Isles called first to act on health law

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says Hawaii is the first state to declare its intent to develop a state-based insurance exchange, a key component of the federal health care reform law.

The Obama administration’s health care reform law calls for states to establish exchanges by 2014. The exchanges are marketplaces where individuals and small businesses may choose from an array of private health coverage plans.

Abercrombie says the 50th state’s exchange will be called the Hawaii Health Connector.

The private, nonprofit corporation is a quasi-governmental agency. It was established by state law last year.

The governor said Wednesday he formally declared Hawaii’s intention earlier this month in a letter to the U.S. Health and Human Services Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

Volcanoes road, trail reopened

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has reopened a section of Crater Rim Drive and a portion of Crater Rim Trail that were closed to hikers for safety after Halemaumau began to erupt in March 2008 and volcanic fumes caused poor air quality.

About 0.8 miles of Crater Rim Drive near the Devastation Trail parking lot to Keanakakoi Crater is now open.

The park on Wednesday also reopened about 0.7 miles of Crater Rim Trail that leads from Chain of Craters Road to the south side of Keanakakoi.

The park also closed Crater Rim Drive from Jaggar Museum to Chain of Craters Road and portions of Crater Rim Trail. Halemaumau continues to erupt, and Crater Rim Drive remains closed from Keanakakoi to Jaggar Museum.

Geothermal plan called unneeded

Hawaii County Civil Defense has determined that an emergency response and evacuation plan specific to a disaster at Puna’s geothermal power plant is not needed, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Sunday.

Agency Administrator Benedict Fuata says that existing emergency plans would cover such an incident.

Fuata said last month that he intended to come up with a site-specific plan after some Puna residents at a County Council meeting in April voiced alarm about the absence of a program.

But after further review, Fuata said, the county already has such an environmental disaster covered under its so-called incident command system. He said the approach is the same that first-responders would follow in the event of a fuel tanker explosion.

High winds expected today throughout the state

The National Weather Service has issued a high-wind advisory that will be in effect for all islands through 6 p.m. today.

The weather service forecast easterly winds between 15 and 30 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph.
Motorists are advised to use extra caution.