Governor Abercrombie “Touches the Tigers” at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor

Nearly 200 gathered today, sharing memories of  “The Flying Tigers” of WWII who did so much to help the Chinese people during the war with Japan. The event took place at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in Hangar 79 in front of the Museum’s “Flying Tigers” exhibit.

Governor Neil Abercrombie talked of the service Hawaii’s Chinese gave, and Madame Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries spoke and presented her new documentary, Touching the Tigers.

Touching the Tigers, a 40-minute documentary, is the story of American Flying Tigers pilot Lt. Glen Beneda, who was shot down in his fighter and wounded while defending China from Japanese forces during World War II on his 81st mission with the 14th Air Force. Beneda was rescued by Chinese farmers and soldiers and escorted to a U.S. air base where he received aid and an unforgettable attachment to the Chinese people. Mr. Beneda’s wife Mrs. Elinor Beneda and two sons Edward and Henry Beneda were in attendance at the Museum event, and honored.

The China Children’s Choir of Beijing performed. A traditional lion dance and a pupu reception ended the festivities.

Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor rated “one of the top 10 aviation attractions in the nation” by TripAdvisor® is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization located at 319 Lexington Boulevard on Historic Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818.

Related articles

• President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to Present Documentary at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor (damontucker.com)
• Visiting Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and The Pacific Aviation Museum (damontucker.com)
• Stabilized Ford Island Control Tower Dedicated Today at Pearl Harbor (damontucker.com)
• The Flying Tigers Exhibit Opens Soon at the Pacific Aviation Museum (damontucker.com)
• PanAm Exhibit Opens at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor (damontucker.com)
• Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor’s 5th Anniversary Celebration (damontucker.com)
• Flying Tigers Exhibit Opens at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor (damontucker.com)

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Kirk Caldwell to Release Campaign Finance Report Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will file our campaign finance report for July 1 – December 31, 2011. We’re excited to announce that we’ve raised over $72,000 in the last six weeks of this reporting cycle.  We believe that this amount represents just the beginning of this campaign. This shows the confidence supporters have in Kirk Caldwell and the growing momentum surrounding our campaign.  We do retain personal debt of the candidate himself from the last closely contested campaign of $188,000. We are encouraged by our early fundraising efforts and even more encouraged by the individuals who are joining us in this campaign, working together for a better future for Honolulu.

– Lex Smith, Caldwell for Mayor, Campaign Chair

Help Support Big Island Resident in National “Home Depot Search for a Star” Contest

Big Island Resident Agyai Marshall submitted this video in the “Home Depot search for a star” contest:

Marshall wrote:

A song I wrote for the 2012 Home Depot Search for A Star Competition, top 4 winners get an all expenses paid trip to perform at the annual managers meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. I work in the Paint Dept. at Store #8453 in Hilo, HI, and when I’m not mixing paint I’m a musician. You can check out my band, N.Y.R, at reverbnation.com/nyrmusic.

Special Thank You to Koa Anduha, Glen Ishii, & S.M. Amare Belay for allowing us to shoot at the store. (after hours of course!)

(We basically shot this video in less then 3hrs, and I had no idea what I was doing but I hope you enjoy the experience)

Ala Moana Hotel to Offer Rooms at Rate Equal to the Combined Score of the Super Bowl

Ala Moana Hotel has caught football fever, sacking room rates so visitors can score a super deal. In celebration of Super Bowl XLVI, Ala Moana Hotel will offer 46 ocean-view room nights every day for 46 days, at a special rate equal to the final combined score of the big game.

The Ala Moana Hotel

As the New England Patriots and New York Giants battle on the gridiron to be this year’s Super Bowl champions, hopeful Ala Moana Hotel fans will have even more to cheer about!   The final combined game score is destined to be an epic deal!  Since the year 2000, the lowest combined score has been 31 with the highest 69.

“No matter which team is your favorite, Ala Moana Hotel wants you to be a winner with this exciting special offer.  We’re game to provide deluxe accommodations in the heart of Honolulu at a super value,” said Marty Milan, director of sales and marketing for Ala Moana Hotel.

THE GAME PLAN:

• Ala Moana Hotel’s Super Bowl 46 rate will be determined after the conclusion of the”Super Sequel” Super Bowl championship game on Sunday, February 5, 2012.
• The Super Bowl 46 rate will be announced Monday, February 6, 2012.
• For 46 days, from March 1 to April 15, 2012, the hotel will sell 46 room nights of its Waikiki Tower ocean-view rooms at this rate.
• Score this rate by going to www.AlaMoanaHotel.com/SuperBowl46 starting February 7, 2012, at 10 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time to book a stay within the 46-day period from March 1 – April 15, 2012.
• No phone reservations will be taken. Each non-refundable booking is on a first come, first-served basis and requires a three-night minimum to five-night maximum stay.

“Fans looking to participate in our ‘pigskin promotion’ should act swiftly, as soon as reservations are open, because rooms are sure to sell quickly,” added Milan.

Ala Moana Hotel is conveniently located at the gateway to Waikiki. Physically connected to the world’s largest open-air retail mall, hotel guests can stroll over to Ala Moana Center for a shopping spree, then come back and relax at the hotel’s first-class facilities.  The expansive poolside sundeck is perfect for working on a tan and the fully equipped fitness center for working up a sweat.  On-site Plantation Café offers a breakfast buffet, Royal Garden features Chinese dim sum for lunch and dinner, and all-new YuZu presents innovative contemporary Japanese cuisine for lunch and dinner. Even dance the night away at popular Rumours nightclub on Fridays and Saturdays.

