Hayashida set to fill in as superintendent
Waihee School Principal Leila Hayashida has been tapped as acting superintendent for the Central Maui complex area, according to Sandy Goya, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education.
Hayashida "has graciously agreed to step up on a temporary basis while the DOE continues with the active recruitment for a permanent complex area superintendent," Goya said Wednesday.
While Hayashida is filling in at the district level, Waihee Vice Principal Lori Yatsushiro will serve as temporary principal.
The Central Maui complex includes Baldwin, Kekaulike and Maui high schools and the intermediate and elementary schools that serve as feeder schools.
Hayashida replaces, at least temporarily, Bruce Anderson, who resigned as superintendent to become Maui High School's principal. He fills a position left by Randy Yamanuha, who retired this year.
Goya said the recruitment period for the superintendent position ends Saturday.
The department aims to fill the position by December, she said.
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Gas prices in state down in most areas
Retail gas prices for regular unleaded dipped a penny from last week in Wailuku to $4.55 a gallon, the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch said Thursday.
The price is 8 cents less than last month and 12 cents higher than last year.
Retail gas prices in Hawaii decreased in most areas over the past week for the first time in 11 weeks, the report said. The state average price dipped to $4.41, 3 cents less than last week, unchanged from last month and 23 cents higher than last year.
In Honolulu, the average price dropped to $4.32 a gallon, a nickel less than last week, 5 cents less than last month and 25 cents higher than a year ago.
In Hilo, the average gas price was $4.46 a gallon, up 3 cents from last week, 7 cents more than last month and 15 cents more than this time last year.
"With recent oil and retail gas market fluctuations settling down, just three states have state averages more than $4 a gallon," said AAA Hawaii Regional Manager Diane Peterson. "They are Hawaii at $4.41, California at $4.31 and Alaska at $4.25."
AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch is a weekly snapshot of gas prices. Prices are derived from fleet vehicle credit card transactions at more than 100,000 stations around the country and are the combined averages of the last card swipe of the previous day.
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North, west shores expecting high surf
A high-surf advisory will begin at noon today and run through 6 p.m. Saturday for the north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and for the north-facing shores of Maui, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
An incoming northwest swell will produce the hazardous surf this afternoon and continue through the day Saturday.
The surf along the north shores will be building to 10 to 15 feet this afternoon and grow to 15 to 20 feet tonight.
West shores will see surf building to 6 to 12 feet this afternoon and 8 to 14 feet tonight.
There will be large breaking waves, rough surf, rip currents and possible beach erosion.
Beachgoers are urged to stay out of the water and away from the shore break.
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Safety issues close playground in Haiku
The Kalakupua Playground at 4th Marine Division Park in Haiku was shut down Thursday for safety reasons, the county Department of Parks and Recreation said.
The park will remain closed indefinitely while the department evaluates repair and replacement options.
For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 572-1836.
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Conservation urged during power outage
Residents in Keanae and Nahiku are asked to conserve water Monday due to a scheduled power outage by Maui Electric Co., the Department of Water Supply said Thursday.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the department will not be able to fill water storage tanks due to the interruption in electrical service.
Residents are asked to use water only as needed for health and safety purposes to extend the supply in the storage tanks during the outage.
Customers are asked to call the department's 24-hour service line at 270-7633 only if a water problem occurs.
A MECO official said that the company is taking down the power from Haiku to Hana to upgrade service. This is the final stage in the Hana Pole Replacement Project, where 60 poles were removed and replaced due to prolonged exposure to moisture and salt in the East Maui area, the official said.
On Monday, the final pole will be flown in by helicopter to Keanae, where crews will set it in place and connect the lines. The power must be turned off to ensure the safety of MECO workers, the official said.
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Trade winds to offer relief from humidity
By the weekend, Maui County residents should feel a lot cooler as the trade winds will be coming back, officials at the National Weather Service on Oahu said Thursday.
Lead Forecaster Tim Craig said that island residents may have been feeling hot the past few days due to light winds and high humidity.
He said this type of weather is typical for this time of the month.
"We're transitioning from the summertime, which is 90 percent trade winds, to wintertime where the trade winds are less reliable," Craig said.
At about 11:15 a.m. Thursday, it was 87 degrees at Kahului Airport, according to the National Weather Service.
Humidity was hovering around 63 percent and the heat index, or how it actually feels outside, was at 94 degrees.
Although it has been hot, Craig said he was not aware that any high temperature records were set in the past few days.
Craig said although the weather may be "beautiful" in the mornings with clear skies, cloud cover may appear in the afternoons with a chance of showers.
According to the National Weather Service forecast online, trade winds may return today with breezy conditions by Sunday.
