Governor meets Moiliili

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will discuss the economy, education and other topics with Moiliili residents Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Willows restaurant. The forum is sponsored by Moiliili Matters, a community-based online social network. Doors open at 6 p.m. There is a $10 fee; pupu included. Seating is limited. To RSVP, call 489-5316, e-mail moiliilimatters@gmail.com or visit www.moiliilimatters.com.

Delayed tax refunds sap state coffers

State revenues are down 2.1 percent through the first seven months of the fiscal year — a figure heavily influenced by Gov. Linda Lingle’s decision to delay state income tax refunds last year.

When the delayed tax refunds are factored out, the state Department of Taxation said, state revenues would have increased 5.6 percent so far compared with last fiscal year. The state released the January revenue figures yesterday.

The state Council on Revenues has projected 3 percent revenue growth for the fiscal year that ends in June.

General excise tax and use tax revenues — the largest single category of collections — are up 7.6 percent. Hotel room taxes are up 22.9 percent. Individual income taxes are down 19.8 percent, and corporate income taxes are down 277.3 percent.

Rain helps replenish Lake Wilson

Rain raised Lake Wilson a foot Thursday and yesterday, helping to stabilize water levels that were dropping a week ago.

The reservoir levels rose to 57.7 from 56.7 feet near the Wahiawa spillway in about a day, said Carty Chang, chief engineer for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Water levels are usually between 70 and 80 feet, according to the state.

Operator Dole Foods Co. of Hawaii said it had managed to close a once-stuck outlet valve a little more, also aiding in the stabilization of water levels. Dole managed to shut the outlet valve by two-thirds on Monday. Company Operations Director Daniel Nellis said yesterday the situation was stabilized.

City employee arrested in meth sale

A Honolulu Board of Water Supply employee is in custody for allegedly selling methamphetamine to a federal confidential source at a city maintenance yard.

U.S. Drug Enforcement agents and Honolulu police arrested Darryl T. Matsuda Thursday at the agency’s Diamond Head maintenance yard, where he had agreed to sell a pound of methamphetamine to the confidential source, according to a criminal complaint filed yesterday in federal court. However, when Matsuda showed up, he told the confidential source he had only 10 ounces of the drug to sell.

Matsuda and two other defendants, Travis L. McKay and Isaac J.K. Hatori, made their initial appearances in federal court yesterday. Authorities arrested McKay at the Diamond Head Mortuary across the street from the maintenance yard. They arrested Hatori elsewhere.

Matsuda told authorities he received the methamphetamine from McKay, who said he received it from Hatori.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hawaii County Council tables bag ban vote

The Hawaii County Council delayed until November a vote on a bill that would ban plastic bags at retailers after three members called for a public hearing on the issue.

The Council had been expected to vote Wednesday. But West Hawaii Today reported that Hilo Council members J Yoshimoto, Dennis Onishi and Donald Ikeda called for a public hearing once it became clear they didn’t have the five votes required to defeat the measure.

Yoshimoto said a public hearing is the way to go if Council members want to listen to the people.