Lingle gave Aiona too much

A spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona said Gov. Linda Lingle and her campaign committee contributed too much money to Aiona’s campaign.

Travis Taylor said in a statement Friday that the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission informed Aiona’s campaign of a $6,000 "over-donation" by the Linda Lingle Campaign Committee.

Taylor said the commission appears to view the committee’s contribution and a $6,000 personal donation from Lingle as one contribution.

The issue could not be verified with the commission because Friday was a furlough day.

Taylor said the commission took no formal action against Aiona’s campaign.

He said the money that was over-donated is, by law, forfeited to the state.

Pearl-based ship to return

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon is due to return from a deployment Tuesday.

The Chung-Hoon and the Philippine Coast Guard practiced boarding and searching vessels in the Sulu Sea during the deployment.

The destroyer provided support for U.S. and Philippine counterinsurgency efforts against militants in the southern part of the Philippines. It also participated in exercises with other U.S. forces off Guam and in drills with the Singapore navy.

The destroyer has a crew of more than 250 officers and enlisted sailors.

Light Helicopter Squadron 37’s Detachment 4 embarked on the destroyer for the deployment. They provided air support with a SH-60B helicopter.

Kauai panel approves solar project

A plan to build a solar farm covering nearly 4 acres on Kauai has been approved by the county planning commission.

The Garden Island newspaper reported that Kapaa Solar LLC President Kurt Bosshard said that if the company finishes the project by the end of the year, it could qualify for a reimbursement of 50 percent of the construction costs.

Bosshard said the project would generate millions of dollars in state and federal contributions, allowing Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to purchase power from the facility at a reasonable rate.

The facility will be built in an area known as Kapaa Highlands. Solar panels will be mounted on posts and piers 5 to 12 feet off the ground in a location that will prevent them from being visible from Kuhio Highway.

Public asked to watch for fallen birds

Federal wildlife biologists on Maui are asking for the public’s help in helping the populations of native petrels and shearwaters recover.

Wildlife experts say when the birds leave their nests for the first time, they sometimes become disoriented by lights, fly in circles, then become tired and fall to the ground.

Because of a new moon coinciding with the start of the fledgling period, biologists at Haleakala National Park are concerned that more birds than usual may fall to the ground.

Biologists are asking people who may come upon one of the grounded birds to call park officials.

Experts say the grounded birds are vulnerable to predators, such as feral cats, dogs and rats.