, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The department also said 24-hour alternating lane closures in both directions are planned this week on Hawaii Belt Road between Kapuna Road and Pikake Street in Honokaa for road reconstruction work. According to the department, a temporary traffic signal will be placed in the area to control traffic flow around the work site.
Crews will be working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted. Road work is weather permitting.
Generator shipped from Hawaii to Palau
HONOLULU — A 2-megawatt generator has been delivered from Hawaii to the Republic of Palau to help support a power plant that was damaged by a fire.
Hawthorne Power Systems, an authorized Caterpillar dealer in the Pacific, said Friday it delivered the generator to the Palau Public Utilities Corp. earlier this month.
Shipped from Hawaii, it is now stationed at the Aimeliik Power Plant compound. The plant was damaged by a fire in November.
The $996,000 generator joins two existing generators in Koror, which allow the public utilities commission to have one continuous grid with 14-megawatts of total capacity.
Hawthrone said these power systems are essential to the island nation.
The system was brought online on Jan. 19.
By local and wire sources