Suu Kyi to visit isles in January
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will visit Hawaii in January to accept an award and deliver the keynote address at the Rotary Global Peace Forum meeting in Honolulu.
Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka of Japan will present the Hawaii Rotary Global Peace Award to the Nobel laureate in recognition of her commitment to nonviolent activism on behalf of democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
The Honolulu meeting is one of three the Rotary organization is holding to advance peace and understanding throughout the world. Tanaka will convene similar meetings in Berlin this month and in Hiroshima in May.
Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members. There are 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Rotary announced the award Thursday.
Governor names policy director
Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named Kendra Oishi, a legislative analyst, as his policy director.
Oishi has been a legislative analyst for majority House Democrats for the past decade. She replaces Wendy Clerinx, who announced her resignation in October, citing family reasons.
The governor has also selected Christina Hirasa, a communications specialist at the state Department of Education, as his deputy director of communications.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maeda in line to be new clerk
HILO » Hawaii County is moving toward selecting a new county clerk.
KHON reports new County Council Chairman J Yoshimoto has signed a resolution appointing Stewart Maeda as county clerk.
Maeda would replace Jamae Kawauchi if his appointment is confirmed by County Council members.
Kawauchi was in charge of the county’s elections during the primary election in August when 13 out of 40 polling places opened late.
Hawaii News Now reports County Council members will vote on Maeda’s nomination after they are sworn in Dec. 3.
Maeda is a longtime employee of the state Department of Human Services.
Police identify drowning victim
A California woman who apparently drowned Thursday in waters off the South Kohala Coast was identified as Eileen Melville, 70, of Midvalley, Calif., Hawaii County police reported.
Police got the call at 12:08 p.m. of an unresponsive snorkeler at Beach 69 in Puako. Bystanders had pulled the woman out of the water and tried to perform CPR until fire personnel arrived, police said. She was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Work will close Kawaihau lane
The westbound lane of Kawaihau Road at the Kuhio Highway junction will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today for connection of a new waterline, Kauai County officials said.
Motorists will be detoured to Hauaala Road while the work is being done. Officials advise motorists to be cautious while driving through the area. The project is part of an extension of Ke Ala Hele Makalae, the multi-use path.
