Honolulu Star-Bulletin

The mystery of the "hot spot" that created the Hawaiian Island chain over the last 75 million years has been unraveled with an experiment that "opened a window into the earth." Full Story »

The Army will undertake an unprecedented $2.5 million underwater robotics demonstration project beginning in October designed to remove or destroy up to 1,500 conventional munitions dumped off Pokai Bay. Full Story »

A city prosecutor said he will ask the state parole board to require a man and woman who nearly starved their 12-year-old daughter to death to serve 50 years in prison before they are eligible for parole. Full Story »

Hawaii's home-grown president, Barack Obama, is expected back in Honolulu on Dec. 23, according to sources in Washington. Full Story »

Chinatown business leaders have their own plans to reduce a rat population that was highlighted in an Internet video showing the rodents scurrying across fresh produce in a market. Full Story »

State Rep. John Mizuno wants the state Department of Human Services to delay carrying out proposed changes in state child-care subsidies until May 2011. Full Story »

A $250,000 donation from a Nashville, Tenn., foundation is helping to create a state-of-the-art recording studio at Honolulu Community College for students seeking degrees in the Music and Entertainment Learning Experience, or MELE program. Full Story »

Swine flu activity is "somewhat elevated" for this time of year in Hawaii, state health officials say, but it is not rising and the islands possibly can avoid the pandemic upsurge that occurred on the mainland. Full Story »

Hawaii residents are warned not to open or respond to any e-mail asking for information for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored state H1N1 vaccination program. Full Story »

Unusual circumstances surround the disappearance of a 58-year-old man whose rented boat was found going in circles north of Honokohau Harbor, a Big Island fire official said. Full Story »

Curbside campers along Kalakaua Avenue will not be allowed to spend the night anymore in the city's latest effort to keep Kapiolani Park clear for recreational use. Full Story »

The resignation of Chief Election Officer Kevin Cronin is renewing concerns about whether there is enough money, manpower and time to plan successful elections next year. Full Story »

Marine experts will try again today to free a young humpback whale entangled in hundreds of feet of heavy rope off Maui. Full Story »

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said the city is still figuring out what to do with Wailupe Valley School, but in the meantime has hired private security and increased police patrols to prevent further vandalism at the East Oahu campus. Full Story »

An auto theft suspect shot and wounded by police in Kapalama will stand trial for allegedly trying to kill three officers. Full Story »

Hawaii may be the birthplace of President Barack Obama and one of the nation's Democratic strongholds, but Republicans have picked Honolulu as the site of their winter national committee meeting. Full Story »

A salvage contractor was expected to remove a 54-foot fishing vessel this morning after it ran aground 20 feet from the breakwater at Point Panic in Kakaako. Full Story »

The Hawaii National Guard's senior enlisted leader has been picked to be the adviser on enlisted affairs for the nation's 457,000 airmen and soldiers in the Army and Air Guard. Full Story »

The preliminary hearing for a 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier charged with killing a civilian contractor in Iraq nearly three months ago has been postponed pending the outcome of a mental evaluation. Full Story »

QUESTION: We are looking for a care home in or around Manoa that provides expanded care, but the two facilities you mentioned in your 2002 column are full to capacity. Any information will be appreciated. Full Story »

On the Diamond Head end of Waikiki next to Kapiolani Park, Laura Lambertson pitched her tent for the night Monday on a strip of land between the sidewalk and Kalakaua Avenue, along with scores of other homeless people. "This isn't part of the park," she said. "For now it's OK." Full Story »

Hawaii's two U.S. senators, Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, are in strong support of President Barack Obama's plan to add 30,000 troops to the Afghanistan war. But Hawaii's two House members, Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono, questioned the plan. Full Story »

Kevin Cronin, state chief election officer, is resigning at the end of the month amidst concerns over budget cuts and complaints about Cronin's communication and leadership skills. Full Story »

A guidance counselor at Moanalua Elementary School who was supposed to discuss bullying with sixth-graders instead gave them a graphic description of late-term abortion and talked about rape, pedophilia and anal sex, some parents say. Full Story »

The small, once-pristine Wailupe Valley School, recently shut down after almost 51 years, now sits defaced with graffiti as its future is being planned. Full Story »