Hyatt testing utility program
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is working with Maui Electric Co. to test a semiautomated "Fast DR," or demand response, pilot program that is designed to control the cost of the hotel's electric bills while helping the utility maintain reliability and add more renewable energy to the grid, a release said last week.
The Fast DR program rewards commercial and industrial customers for designating parts of their electricity use that can be turned off during critical energy situations with 10 minutes' notice or less.
Using a state-of-the-art energy management system, the hotel will allow part of its power consumption to be temporarily reduced following an Internet notification from MECO's operations system. The Hyatt is the first commercial business partner in Hawaii to begin testing for MECO's pilot program, a release said.
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High surf for Maui, Molokai
A high-surf advisory is in effect for some shores of Maui and Molokai, the National Weather Service said Saturday.
The advisory affects the east shores of Molokai and Maui until 6 p.m. Wednesday. There is also an ongoing advisory for the north and west shores of Molokai and the north shores of Maui in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.
Strong trade winds will bring rough and choppy surf to east-facing shores of the islands through the upcoming week, the service said. A new long-period northwest swell will peak today and diminish Monday.
Surf of 16 to 22 feet is expected along the north- and west-facing shores of Molokai and along north-facing shores of Maui, peaking today and diminishing Monday. Surf will be in the 8- to 10-foot range along east-facing shores, remaining elevated for several days.
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Community plan meeting topic
A public meeting on the community plan process with a panel of members from county government and the private sector will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kihei Charter School. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for pupu and conversation.
The current Kihei Makena Community Plan has been in effect since 1998, so it's time to update it, a news release about the event said.
The charter school is located at 41 E. Lipoa St. Nonperishable food donations for the Maui Food Bank are encouraged.
For more information, call (508) 499-9996 or go to www.gokihei.org.
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Offices set to close for holiday
Federal, state and county offices will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day.
County residential refuse collection will not be affected, but the Hana, Lanai and Molokai landfills will be closed.
The Central Maui Landfill and EKO Compost will be open from 6 a.m. to noon. The Olowalu landfill will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. County pools will be closed.
All public libraries will be closed. The Maui News business offices will also be closed.
