Navy blames Hawaii water contamination on jet fuel spill

HONOLULU — The Navy believes that contaminated tap water that went to Hawaii military households came from a one-time spill of jet fuel last month and was not caused by a leak from aging underground fuel storage tanks above an aquifer, a top Navy official told state lawmakers on Friday.

Spectrum food drive nets nearly 900 pounds of food

What do you use the big (institution sized) cans of food for, Noreen Bargayo of Spectrum wanted to know Wednesday as the group of Spectrum associates collated the results of the Spectrum Holiday Food Drive being turned over to the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i.

5 get new homes, just in time for Christmas

The Friday-morning misting rains provided a perfect backdrop for the five affordable homes that were turned over to their owners at the ‘Ele‘ele Iluna neighborhood during a key-passing observance by Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity.

Hanama‘ulu homeowners’ black-slime problem persists

HANAMA‘ULU — Homeowners in a local housing development continue to fight chronic “black slime” biofilm and health issues they claim are caused by contaminated plumbing installed by the builder, nearly three years after some households first noticed the problem.

Rescued Kaua‘i ‘akikiki flown to Maui Bird Conservation Center

KAHULUI — A six-month-old ’akikiki chick was safely rescued on Kaua‘i and flown by helicopter to Maui in an ambitious effort to rescue four tiny birds deep in a thick Hawaiian rainforest, giving hope to a critically endangered species driven to the brink of extinction by malaria: an unfortunate consequence of climate change.

Free lunch for Veterans, Military on Dec. 11

LIHU‘E — Veterans, active-duty military and their family members are invited to a free, drive-thru Christmas lunch this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until supplies are exhausted, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Center.

Beach House hosts craft fair Saturday

KUKUI‘ULA — The Beach House restaurant, located across the road from the Lawa‘i Beach Resort, hosts a craft fair Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring a lot of Kaua‘i Made products and vendors.

Happy Camper for Friday, December 10, 2021

Mana Kennedy didn’t want his antlers installed by Santa, but by Belle of “Beauty and the Beast” Wednesday during the Princess and Superheroes night at Santa’s House at Kukui Grove Center in Lihu‘e.

COVID-19 reunion: Tearful patients, nurses share memories

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — Brian Patnoe never saw the faces of the masked health care workers who nursed him back to health from the coronavirus that nearly killed him. But he knew each by their eyes, which peered out through layers of protective gear as he lay in their hospital’s COVID-19 unit.

Services in Washington, Kansas will continue to honor Dole

WASHINGTON — Bob Dole was to be honored with a private service at Washington National Cathedral and a public one at the World War II Memorial a day after lying in state at the U.S. Capitol, where President Joe Biden and top leaders from both parties saluted a “giant in our history.”

From grime to crumbling masonry, US parks get a makeover

Near the Tidal Basin in Washington, crews have cleaned grime off the white marble exterior of the Jefferson Memorial and fixed cracked stone to prevent falling debris. At the Statue of Liberty, plans are in the works to waterproof the exterior of the massive stone fort built in 1807 that serves as the monument’s base.

The AP Interview: General says US troops to remain in Iraq

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander for the Middle East said Thursday that the United States will keep the current 2,500 troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future, and he warned that he expects increasing attacks on U.S. and Iraqi personnel by Iranian-backed militias determined to get American forces out.