Hirono, Lingle spend $11M total
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono spent more than $5.5 million on her victorious campaign for U.S. Senate over former Gov. Linda Lingle — about $20.58 per vote.
The Hawaii Democrat, who will replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in January, raised more than $5.4 million for her campaign, according to her latest federal campaign finance report. She had more than $238,950 in debt in late November, including $90,000 remaining in personal loans she had made to her 2006 campaign for Congress.
Lingle, a Republican, spent nearly $5.5 million, or about $34.13 a vote, in her losing campaign, according to her report. She raised more than $5.6 million overall.
Lingle carried more than $209,800 in debt in late November, including a $100,000 personal loan she made in November for campaign expenses.
Moth to enter fireweed fight
Hawaii agriculture officials have won approval to introduce a moth from Madagascar to fight a fast-spreading weed toxic to cattle.
Fireweed or Madagascar ragwort has no natural predator in Hawaii and is already too widespread for officials to feasibly and economically fight with chemical sprays, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said in a statement Wednesday.
Fireweed now covers an estimated 850,000 acres here, primarily on Maui and Hawaii island. Fireweed is also resistant to drought and if left unchecked could spread to an additional 1.5 million acres in the next 10 years, Inouye warned.
Inouye said the state Department of Agriculture and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service worked together to approve the release of the Arctiidae moth, which feeds on fireweed.
"It is my hope that this effort will help to ensure that Hawaii’s cattle industry will continue to thrive and help the state move toward greater food self-sufficiency," said Inouye.
Fireweed showed up in Hawaii island pastures in the 1980s. Each fireweed flower produces 30,000 seeds per year that are easily spread by wind, hiking boots, vehicles and animals.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Dengue fever is diagnosed in Maui resident
The state Health Department reports that a person on Maui who traveled to another country has developed dengue fever.
Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo told the Maui News there have been no additional cases.
Okubo said the Health Department became aware that a person had tested positive for dengue fever after being contacted by that person’s doctor.
Department officials talked to people in neighboring areas this week and turned up no additional cases, but said it is possible that more will turn up.
The disease, transmitted through mosquitoes, is not deadly, but causes high fever and a rash.
The last major outbreak on Maui occurred in 2001-02 with more than 100 suspected cases.
In March 2011 a Pearl City woman became ill while visiting Wisconsin. Following her return home, the woman, two other family members and a neighbor were diagnosed with dengue fever.
