City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/04/14 87th Annual Lei Day Celebration lei contest rules available

Friday, April 4, 2014 Contact:  Roger Watanabe, 768-3042     87th Annual Lei Day Celebration lei contest rules available   Honolulu – The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) today announced that Lei Day lei contest rules are now available to the public and may be downloaded from DPR's website, www.honoluluparks.com, or received by mail.   The theme for the 2014 Lei Day Celebration is Lei Hali'a Aloha (lei recalling sweet memories).  There are three lei contests this year:  Hawaiian lei, youth Hawaiian lei, and lei lipine (ribbon, fabric, yarn lei).  The material selected for the theme lei, one of the categories of the Hawaiian lei contest, is one or more of the following: pikake, pua kenikeni, maile and 'ilima.   Lei lipine entries must be submitted on Saturday, April 12, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at the Makiki District Park Auditorium, 1527 Keeaumoku Street.  Lei received after 10:30 a.m. may be displayed but will not be eligible for prizes.  No lei lipine entries will be accepted on May 1.   The lei contest exhibit will be open to the public on May 1, from 1 to 5:30 p.m., in the area between the Queen Kapiolani Regional Park Bandstand and the Waikiki Shell.  The exhibit boasts some of the most exquisitely crafted lei in a variety of colors and methods.   DPR is offering free lei making workshops and the schedule is posted on DPR's website.   The celebration is presented by the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Matson, and Oceanic Time Warner Cable.   For more information about the 87th Annual Lei Day Celebration, please visit www.honoluluparks.com or call Roger Watanabe, Lei Day Publicist, at 768-3042.     -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/04/14 Louise Kekahilinaniopauahi Wade Alina is 86th Annual Lei Queen

Friday, April 4, 2014 Contact:  Roger Watanabe, 768-3042     Louise Kekahilinaniopauahi Wade Alina is 86th Annual Lei Queen   Honolulu – Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the City & County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, Matson, and Oceanic Time Warner Cable, sponsors of the city's 86th Annual Lei Queen Lei Court Selection event, opened the festivities on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Ala Moana Regional Park's McCoy Pavilion.   Louise Kekahilinaniopauahi Wade Alina was selected as the City & County of Honolulu's 2014 Lei Queen.  Lei Queen Louise hails from Kaneohe, Hawai'i, where was raised by her Tutu after she lost her parents when she was 11 years old.   Lei Queen Louise graduated from Castle High School and received her junior accounting degree from Honolulu Business College, where she met her husband, William Alina.  They have three daughters, Lehuanani, Puamana and Honiala, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.    Queen Louise competed against three other contestants in this year's Na Kupuna age group (55 years and above).  First Princess is Lydia U'lani Fu Kuie'e from Aliamanu, Oahu.  Second Princess is Pualani Evangeline Kauila from Honolulu, Oahu (originally from the island of Lanai).  Contestants were judged on lei making, hula, language skills and poise, and the ability to convey the spirit of aloha with warmth and dignity.   This year's Lei Day theme is "Lei Hali'a Aloha," lei recalling sweet memories.  Queen Louise and her court will reign over the 87th Annual Lei Day Celebration festivities on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park and Bandstand.   The event is free to the public and features local entertainment and hula halau.  The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association will be performing, and everyone will have an opportunity to see some of the world's most exquisite handcrafted lei in the Lei Contest Exhibit area, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.   Hawaiian artisans will share their talents and skills with exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day in the Kulana Lei village.  While at Kulana Lei, have the mo'opuna (grandchildren) visit Tutu (grandmother) at Tutu Hale to hear stories, play Hawaiian games, and learn songs, hula, lei making, and lauhala weaving.  In addition to Kûlana Lei, vendors offering craft, lei, and food will be available to the public.   The closing ceremony for the annual Lei Day Celebration is held at Mauna 'Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiâha'o Church on May 2 of each year.   The first Lei Day was celebrated in 1927 in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing lei.  Miss Nina Bowman was crowned the first Lei Queen in 1928.    For more information about the 87th Annual Lei Day celebration, visit www.honoluluparks.com, or contact Roger Watanabe, Lei Day Publicist, at 768-3042, or email rwatanabe@honolulu.gov.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/04/14 Traffic Advisory: Sewer Work April 7-11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 4, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV PIO, 768-3454     TRAFFIC ADVISORY:  SEWER WORK IN HONOLULU NEXT WEEK   KAPOLEI – The City's Department of Environmental Services said traffic will be affected next week as construction crews rehabilitate wastewater pipes in and around the Honolulu area.               City contractors will conduct sewer pipe work on the following dates and locations:   Apr 7 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1269 Kapalama Ave. Apr 8 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1510 Kohou St / 1222 Houghtailing St. Apr 9 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1222 Houghtailing St. Apr 10 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1555 Pohaku St. Apr 11 (Pipe Liner) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm:  1624 Bernice St. Apr 7 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: Laimi Rd & Dow St. Apr 7-9 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 941 Owen St. Apr 7-11 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 159 Puiwa Rd / N. King St & Liliha St. Apr 8-11 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 2755 Dow St. Apr 10-11 (Pipe Repair) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1036 Ola Ln. Apr 10 (CCTV/Cleaning) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 1344-1386 Liliha St / 1425 Liliha St / Liliha St & Vineyard Blvd. Apr 11 (CCTV/Cleaning) - 8:30 am - 3:30 pm: 622-642 N. Vineyard Blvd / 200 N. Vineyard Blvd.   URL:  Sewer Projects Construction Map     -30-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/03/14 Volunteer sidewalk patching near the State Capitol

