Staff shortages cancel visits at 2 prisons
Staff shortages forced officials to cancel visiting hours Sunday at the Women’s Community Correctional Center and Oahu Community Correctional Center.
The prison system has been battling chronic absenteeism among guards on weekends, the only time family visits are allowed.
This was the fourth time this month that visitation was canceled at the women’s prison in Kailua; it was the second time this month for OCCC.
Since March, when the Department of Public Safety began announcing canceled visits on social media, OCCC has lost 18 visitation days.
Visitation at the women’s prison was also canceled on Mother’s Day, May 11.
The department posts visitation cancellation notices through social media from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on the day of the visit. To find out more about visiting schedules, visit dps.hawaii.gov.
Aloha Festivals picks floral parade winners
The winners of the Aloha Festivals’ 58th annual floral parade competition were announced Sunday.
In the floral float division, Hawaiian Airlines won the Grand Sweepstakes and Governor’s Award. The Mayor’s Award went to Survivor Outreach Services, and the President’s Award went to Keali‘ika‘apunihonua Ke‘ena A‘o Hula Halau, led by kumu hula Leimomi Ho.
In the equestrian division, Kahoolawe won the John & Lita Cook Perpetual Trophy for most outstanding pa‘u unit. Kahoolawe also won the Governor’s Award.
In the band division, Punahou School won first place, Waipahu High School took second place and Sacred Hearts Academy took third place. Those three schools placed in the same order in the Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band Award for schools that played a Hawaiian march.
Molokai won awards for the most original and most comical pooper scooper.
The parade was Saturday through Waikiki. The pa‘u marshal was state Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, and the pa‘u queen was Angie Tripp.
Aloha Festivals, first held in 1946 as Aloha Week, celebrates Hawaiian culture, integrating the traditions and cultures of the islands through music, dance, cuisine and art. It is funded by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, corporate and private sponsorships, and sale of Aloha Festivals ribbons and merchandise.
Groups call out water firm on stream flow deal
WAILUKU » Environmental groups say Wailuku Water Co. is dragging out compliance with an order to restore steady water flow to some Central Maui streambeds.
An agreement, reached in April and approved by the state Commission on Water Resource Management, called for 10 million gallons of water a day to be returned to Iao Stream and 2.9 million gallons per day to Waikapu Stream. Levels ordered for two other Na Wai Eha streams in 2010 were to be maintained.
Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake, who represented Maui community groups in the settlement talks earlier this year, told the Maui News the settlement was effective immediately, "but Wailuku Water Co. has dragged out the process."
Wailuku Water Co. officials said it’s not as easy as turning on a spigot. The company delivers surface water for a fee to users, including Maui County and agricultural interests.
Company President Avery Chumbley said the last five months have been spent on needed system modifications, such as installing gauges and calibrating the release of water.
In a timeline provided to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Chumbley said his company would complete necessary construction work to Iao Stream by Aug. 27 and to Waikapu Stream by Sept. 12. He said the company was awaiting an easement from a local landowner for additional work.
While he didn’t provide a date by which he expected water flow to be returned, state officials are hoping for a mid-October release to Iao Stream. A spokesman for the department said by email that "implementation for Waikapu Stream is underway."
