Honolulu News (BETA)

The last time Hawai'i held a Constitutional Convention, in 1978, the focus was on a political power struggle between the "haves" and the "have-nots."

A 25-year-old visitor from Poland drowned yesterday afternoon while swimming at Hanakapi'ai Beach on Kaua'i's north shore, the Kaua'i Fire Department reported.

The volume of rhetoric between supporters and opponents of Honolulu's rail system is picking up in advance of a Nov. 4 vote on the issue.

The workhorse of Hawai'i's air tour helicopter fleet — Eurocopter's AS-350 series of helicopters — is being recommended for additional inspections after six "events" since 2002, including a crash on Kaua'i last year that killed four people and left three with serious injuries.

A report from a state Senate investigation alleges a state agency director sought to steer an $8.7 million contract to a bidder he favored and asks that a special counsel be appointed to determine whether four Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism officials intentionally broke procurement laws.

HONOLULU (AP) - A 25-year-old tourist from Poland has died from an apparent drowning after a strong current at a northern Kauai beach swept him out to sea.

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - A man serving a life prison term for the murder of an Oahu woman in 1997 has pleaded guilty to murdering a Big Island woman a decade before.

MANOA- (KHNL) University of Hawaii at Manoa students are fuming mad, they say robbers are reaping the benefits of what they say is inadequate campus security.

HONOLULU (KHNL) - There's a bonus in Wall Streets turbulence for home buyers, especially people trying get into their first home. Under the economic stimulus package Congress passed over the summer, first-time home buyers qualify for a tax credit of up to $7500.

KAILUA, Oahu (KHNL) - The doctor shortage in Hawaii continues to worsen, on the neighbor islands and even on Oahu. A newly formed organization called "Save Our Doctors" is now working to reverse this dangerous trend.

SHOPO's president says HPD is unfairly treating two officers who he believes used their Tasers in proper situation.

Stop Rail Now supporter former Gov. Ben Cayetano calls the city's latest ads on the rail transit project "misleading."

A robber chokes a security guard doing rounds and threatens him with a knife before holding the victim against his will for 20 minutes.

The Department of Transportation is set to begin a major tree trimming project on the H-3 freeway.

On Oahu, lifeguards on the North Shore rescued 8 people by early Monday afternoon and they say they warned countless others about the strong surf.

On November Fourth voters will also decide whether to hold a convention to consider changes to the state constitution. The Constitutional Convention or Con Con debate featured two representatives from both the support and opposition.

It's the first big swell of the winter season. And for the second day in a row, lifeguards were kept busy on Oahu's North Shore. Weather service officials say wave faces on the North Shore today were in the 12 to 15 foot range.

Former governor accuses mayor of misleading public

Family members of the suspect accused of killing a woman and stabbing her husband and their 2 year-old daughter says there is a connection between the two families.

An Ewa Beach resident is taking on city hall and a local developer. Craig Smallwood has filed a lawsuit against the city and Haseko Development claiming major projects in the Ewa Plains are moving forward without a valid environmental impact statement.

Tesoro Corp. offered an advance estimate of third-quarter earnings that projects earnings-per-share to be in the range of $1.70 to $1.90 per share. (TSO)

Target Corp. held grand openings for 45 new stores over the weekend, including the debut of two new prototype stores in Minnesota and the company’s first two stores in Alaska. (TGT)

Hawaii stocks surged on Monday when the Dow Jones industrial soared more than 930 points as major governments pledged to support the global banking system. (AXB) (BOH) (HE) (CPF) (NUT) (MLP)

Best Western International is holding its North American Convention in Honolulu this weekend.

Hawaii’s statewide average price for regular unleaded gasoline has dropped below $4 to $3.98.

Gov. Linda Lingle, who leaves this week for a second round of campaigning for the Republican presidential ticket, says the economic plans of Democratic candidate Barack Obama "would devastate our economy."

Three visitors apparently drowned off Kauai yesterday in two separate incidents, according to Kauai County news releases.

Two dozen Hawaii companies have committed to more than $10 million in investments toward a system to cool Honolulu buildings using deep ocean water.

The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will operate a men's college basketball tournament featuring elite teams from across the country beginning in December 2009, University of Hawaii and ESPN Regional Television officials announced today.

A suspected felon was arrested last night in Waikiki after he was inadvertently released from the Oahu Community Correctional Center.

WAILUKU — Piilani Highway reopened ahead of schedule on Sunday, Oct. 5. Drivers are reminded to proceed cautiously. The roadway that connects the remote communities of Kaupo and Kipahulu had been closed for nearly two years following the Oct. 15, 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake.

LANAI — Sol P. Kaho‘ohalahala is running against John Ornellas for the Lanai seat on the Maui County Council. The candidates answered detailed questionnaires for the Haleakala Times. Their responses are posted below.

LAHAINA — During two recent Saturday mornings in September, school teachers from West Side schools were seen walking the streets of Lahaina while escorted by members of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation (LRF) Program Committee.

WAILUKU — The Maui Young Business Roundtable will hold a Candidates’ Forum at Iao Theater on Monday, Oct. 20, at 5:30 p.m. The event will give the general public a chance to learn the general election candidates’ positions on a variety of issues.

PAIA - Officers responding to a burglar alarm last week at a Paia business arrested a Haiku man who was found wearing a new T-shirt that had been stolen from the store, police said.

A 26-year-old woman was airlifted to medics Sunday after she was hit by a wave and injured while walking near the shoreline in Kailua, a fire official said.

WAILUKU - Maui veterans will hold a rally from noon to 2 p.m. Friday to protest what they say is an underfunded and poorly staffed Maui Office of Veterans Affairs.

Keeping in shape means keeping limber for Josten Saribay, 11. He does backward flips while playing backyard football with neighbors at their Waiehu Kou home.

WAILUKU - Sol Kaho'ohalahala's residency on Lanai resides in his "state of mind," or his intention to live there, according to a ruling that qualified him to run for the island's residency seat on the Maui County Council.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) _ An Iowa man has died while diving in Hawaii. The family of William Cooey says the 57-year-old man was preparing to go scuba diving on Oct. 5 when a wave surge caught him by surprise. He died from his injuries two days later at a hospital in Honolulu.

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaii is getting into the presidential race _ in Nevada. The Hawaii campaigns for Barack Obama and John McCain are directing their attention toward Nevada, a battleground state with cultural and tourism connections to the islands. Hawaii is considered a safe state for Obama.

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaii's Jerry Coffee says Republican presidential candidate John McCain learned moderation and humility from his time as a Vietnam prisoner of war.

PRINCEVILLE, Hawaii (AP) _ Three Hawaii tourists are dead from drowning in waters off the island of Kauai. County officials say two sisters-in-law, ages 33 and 38, were knocked off a ledge yesterday by a large wave and swept out to sea near Queen's Bath in Princeville.

A 62-year-old North Kohala man died Sunday (October 12, 2008) from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle/motor vehicle crash on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) in the area of the 9-mile marker.