Thursday, April 3, 2014 Contact: Tyler Sugihara, Chief, Division of Road Maintenance, 768-3600   Volunteer sidewalk patching near the State Capitol   Honolulu – The Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) and the Hawaii Government Employees Association will be working together to patch and repair uneven sidewalks near the State Capitol on Saturday, April 5, 2014 from 8 to 11 a.m.   Volunteers will improve sidewalks on Beretania Street, fronting the State Capitol, under the supervision of a crew from DFM's Division of Road Maintenance.   -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/02/14 Earth Month Cleanups This Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454     EARTH MONTH CLEANUPS THIS WEEK   KAPOLEI, HI – The City's Storm Water Quality Branch of the Department of Environmental Services (ENV) is holding cleanups April 4 and 5 in Mapunapuna and the Pearl Harbor Bike Path, respectively.   On Friday, volunteers for the Mapunapuna cleanup should check-in by 8:30 a.m. at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company to cleanup debris along Mapunapuna Street.  The cleanup begins at 9:00 a.m. and last three hours.   The Saturday cleanup of the Pearl Harbor Bike Path begins at 8:00 a.m. and asks volunteers to check-in by 7:30 a.m. at either the Neal Blaisdell Park or the HPD Academy on Waipahu Depot Road.  The cleanup lasts three hours.   ENV partners with businesses, schools, public officials, the state and military organizations.  The cleanups will provide educational materials on reducing trash.             Participants should be 12 years old or older, dressed to get dirty, and bring the following:  water, hat, old covered shoes and sunscreen.  All participants must sign a release form to participate.   For a release form or more information on the ENV's storm water community service activities, logon to www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com/storm/hero/adopt.html or call a Storm Water Community Relations Specialist at 768-3267.                                                                                                                                          -30-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 04/02/14 Hanauma Bay closed due to Tsunami Advisory

April 2, 2014 Contact: Jesse Broder Van Dyke 489-0341   Hanauma Bay closed due to Tsunami Advisory   Honolulu, Hawaii - Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will be closed today, Wednesday, April 2 due to the possibility of dangerous and unpredictable conditions in the waters in the bay.  He also urged everyone on Oahu to stay out of the ocean and away from immediate shorelines until at least 8 a.m.    Based on an 8.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Chile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami Advisory around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Although no destructive tsunami had been generated, the possibility remains that there will be unusual currents and wave heights along Oahu shores beginning after 3 a.m., which may persist throughout the day in some areas.    Public safety officials will assess the conditions throughout the day and the city will re-open Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve when it is safe to do so.    -END-

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2014 / 03/31/14 Major Sewer Projects During April

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, March 31, 2014 Media Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454     MAJOR SEWER PROJECTS DURING APRIL   KAPOLEI – The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services is working on six sewer projects in April that will impact roadways and traffic on Oahu.               The projects include:   Ø       Airport Sewer Rehabilitation/Reconstruction, Phase 2 – This is a liner project, on Aolele Street, from Rodgers Boulevard to Lagoon Drive.  The contractor is working days from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and nights from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.  There will be times when they will be working 24 hours.  The work is expected to continue through August 2014. Ø       Ala Moana Boulevard/Auahi Street Sewer Rehabilitation, Phase 2 – On Ala Moana Blvd from Ward Ave to Keawe St, crews will be on the roads working Sunday nights to Thursday mornings from 8 pm to 5 am, from July 2013 to August 2014. Ø       Fort DeRussy Wastewater Pump Station Force Main Emergency Repair – Sewer rehabilitation work on Kalakaua Avenue from Ena Road to Kuamoo Street.  Crews will be on the road Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 3:30 pm with intermittent periods of work lasting 24 hours.  Duration of the project:  December 2013 to October 2014. Ø       Hanawai Circle Sewer Reconstruction – Installation and rehabilitation of new sewer line along Farrington Highway from Waipahu Depot St to Hanawai Circle and on Waipahu Depot St from Farrington Highway to Waipahu St, crews will be working on the roads Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Duration of the project:  February 2014 to October 2014. Ø       Moiliili-Kapahulu Sewer Rehabilitation/Reconstruction Sewer – Installation and rehabilitation of a new sewer line along Date St from Pumehana St to Kapiolani Blvd, crews will be on the road Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm with intermittent periods of work lasting 24 hours or more. The expected completion date is end of March 2014. Ø       Wilder Avenue and Metcalf Street Sewer Rehabilitation – Sewer rehabilitation on Wilder Ave from Metcalf St to Evelyn Ln, crews will be working on the roads Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Duration of the project is:  October 2012 to June 2014.   URL:  Sewer Projects Construction Map               Approximately 138 projects are underway focused on Oahu's wastewater treatment plants, pump stations and collection system. These projects are part of $790 million of ongoing wastewater projects, including planning, designing, construction, project management and equipment project phases.   -30-