Polls are open to see who will replace Apo

Traffic. Jobs. Overcrowding. If you live in Leeward Oahu, from Ewa to Waianae, you know the problems.

Now it’s your turn to help find solutions by voting in the special election for the City Council’s District 1 seat being vacated by Todd Apo.

Ballots were mailed last week and must be returned by Dec. 29. Walk-in voting is being held at Kapolei Hale through Dec. 27.

It’s your community. Do your homework and vote.

Class project in paradise

Kudos to eight high school juniors and seniors in the village of Ilion, N.Y., for aiming to make the best out of their next spring break. They have begun an extracurricular study of Hawaiian culture and geology, to be capped in April with a trip to the Big Island, where they will hike up Kilauea to study the lava flow.

"This is an independent study course, so it’s not just a trip; it’s a class," explained Brenda Deangelis, mother of one of the participants, to the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

She said they are engaged in after-class studies and hope to raise $24,000 to finance the trip through a car wash, fresh fruit sale, candle sale, basket drawings at school craft fairs and, next month, a luau including a roasted pig.

"It’s not a vacation, it’s work," insisted Deangelis’ daughter, Courtney Brothers.

But who says work can’t be fun?