The mystery Super Bowl 46 rate is per room, per night, based on single or double occupancy only. A credit card is required as a guarantee for the full amount of room and tax. Reservations may not be changed and cancellations are non-refundable. Rates and specials cannot be combined with other offers and are subject to availability and change. Additional restrictions may apply. For additional information, visit www.AlaMoanaHotel.com/SuperBowl46.

Follow Ala Moana Hotel on Twitter at: @AlaMoanaHotel and Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AlaMoanaHotel for the latest news and updates.

Exhibit – “Living Endemic Birds of Hawai‘i”

“Living Endemic Birds of Hawai‘i” by famed Hawaiian wildlife artist Marian Berger is back on exhibit, for one week only, from February 21- February 27, 2012 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The exhibit is back on display by popular demand.

Black-Necked Stilt

The exhibit features reproductive prints of the original watercolor paintings representing 37 species of birds found only in Hawai‘i. The vision of this extraordinary project has been to produce a limited edition masterpiece in the style of John James Audubon as a means of supporting critical work to ensure the survival of Hawai‘i’s endemic birds. Each image is printed in double elephant folio size (26″ x 39.5″), after Audubon’s great work on the Birds of North America, with all individual birds painted life-size.

The project, that resulted in the original exhibit, in January of 2011, is a unique collaboration between the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Discipline, and private landowners. The Hawai‘i Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP) comprises two captive breeding facilities, one at Keauhou Ranch in Volcano on the Big Island, and the other in Makawao on Maui, and works at a number of field sites around Hawaii. Using intensive propagation and release techniques, the HEBCP aims to re-establish self-sustaining populations of critically endangered birds or augment existing ones. More than 1,000 chicks of many different Hawaiian species have been successfully raised by the HEBCP since 1993.

Pueo

“The exhibit in early 2011, was quite successful in raising both awareness and funds, for the amazing conservation work being done right here in Hawai‘i,” states gallery manager Emily Catey.  ” Volcano Art Center is happy to display the images again to continue to raise awareness for this effort.”

The exhibit, opening February 21, 2012, features giclee reproductions priced individually, compared to the first exhibit where the original watercolor paintings sold only as a complete set.

Don’t miss this opportunity to view the partial collection, of the “Living Endemic Birds of Hawai‘i by Marian Berger. Call (808) 967-7565 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Japan Approves First Shipment of Genetically Modified Rainbow Papayas

After 13 years of negotiations, Japan has approved its first shipment of genetically-modified Rainbow papayas from Hawaii.

“The fact that the Japanese have tested it to the nth degree and evaluated its food and environmental safety proves it’s a good product,” said Rod Yonemura, consultant to the 160-member Hawaii Papaya Industry Association based in Hilo, capital of Hawaii’s Big Island…

…To introduce the Rainbow to Japanese traders, Yonemura said HPIA is planning a booth at the Super Market Trade Show in Tokyo Feb. 1-3, and another at Foodex Japan in Chiba March 8-9…

Full Article here: Japan Receives Hawaiian Rainbow Papayas

Big Island Police Investigating Body Found in Eden Roc

Big Island police are investigating a body found in Puna as a coroner’s inquest.

Shortly after 6:52 am, Saturday (January 28), police received a report of a body found near a residence in the Eden Roc Subdivision. The unidentified man appeared to be in his 50s.

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are conducting further investigation into the death and have not ruled out foul play.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning to determine the exact cause of death and to assist in identification.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Detective Ernest Matsumoto at 961-2379 or email him at ematsumoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Big Island Police Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old Puna Girl

Big Island police are searching for a 17-year-old girl reported as missing from Puna since December 20.

Tihany Glimane

Tihany Glimane is described as 5-foot-6, about 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Horizon Will Plead Guilty to False Vessel Oil-Record Keeping Entries

Horizon Lines, Inc. announced that its Horizon Lines, LLC operating subsidiary has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, under which the ocean cargo carrier will plead guilty to two counts of providing federal authorities with false vessel oil record-keeping entries on a containership in the U.S. West Coast-Hawaii service.

Under the agreement, which is subject to court approval, the company will pay a fine of $1.0 million and donate an additional $500,000 to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for environmental community service programs. The company also has agreed to be placed on probation for three years and institute an environmental compliance plan.

The charges stem from the improper use of an oily water separator and related inappropriate record keeping on the Horizon Enterprise, an American-flag containership that sails between Tacoma, Oakland and Honolulu. Oily water separators are used to remove oil from bilge or wastewater, so that the water can then be legally discharged into the ocean.

The company responded promptly and proactively to the discovery of these violations. As part of the company’s environmental review, Horizon Lines conducted a fleet-wide audit and has cooperated fully with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities involved. It also immediately implemented a compliance and training program, which is being performed by an outside contractor. The program augments the company’s existing environmental policies for mitigating operational impacts while at sea. Additionally, the company has established the position of Environmental Compliance Director to lead Horizon’s overall environmental compliance programs. The position reports directly to the company’s Chief Compliance Officer and the Board of Directors.

“Horizon Lines has always endeavored to operate as a responsible environmental steward,” said Stephen Fraser, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We do not in any way minimize the unauthorized actions by a few individuals that run contrary to the care and training normally demonstrated by our vessel crews throughout the company. We are making every effort to see that this does not happen again, as we continue to provide service to our customers as an environmentally responsible American corporation.”

Related articles

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• Texas Oil Company Sentenced to Pay $12 Million for Clean Air Act Violations (iipalbanjary.net)