Company can claim mac nuts lower heart risk ADVERTISING Company can claim mac nuts lower heart risk KAILUA-KONA (AP) — Federal regulators approved a macadamia nut company’s request to claim the nuts can help reduce the risk of coronary heart
Company can claim mac nuts lower heart risk
KAILUA-KONA (AP) — Federal regulators approved a macadamia nut company’s request to claim the nuts can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease under certain circumstances.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval comes two years after discussions began.
Royal Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Inc. can now claim “supportive but not conclusive research” shows that eating 1.5 ounces (43 grams) per day of macadamia nuts might reduce the risk of coronary heart disease if eaten “as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and not resulting in increased intake of saturated fat or calories.”
Macadamia nuts are free of cholesterol and high in monounsaturated fats, the same as those found in olive oil and avocados, the company said.
Visitor spending up nearly 9 percent
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority says spending by visitors surged nearly 9 percent during the first half of the year compared with last year.
The state agency said Thursday that visitors spent $8.4 billion from January through June. That’s an increase of 8.7 percent.
The number of travelers to Hawaii topped 4.6 million. That’s 4.3 percent more than a year ago.
Increases from the U.S. mainland, Japan and Canada led the gains.
Spending and arrivals grew on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Spending and arrivals rose by double digits on the Big Island thanks to the return of direct air service from Tokyo to Kailua-Kona.
Rehabilitated owl dies after being struck by vehicle
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A Hawaiian short-eared owl that was struck by a vehicle in late March died after being hit by another vehicle two months after it was rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said two more owls were found dead on Kauai’s roads the same day.
Andre Raine of the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project originally found the owl March 22 and took it to the Save Our Shearwaters rehabilitation center, where it recovered with the help of Hawaii Wildlife Center staff members.
They nursed the owl back to health and released it in late April.
It was found recently 6 miles from the release location and in good body condition, which means the bird was hunting and feeding successfully, according to the DLNR.
In addition to the three Hawaiian owls found dead on Kauai’s roads, another one was discovered on Oahu earlier this year and could not be rehabilitated after it collided with a car.
Feds taking more comments about monuments review
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Trump administration is reopening the public comment period on a review of national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it’ll formally reopen public comments on the federal Department of Commerce review that began June 26.
The agency says the level of public interest in the review motivated it to accept comments for an additional 15 days, from July 31-Aug. 14.
The review includes six expansions of national marine sanctuaries and five designations and expansions of national marine monuments.
The review includes the designation and expansion of Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and designation of Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
Man gets 4 years in prison for harassing seal
HONOLULU (AP) — A judge on Wednesday sentenced a Hawaii man to four years in prison for harassing a pregnant Hawaiian monk seal.
Shylo Kaena Akuna harassed the seal in April 2016 at Kauai’s Salt Pond Beach Park, said Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar.
Bystanders recorded video showing a man wading into the water, swinging at the endangered animal and possibly throwing sand at it.
The seal gave birth to a female pup about a week after the incident, Kollar said.
Akuna was sentenced to a year in jail last month for the unrelated theft and slaughter of a goat.
He also faces charges on another unrelated case involving an alleged March burglary of a room at the Poipu Grand Hyatt hotel.
