Target Island Fishing opens

Waters within two miles of Kahoolawe will be open to trolling this weekend and next, the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission announced. Vessels must be registered with the commission and file a catch report. A $25 permit fee applies. To register, contact Dean Toki­shi at 243-5889 or dtokishi@kirc.hawaii.gov, or visit kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.

Amaral tabbed for judicial panel

State Senate President Shan Tsu­tsui has appointed former state legislator Annelle Ama­ral to a six-year term starting tomorrow on the state Judicial Selection Commission.

Amaral, a consultant and native Hawaiian liaison for the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, replaces Sheri Saka­moto on the nine-member commission. Ama­ral, a former police officer, served in the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1996.

The commission submits lists of judicial candidates to the governor and chief justice for appointments to the state courts.

Road reopens after water-main fixes

Two water mains on Kame­ha­meha Highway in Wai­kane and Kua­loa — one a 12-inch pipe and the other a 6-incher — were repaired yesterday, and both directions of the roadway reopened at about 8 p.m.

The 12-inch main break occurred at about 5:30 a.m., causing problems for both water customers and traffic flow in the area. It was fixed at about 3 p.m., and water serv­ice was restored to affected customers, but a 6-inch water main broke two miles away at 49-480 Kame­ha­meha Highway, forcing police to contra-flow traffic in the area until that was fixed.

Crews installed a spigot on a nearby hydrant to provide water for eight homes without water serv­ice.

UH-Hilo to get $5M to study environment

The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Tropical Conservation Biology and Environ­mental Science Program has received a $1 million grant to continue research under a National Science Foundation program.

UH-Hilo will receive $5 million over five years from the NSF Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology. This is the third year of the program.

The money will primarily support three research efforts:

>> Examining how native fungi, insect and plant species respond to environmental change over contemporary and evolutionary time scales. Knowledge of this could help conserve Hawaii’s unique species in the face of climate change.

>> Investigating links between water quality and the prevalence of coral diseases, and how coral diseases affect the food chain.

>> Using Hawaii island’s variety of ecosystems to gain understanding of the long-term effects of climate change on forest dynamics, bird and plant community structure and species interactions.

Hanamaulu park cleanup needs help

The Hanamaulu Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Kauai County, is organizing a cleanup of Hanamaulu Beach Park on April 16 from 7 a.m. to noon.

Individuals or organizations interested in participating are asked to sign up ahead of time. Call proj­ect chairman Eddie Sarita at 346-0090.

The project will include clearing bushes, landscaping, washing sidewalks and pavilion floors, and repainting the pavilion, rest­rooms and picnic tables.

Participants should wear work clothes, covered shoes and gloves. Garden equipment is welcome.

Volunteers will be given lunch and beverages from the Kauai Beach Resort.