Law intended to stop spread of invasive feral deer is signed

A bill prohibiting people from possessing feral deer or releasing them into the wild was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

The Legislature passed Senate Bill 3001 as a means to stop the spread of Axis deer.

The deer have thrived on Maui, causing an estimated $1 million in damage to farms, ranches and tourist resorts. The animals have caused environmental damage on Molokai and Lanai as well.

On Hawaii island, they have damaged grass lands, crops and plants vital to maintain watersheds.

The new law aims to stop the deliberate spread of feral, or wild, deer and establishes penalties for the intentional possession or interisland transportation or release of feral deer.

"It is imperative that Hawaii’s environment and local industry be protected from the devastating effects that nonnative species can pose to the health of our local economy and ecosystem," Sen. Gilbert Kahele (D, Hilo-Naalehu), who introduced the bill, said in a news release. "This measure establishes the regulations needed to prevent the unwanted spread of Axis deer so that our environment and businesses can continue to grow and prosper."

Power outage halts classes as WCC waits for repairs

Classes canceled at Windward Community College Thursday after a power outage will not resume until after the weekend.

According to a campus alert, the outage was caused by a blown fuse and a part needed for repair is being shipped from the mainland. Classes are scheduled to resume on Monday.

Limited power supply is being routed to maintain refrigeration in laboratories and the campus cafeteria. Updates are available at www.hawaii.edu/emergency.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

New highway to open in Kona

The new Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona, which runs north and south between Henry Street and Kealakehe Parkway, will be open to traffic at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Hawaii County Police Department says it wants the public to be aware that the speed limit on the new highway is 35 mph and that the intersection at Kealakehe Parkway is a four-way stop.

Police officers will be stationed to enforce the speed limit and the four-way stop for an unspecified time period after the opening of the highway.

150 visitors work in parks

About 150 people who won incentive trips to Kauai from a Denver technology company spent part of their time sprucing up parks and other facilities on the Garden Island in community service projects this month, the county said.

The volunteers from IHS, a global business information services company, worked at Poipu Beach Park, Kawaikini Charter School, Makauwahi Cave Reserve, National Tropical Botanical Garden and Kilohana Plantation.

"We really appreciate the work that was done by the IHS employees at Poipu Beach Park," said Lenny Rapozo, county parks director. "It’s not every day that we meet people who come to Hawaii for a vacation and volunteer to do community projects during their visit."

The IHS team that freshened up Poipu Beach Park was provided with paint, rollers and brushes through the county’s Adopt-A-Park Program. It took the team about two hours to paint all of the picnic tables, perform minor repairs and pick up trash.

For more information, contact coordinator Eddie Sarita at 241-6623.