High-surf advisory on Maui, Molokai
The National Weather Service posted a high-surf advisory Thursday for the north-facing shores of Maui and Molokai until 6 a.m. Saturday.
Strong rip currents and beach erosion are expected on affected shorelines.
Surf was expected to reach heights of 12 to 16 feet, with waves building today and gradually diminishing Saturday.
For more information, call (866) 944-5025 or go online to www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.
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Maui, state gas prices decline
The price of a gallon of regular unleaded in Wailuku fell 5 cents from last week to $4.19 a gallon, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch on Thursday.
That price is 32 cents less than last month and 23 cents lower than this time last year.
Retail gas prices dropped throughout Hawaii, including by 5 cents per gallon in Hilo, over the past week. The statewide average for regular unleaded was $4.05, down 2 cents from last week, 28 cents less than last month and 6 cents lower than last year.
Honolulu's average price nudged down a penny to $3.98 a gallon for regular unleaded, 29 cents less than last month and 2 cents higher than a year ago.
In Hilo, the average gas price was $3.99 a gallon, down 36 cents from last month and 32 cents less than a year ago.
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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Scammers calling MECO customers
Maui Electric Co. customers have been receiving unsolicited "public announcement" phone calls about their electric bills, with callers also seeking homeownership information, the utility reported Thursday.
MECO officials said electric company officials are not making such phone calls, and residents should not provide personal, confidential or financial information to unidentified callers. Suspicious calls should be reported to police.
Residents are urged to ask questions, getting the caller's name, phone number and company affiliation.
For more information, call MECO's Customer Service Department at 871-9777 for Maui residents or (877) 871-8461 for residents of Molokai and Lanai.
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Inmate reintegration forum Wednesday
A forum on the needs of inmates re-entering the community will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Maui Economic Opportunity Inc.'s classrooms 1 and 2, according to an announcement.
The free event is being sponsored by the Maui Re-entry Council, which has a mission to "promote public safety and protect victims' rights by preparing inmates for successful reintegration into the Maui community."
Those planning to participate are asked to call Debbie Cabebe at 243-4342 to RSVP by Tuesday.
For more information, call Kathy Narasaki at 243-4646 or 250-9667.
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DMVL offices to close for training
The county Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing will close its Molokai and Lanai satellite offices for staff training on Dec. 11 and 12, according to an announcement.
Both offices will resume normal office hours on Dec. 13.
For more information, call (808) 270-7363.
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Game bird hunting season under way
Game bird hunting season is open in areas of Kula and Kahakuloa through Jan. 21, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced.
Legal hunting days are Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays. The season began Nov. 3.
The hunting areas are the Kula Forest Reserve and Cooperative Lease Area (hunting Unit C); the Kahakuloa Game Management Area and West Maui Forest Reserve (Unit F); and the Kahakuloa Natural Area Reserve (Unit N).
Game mammal hunting will be closed within Unit C on legal game bird hunting days, the department said.
Department biologists predict a below-average season for bird hunting because of lingering drought impacts in many parts of the state.
A Dec. 31, 2007, appellate court ruling determined that no game bird stamp sales are allowed for hunting. A valid hunting license only is required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands.
All game bird hunting is regulated by Hawaii administrative rules. For more information, go online to hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw and look under "Administrative Rules."
