Honolulu Advertiser

Police were looking for witnesses in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident that left a 24-year-old Honolulu man dead and shut Moanalua Freeway for about three hours early yesterday morning. Full Story »

Hawai'i may be able to use federal money meant to improve the administration of elections to help pay for a special election to fill the remaining months in U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie's term in Congress. Full Story »

After two days of negotiations that initially appeared productive, talks between the teachers' union and the governor's office collapsed with both sides unable to agree on how to end furloughs of public school teachers. Full Story »

WASHINGTON — A Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill moved forward in the House yesterday without the proposed changes that have drawn opposition from Gov. Linda Lingle. The bill, which creates a process for Hawaiians to form their own government similar to American Indians and Alaska Natives, was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee and now goes to the full House. Full Story »

The Honolulu City Council's failure yesterday to allow more legalized bed and breakfast operations on O'ahu won't result in a decline in B&Bs, according to the leader of a group that's been pushing the legislation. Full Story »

Locked doors and darkened rooms met library patrons yesterday as the state's library system became the latest state agency to furlough workers in a bid to address a worsening budget crunch. Full Story »

A bill that would allow the beach park known as Magic Island to be renamed after President Obama cleared its first hurdle yesterday, but not before some reservations were raised. Full Story »

TAMPA, Fla. — Seeing is believing, but feeling greatness goes far beyond. The five University of Hawai'i seniors have felt the final-four fire from within since August. That they are here, absolutely prepared to take on top-ranked Penn State today in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship at the St. Pete Times Forum. Full Story »

With every passing day, Maelynn Mook faces the future with varying degrees of trepidation, courage and hope. This year, at age 42, the full-time teacher's aide became a single mother of four. Full Story »

HAWAII — Keep the North Shore Country — one of two community groups fighting development at Turtle Bay Resort — is scheduled to go before the Hawaii Supreme Court today to argue for a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the resort's planned expansion. Full Story »

CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are seeking the public's help in locating Shane Caminos, who is wanted for second-degree escape. Full Story »

Käne'ohe investment adviser Albert J.K. Perkins IV has pleaded guilty in a $2 million fraud case and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced next year. Full Story »

Police are investigating the case of an infant boy who died yesterday evening in Windward O'ahu. Police said a 31-year-old woman was reversing a 2003 Chevy Tahoe out of a carport on Ahaolelo Road when the vehicle hit the boy. Full Story »

Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered the Hawai'i state flag to fly at half-staff at state and county buildings throughout Hawai'i on Saturday from sunrise to sunset in honor of former state Sen. Stanley Hara, who died on Dec. 1. Full Story »

Shriners Hospital for Children yesterday received a $1 million donation from the Marsland Foundation, the hospital announced. Full Story »

A 60-year-old man was shot and killed by Hawai'i County police early yesterday morning after he allegedly threatened officers with a gun following a nearly 10-hour standoff at his Puna home. Full Story »

Look, look, up in the sky! It's: a) a bird, b) a plane or c) tons of volcanic haze brought to you courtesy of the southeasterly or "kona" winds that have been blowing toward O'ahu for the past few days. Full Story »

Two people were injured after their helicopter made an emergency landing yesterday afternoon in Häna, Maui. The injured people, a pilot and an inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, said Ian Gregor, FAA spokesman. Full Story »

Changes to longline fishery rules endanger the existence of loggerhead turtles, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday against the National Marine Fisheries Service. Full Story »

HAWAII — The teachers union and Gov. Linda Lingle's administration appeared to be moving closer to a compromise, with the governor's senior policy adviser Linda Smith — after a day of negotiations — suggesting teachers may not be asked to give up all of their planning days. Full Story »

A combination of a jittery economy and strict dockside inspections has resulted in a shortage of Christmas trees in Hawaii, but a last-minute air shipment and local growers will ease some of that shortfall. Full Story »

HAWAII — The 2007 "cold case" murder conviction of Jenaro Torres has been set aside by the state Intermediate Court of Appeals. Torres, 60, was convicted of murdering Pearl Harbor base cashier Ruben Gallegos in 1992. Full Story »

The Lingle administration, which has consistently backed federal recognition for Native Hawaiians, opposes changes to the bill pending before Congress because of "potentially enormous" implications to the relationship between Hawaiians and the state. Full Story »

O'ahu property assessments are down about 6.7 percent from a year ago, according to notices being mailed out this week to 284,000 property owners islandwide. The drop in the assessed values means less income for the city, unless the City Council raises tax rates. Full Story »

The value of Kamehameha Schools' endowment fell by more than $2.2 billion in the wake of the global economic meltdown, prompting some belt tightening at the state's wealthiest charitable trust. The estate said yesterday that the value of its investments declined 23.7 percent to $7.20 billion during its fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, from the year-earlier's $9.44 billion. Full Story »