Volunteers clear rocks as part of park improvements ADVERTISING Volunteers clear rocks as part of park improvements HONOLULU (AP) — Planned improvements at a beach park that gets about 4 million visitors annually are behind volunteer efforts to remove rocks
Volunteers clear rocks as part of park improvements
HONOLULU (AP) — Planned improvements at a beach park that gets about 4 million visitors annually are behind volunteer efforts to remove rocks on the shoreline that were exposed by erosion.
About 100 volunteers picked up coral rocks Saturday at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu and moved them into nearby trenches to be buried.
The plan is to move sand onto the shoreline.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell said in July 2015 that improvements were coming to the park.
Fines reduced for explosion at university lab
HONOLULU (AP) — Fines and violations related to a lab explosion that cost a researcher her arm are going to be lower than expected for the University of Hawaii.
A settlement agreement was recently reached between the university and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division listing nine violations and more than $69,000 in fines.
Officials from the two groups met after the division citied the university last month for 15 violations. Fines were expected to exceed $100,000.
The school has taken steps intended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A new committee was established to promote safety at research laboratories.
University spokesman Dan Meisenzahl said officials are addressing remaining violations.
The March 16 explosion injured 29-year-old Thea Ekins-Coward as she was working as a postdoctoral fellow.
Honolulu expands funding for Housing First program
HONOLULU (AP) — The city of Honolulu is doubling the amount of money it’s spending on its Housing First program.
Housing First provides permanent housing to homeless people without demanding sobriety or other conditions before placement. The approach is recognized as a leading way to help chronically homeless people with mental disabilities or substance abuse problems.
Honolulu has spent about $2 million annually on Housing First since it launched the program in late 2014. City officials housed 176 people in the program’s first year.
Officials said Friday they’re working with the United States Veterans Initiative to serve more people.
Honolulu will spend an additional $2.2 million on the program, and U.S. VETS will contribute $600,000.
The program aims to help up to 150 people and will be open to everyone, not just veterans.
