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The Advertiser wants your memories of Hawai'i's admission into statehood. We will publish a selection of personal accounts in the newspaper and online. Also read our stories, view our galleries and videos on Statehood.

STATE FURLOUGH PLAN BLOCKED

Union leaders huddle up outside Judge Karl Sakamoto's courtroom, where minutes earlier the judge ruled in favor of the union's request to stop the governor's furlough plan. Clockwise from left, Randy Perreira, executive director, Hawai'i Government Employees Union; Roger Takabayashi, president, Hawai'i State Teachers Association; Dayton Nakanelua, state director, United Public Workers; and J.N. Musto, executive director, University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly. More »

Photo by RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

Breaking News / Updates

Man charged in sex assault of 13 year old girl (9:32 p.m.)
Waialae Avenue is closed between 16th and Ekaha avenues (9:30 p.m.)
Aiea residents water restored (9:26 p.m.)
Car goes into fountain at Hale Koa Hotel (5:32 p.m.)
Lingle, top officials meeting to discuss state's next step (2:45 p.m.)
Hikers find body of Kauai man at bottom of Opaekaa Falls (2:07 p.m.)
Japan's royal couple begin two-week tour of Canada, Hawaii (9:55 a.m.)
Slain woman was former Big Island high school rodeo standout (9:49 a.m.)
Teen dies of apparent drowning in Shark's Cove (8:53 p.m.)
Firefighters contain brush fire in Waianae (4:47 p.m.)
Bellows Beach Park to be reopened to public today (10:50 a.m.)
Hawaii fishing ban on 'Deep 7' bottomfish goes into effect July 6 (10:49 a.m.)

More Breaking News »

Blogs

Derrick DePledge: The Notebook

Get a behind-the-scenes look at government and politics. More »

David Shapiro: Volcanic Ash

A totally independent, slightly irreverent and hopelessly idealistic view. That's David. More »

Jerry Burris: Akamai Politics

Jerry is blogging on the politics and events of the day. More »

Trisha Kehaulani Watson: He Hawai'i Au

Dr. Trisha Kehaulani Watson addresses current issues in the Native Hawaiian and environmental communities. More »

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TOP STORIES

Hawaii court blocks state furlough plan

Throwing Gov. Linda Lingle's plans to close the state's budget deficit into doubt, a Circuit Court judge ruled yesterday that the governor does not have the authority to unilaterally order furloughs for state workers. Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto determined that furloughs alter the hours and wages of state workers and are subject to collective bargaining granted by the state Constitution. More »

Home sales up in Honolulu in June, but prices are down

The median sales price of a single-family home on O'ahu fell to $569,000 in June from $625,000 in the same month a year earlier, but the volume of sales rose for the first time in two years, indicating that lower prices were luring more buyers back into the market. More »

38 Honolulu drivers ticketed on first day of cell phone ban

Honolulu's new ban on the use of cell phones and other hand-held electronic devices while driving led to just 38 citations on its first day. Police said it appears motorists changed their calling habits or bought hands-free accessories to comply with the new law. More »

Ruling paves way for education cuts

Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to cut the University of Hawai'i and the state Department of Education budgets was upheld in court yesterday, and education officials say they will negotiate with unions on how to make the reductions. More »

U.S., allies prepare for N. Korea launch

If North Korea fires a missile at Hawai'i on or around the Fourth of July holiday, the U.S. plans a measured response in coordination with Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. In an exclusive interview, White House national security adviser James L. Jones said of North Korea and its erratic communist dictator Kim Jong Il: "Our reaction will be dependent on what it is they do over the next few days, few weeks, whatever it is." More »

Police can afford more recruits

The Honolulu Police Department likely will get at least one more recruit class this year after all. Police Chief Boisse Correa yesterday told the City Council's Public Safety and Services Committee that his staff has located money for another recruit class, and city budget director Rix Maurer III said the Hannemann administration is looking at giving authorization for that class. More »

TRANSPORTATION

Better times ahead for Kapolei drivers

A bevy of top state leaders clustered together in a dusty open space between the Kapolei Theaters and Zippy's Restaurant yesterday to celebrate the promise of easier driving in the hub of what sometimes is still referred to as O'ahu's Second City. The occasion was the groundbreaking of the first phase of the Kapolei Interchange Complex. More »

Hawaii Superferry can give ships to lenders, court says

POLICE

Ex-UH quarterback arrested

Former record-setting University of Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang was arrested yesterday after a woman reported that a man stole her camera as she filmed a brawl last month. Chang, 27, was arrested at 7:35 a.m. at his Mililani home and was booked for investigation of one count of second-degree robbery. He was released without charges pending further investigation. More »

Woman hurt in H-3 crash

BIG ISLAND

Kilauea goes dark after rockfalls

The bright glow at the summit of Kilauea volcano has been snuffed out by a series of large rockfalls within its crater. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says the rockfalls within the Halema'uma'u vent began Tuesday, producing a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude-2.4 earthquake. More »

MY COMMUNITIES

Anti-meth program invites volunteers to meeting

The Hawaii Meth Project is seeking volunteers to help fight the methamphetamine problem in Hawai'i. It will hold its first Windward orientation at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Anthony's Church parish hall at 148 Makawao St. in Kailua. All interested people are welcome. More »

OTHER NEWS

Floating pool toys a drowning risk

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said yesterday that Aqua-Leisure Industries would recall about 4 million floating baby pool toys that pose a drowning risk. The commission said consumers should immediately stop using the floats. Leg straps in the seat of the float are prone to tearing, which can cause children to fall into or under the water. More »