Taiwan extends compulsory military service to 1 year
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan will extend its compulsory military service from four months to a year starting in 2024, President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday, as the self-ruled island faces China’s military, diplomatic and trade pressure.
Companies welcome end to China quarantines for visitors
BEIJING — Companies welcomed China’s decision to end quarantines for travelers from abroad as an important step to revive slumping business activity while Japan on Tuesday announced restrictions on visitors from the country as infections surge.
Law protects export of sacred Native American items from U.S.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Federal penalties have increased under a newly signed law intended to protect the cultural patrimony of Native American tribes, immediately making some crimes a felony and doubling the prison time for anyone convicted of multiple offenses.
Serbs put up new roadblocks as tensions soar in Kosovo
MITROVICA, Kosovo — Serbs on Tuesday erected more roadblocks in northern Kosovo and defied international demands to remove those placed earlier, a day after Serbia put its troops near the border on a high level of combat readiness.
Fireworks season starts with a bang
LIHU‘E — No sooner than Santa finishing his appointed stops, globally, another tradition kicked in, Monday morning when sleep still clouded the minds of Christmas revelers.
KIF wrestlers ready for season
HONOLULU — Waimea High School wrestler Skyelynn Ripley did it, again — putting in a winning record during the 2022 Pa‘ani Challenge that wrapped up, Friday on O‘ahu.
Japanese visitors traveling under the signing of the Sister State Agreement
LIHU‘E — Preparations to greet the first group of Japanese traveling under the signing of the Sister State Agreement between Yamaguchi Prefecture and Hawai‘i are in full swing by members of the Kaua‘i Yamaguchi Kenjin Kai, and the community.
Search for missing swimmer resumes
‘ANINI BEACH — A California man remained missing on Monday, one day after he was apparently swept out to sea while swimming with family members.
Obituaries for Tuesday, December 27, 2022
• Debbie Lynne Sakai Ortiz-Luis • Myra Linda Sakai
Raider boys 3rd at O‘ahu swim meet
Ahead of the first Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation qualifying swim meet coming Jan. 7, 2023 at the YMCA pool in Puhi, Kaua‘i High School took a team of swimmers to participate in the 45th annual Dorothy Aki/Kalani High School Invitational that wrapped up Dec. 17 on O‘ahu.
Happy Camper for Monday, December 26, 2022
Mahalo, Kaua‘i Krush softball Menehune (nobody wanted their names out there) for collaborating with the Kaua‘i Senior Softball League’s Hanama‘ulu Hillsiders and the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation to improve the softball field at the Peter Rayno Sr. Park in Hanama‘ulu.
Sculptor struggles with Shaka Claus
Jeff Haigh of California said on Friday there was only one more day, and a lot of “refurbishing” that needed to be done, on the “Shaka Claus” sand sculpture at Kalapaki Beach.
Median home price hits new high
Buoyed by some high-end transactions, the median price of a single-family home on Kaua‘i surged to its highest point of the year, and has the housing market on track to be the most expensive in the island chain for 2022.
Obituary for Monday, December 26, 2022
• Floro Yoro Dinong
400 benefit from Zonta Christmas Fund
LIHU‘E — Christmas will be brighter for almost 400 disadvantaged individuals who qualified as recipients as part of The Garden Island newspaper/Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Christmas Fund project.
Arroyo family, Arroyo’s Plumbing treat 85 to Walmart shopping sprees
Christmas for 85 young people and their families arrived on Friday afternoon when they gathered in the Walmart parking lot.
Lost Life Flight air ambulance team is remembered
LIHU‘E — Thursday was a time to grieve for the Hawai‘i Life Flight Kaua‘i team and several dozen community members, who joined the Kaua‘i team in remembering the three victims of the Hawai‘i Life Flight N13GZ that lost contact with radar in waters between Maui and Hawai‘i Island on Thursday, Dec. 15.
Kapa‘a wahine unbeaten in KIF basketball first round
KAPA‘A — The frustrated Waimea High girls basketball team succumbed to Kapa‘a’s height advantage and turnovers on Friday, 61-35, during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation girls basketball contest at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
Happy Camper for Sunday, December 25, 2022
Ella Dela Cruz of Ellaments is just an eighth grade home schooler, and already launched a great line of gyotaku note cards and hand-stamped fabric art (so good, even Sheri Sanchez Holcomb, the organizer from Marriott’s Kaua‘i Vacation Club of the Children’s Miracle Network Craft and Products Fair, had to get some pieces).
Moody’s assigns Aa2 issuer rating to county
LIHU‘E — The County of Kaua‘i’s finances are in good shape as it navigates its way through a post-pandemic era rocked by sky-high inflation and rising interest rates
Music, good times return to Kilauea Park
It was a fun and festive evening at Kilauea Park where community and family members gathered to celebrate the holiday season at the Eighth annual Christmas Concert.
Births for Sunday, December 25, 2022
• Akemi Kalei U‘I Kahiwalaniokekai Gampong • Axton Ali‘ikai Chun • Maia Lively Wareham • Clementine Ellie Traughber
ISLAND HISTORY: Radio announcer Mike Ashman authored ‘Kauai: As It Was In The 1940s and ’50s’
In 1940, with a couple of years experience as a radio announcer at KSAN in San Francisco under his belt, California-born Mike Ashman (1921-2018) joined Kauai’s first radio station – KTOH (Kauai Territory of Hawaii) – which began broadcasting on May 8, 1940 on Ahukini Road.
K-DRAMA: Poong-do has amnesia, Chairman Ma is confused
Following are this week’s synopses of shows on KBFD TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles.
CRITTER: Meet the coral that looks like snow
Scuba diving one day years ago on the outer reefs at Sharks Cove on Oahu North Shore I found an overhang where the big winter surf had carved out a large finger of lava from a cliff that sticks out about 30 feet.