Variants, boosters turn rich-poor vaccine gap into chasm

PARIS — The global initiative to share coronavirus vaccines fairly already scaled back its pledge to the world’s poor once. Now, to meet even that limited promise, COVAX would have to deliver more than a million doses every hour until the end of the year in some of the world’s most challenging places.

Hawaii: Petroleum detected in tap water near Pearl Harbor

HONOLULU — The Hawaii State Department of Health said Wednesday a laboratory has detected petroleum product in a water sample from an elementary school near Pearl Harbor amid heightened concerns that fuel from a massive Navy storage facility could contaminate Oahu’s water supply.

KDHO: 14 new COVID-19 cases Dec. 1

LIHU‘E — Wednesday, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 14 new cases of COVID-19. All of these cases are residents.

Great Toy Exchange has something for everyone

KAPA‘A — It’s free! It’s simple, and it’s open! Coordinated by the Kapa‘a Community Food Pantry inside The Kaua‘i Store, the 2nd Annual Great Toy Exchange is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Christmas Eve.

Seedlings available in ‘Ele‘ele Saturday

‘ELE‘ELE — ‘Ele‘ele Elementary School student Carmila Udarbe and her mentors, Roy Miyashiro and Basilio “Bunga” Fuertes, will be distributing seedlings, Saturday starting at 8 a.m. near the entrance to Gather Federal Credit Union in the ‘Ele‘ele Shopping Center.

KCCC Warden Wagatsuma retires

WAILUA — Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center Warden Neal Wagatsuma has retired, ending a 26-year stay as the head of the facility, the state Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday.

HOOSER: Making democracy work. We need you in 2022.

As 2021 draws to a close, I think not so much about the coming holidays but more about the work being done in Congress, by our County Council, and in the coming legislative session that opens on Jan. 19, followed oh-so-quickly by the primary election Aug. 13.

ERSOY: Minimizing weight gain during the holidays

Holidays are the most fun and enjoyable times with our families and friends. Especially at Christmas, when most of us are busy buying gifts for everyone, maybe even including ourselves! And we’re also trying hard to finish our work or projects before the new year. One of my favorite parts is trying new recipes and enjoying them with loved ones.

Obituaries for Wednesday, December 1, 2021

• Rosita ‘Rose’ Estacio Costa • Juanito Queddeng Menor • Florence Ellen Whitney • Ernest ‘Olaf’ S. Fujita • Yolanda Keli‘ikuli • Judith Pi‘ilani Taniguchi • Isabella Emily (Linda) Victorino • Phylis ‘Baby Darling’ Haleakala Goias