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| New boaters must now take classes and pass an exam in order to operate boats with engines larger than ten horsepower. Photo from edhiker on Flickr |
BLNR Chair William Aila said that more crowding on the ocean and a need to understand appropriate behavior around protected marine life prompted the rule change. He noted more fatal accidents in the ocean in recent years and boat groundings that damage reefs. “The department is working diligently to create an education requirement that improves safety for the entire ocean-use community yet is simple and reasonable for all boaters to comply with,” said Aila.
Online courses certified through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators provide up to four hours of instruction. Some are free and some cost money. Other sources for classes include the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and local U.S. Power Squadron, which offer 12-hours of instruction.
The new rule also prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from operating a boat without supervision by a certified boat operator of at least 21 years of age. Fines for breaking the rules will range from $50 to $1,000.
The new rule also prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from operating a boat without supervision by a certified boat operator of at least 21 years of age. Fines for breaking the rules will range from $50 to $1,000.
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| No boat thefts were reported in Hawai`i in 2011. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
NO BOAT THEFTS IN KA`U OR THE REST OF HAWAI`I last year. That is the story from a national survey on stollen watercraft. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which released 2011 statistics on Monday, more than 6,000 boats were stolen in the United States. Hawai`i stood out as the only state with no reports of stollen boats. The reporting data used came from the National Crime Information Center database, which gathers information from the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Nationwide, the study showed 6,070 reports of stolen watercraft, a 9 percent decrease from 2010. Florida suffered 1,322 watercraft thefts, followed by California with 550, Texas with 437, Washington with 224 and North Carolina with 205. The most commonly reported stolen watercraft was the Jet-Ski. To prevent boat thefts, the organization recommends the following: Chain and lock detachable motors to the boat; do not leave title or registration papers in the craft; disable the craft by shutting fuel lines or removing batteries; use a trailer hitch lock after parking a boat on its trailer; install a kill switch in the ignition system.
See more in theft prevention at nicb.org.
Nationwide, the study showed 6,070 reports of stolen watercraft, a 9 percent decrease from 2010. Florida suffered 1,322 watercraft thefts, followed by California with 550, Texas with 437, Washington with 224 and North Carolina with 205. The most commonly reported stolen watercraft was the Jet-Ski. To prevent boat thefts, the organization recommends the following: Chain and lock detachable motors to the boat; do not leave title or registration papers in the craft; disable the craft by shutting fuel lines or removing batteries; use a trailer hitch lock after parking a boat on its trailer; install a kill switch in the ignition system.
See more in theft prevention at nicb.org.
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS can weigh in through Aug. 17 on a new way to measure progress in Hawai`i’s public schools. The draft on the proposed accountability system can be read at hawaiidoe.org. Citizens can give their input online.
According to the state Department of education, the new management structure would:
•Support ongoing efforts to raise expectations for students and better support educators;
• More accurately and fairly identify schools’ strengths and areas for improvement;
• Target interventions and support strategies to reward high-performing schools and address areas for school improvement;
• Support effective instruction and leadership; and
• Be implemented for school year 2013-14.
Under the new plan, labeling schools with “restructuring” and other titles under Race to the Top would be fazed out.
According to the state Department of education, the new management structure would:
•Support ongoing efforts to raise expectations for students and better support educators;
• More accurately and fairly identify schools’ strengths and areas for improvement;
• Target interventions and support strategies to reward high-performing schools and address areas for school improvement;
• Support effective instruction and leadership; and
• Be implemented for school year 2013-14.
Under the new plan, labeling schools with “restructuring” and other titles under Race to the Top would be fazed out.
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| Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park U.S. Mint quarter. |
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES inspired the U.S. Mint to issue a new 25 cent silver coin to be unveiled at a ceremony at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Aug. 29. The Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park quarter depicts an eruption on the east rift of Kilauea Volcano. It was both designed and sculpted by Charles L. Vickers.
The ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the hula platform, just south of the Kilauea Visitor Center.
A coin forum is scheduled for the evening prior to the ceremony. A coin exchange will take place after the ceremony with attendees swapping cash for rolls of the new quarters at face value.
The Hawai`i Volcanoes event is one in a series of America the Beautiful Quarter releases and the U.S. Mint and the National Park Service will co-host the ceremony. The Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park quarter is the fourteenth issued in the America the Beautiful Quarters series and the fourth in 2012. Beginning on Aug. 27, 2012, Philadelphia and Denver minted Hawai`i quarters will be available in bags and rolls directly from the U.S. Mint at http://www.usmint.gov. That is the same day the quarter is set to enter circulation.
A FATAL CRASH ON SOUTH POINT ROAD has led police to ask for information about the cause of the accident about 5.5 miles south of Kamaoa Road. The 25-year-old victim from Hilo was driving a 2001 Mercury sedan and was driving without a seatbelt mauka when he lost control, and crashed into a utility pole. The car overturned several times. He was airlifted to Kona Community Hospital. The accident happened after 8 a.m., July 23. The young man died at 9:25 a.m. this Sunday, July 29. Anyone with information on the victim and the circumstances of the crash can call Police Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.
The ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the hula platform, just south of the Kilauea Visitor Center.
A coin forum is scheduled for the evening prior to the ceremony. A coin exchange will take place after the ceremony with attendees swapping cash for rolls of the new quarters at face value.
The Hawai`i Volcanoes event is one in a series of America the Beautiful Quarter releases and the U.S. Mint and the National Park Service will co-host the ceremony. The Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park quarter is the fourteenth issued in the America the Beautiful Quarters series and the fourth in 2012. Beginning on Aug. 27, 2012, Philadelphia and Denver minted Hawai`i quarters will be available in bags and rolls directly from the U.S. Mint at http://www.usmint.gov. That is the same day the quarter is set to enter circulation.
A FATAL CRASH ON SOUTH POINT ROAD has led police to ask for information about the cause of the accident about 5.5 miles south of Kamaoa Road. The 25-year-old victim from Hilo was driving a 2001 Mercury sedan and was driving without a seatbelt mauka when he lost control, and crashed into a utility pole. The car overturned several times. He was airlifted to Kona Community Hospital. The accident happened after 8 a.m., July 23. The young man died at 9:25 a.m. this Sunday, July 29. Anyone with information on the victim and the circumstances of the crash can call Police Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.
WALK-IN EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION began yesterday on all islands with the exception of Lana`i and Ni`iahu. On the Big Island, the state elections division will no longer host early voting at Pahala Community Center. Registered voters can stop in with a valid photo ID between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Hilo Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi St.; West Hawai`i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building G; or Waimea Community Center, 65-1260 Kawaihae Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
OCEAN VIEW FOOD BASKET is hosted today from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7000 for more.
OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets Thursday starting at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more.
OCEAN VIEW FOOD BASKET is hosted today from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7000 for more.
OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets Thursday starting at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more.