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The state Senate honored Friday three members of the Tuskegee Airmen, the celebrated group of African-American combat pilots who fought in World War II.

Linguists say they have determined that a unique sign language, possibly dating back to the 1800s or before, is being used in Hawaii, marking the first time in 80 years a previously unknown language — spoken or signed — has been documented in the U.S.

Hawaii-born dancer Cole Horibe has been tapped to star in the lead role of Bruce Lee in Tony-winning David Henry Hwang’s new production titled “Kung Fu,” according to the dancer’s mother, Wanda Horibe, who lives on Oahu.

Kapahulu resident Rose Pou says she used to work as a volunteer once a week, stuffing envelopes at Hono­lulu Zoo. But after bus service was cut last year, Pou, who is legally blind, has been volunteering only once a month.

State Rep. Faye Hanohano — unhappy with the paintings installed in her state Capitol office as part of a public exhibit — used racial and ethnic slurs in a tirade Monday, according to an email from a state exhibit specialist.

Some 3,585 Oahu families who receive rental housing subsidies have been notified that massive federal budget cuts set to kick in Friday could leave them without a roof over their heads.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is suing the city and Waste Management of Hawaii Inc., the operator of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Leeward Oahu, over gas emissions.

The Medical Examiner's Office has identified the 57-year-old man who drowned when his catamaran overturned in the ocean off Kualoa Ranch this week as Dr. John Ross-Duggan — a Waialae-Kahala radiologist and an accomplished sailor.

A former American Red Cross Hawaii chapter employee began serving a six-month jail term Wednesday morning for stealing nearly $52,000 from the disaster relief organization.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa has introduced a bill she says will help avert defense cuts that are due to the continuing resolution and avoid the need for layoffs at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

The company that oversees all police-initiated automobile tows for the city is continuing to overcharge motorists even though the city says it is closely monitoring the contract because of previous problems with overcharging, according to testimony at a hearing Wednesday and towing invoices reviewed by the Star-Advertiser.

Question: Whatever happened to the man who was accused of using a cellphone to record video of a girl and a woman using public restrooms on Hawaii island?

Question: In reference to Wednesday’s Kokua Line: How can one order birth certificates online if one does not have a credit card?

情報提供：人気ツアーを日本から安心予約　TPハワイ・ツアーズ

　ハワイ州のニール･アバクロンビー州知事は昨日、オアフ島内にあるキング中学校を訪問し、在籍生徒の学力向上がみられる学校に贈られる「Strive HI賞」の授賞式を行った。　「Strive HI賞」は、在籍生徒の学力が大幅に上昇した学校、または読解力か数学の学力が州内トップ5に位置する学校に贈られる賞で、オアフ島のキング中学校とモアナルア中学校、そしてハワイ島ヒロのヒロ中学校など計5校が、州内でもっとも学力が向上した学校として表彰され、$100,000の賞金が贈られた。　このほか、ベンジャミン・パーカー小学校とナナクリ小学校が、賞金$50,000を受け取ったほか、アリアマヌ小学校やハアヘオ小学校、ハレイワ小学校、ホクラニ小学校などには、賞金$12,500が贈呈されている。
参考：KHON2

　ホノルルのカーク・コールドウェル市長は昨日、来年度の予算案としてガソリン税の増税を検討していることを明らかにした。なお、ホノルル市で最後にガソリン税の値上げが行われたのは24年前となっている。　今回コールドウェル市長が発表した来年度の予算案は前年比6%増の$20億を計上しており、市長は、ガソリン税を5セント値上げすることで、市の予算として$1,500万が確保でき、市バスのサービス向上などにつながるとしている。　ガソリン税の値上げに関しては、今後ホノルル市議会での話し合いが行われるものの、市議会では2年前にガソリン税を1セント値上げするとの案に反対しており、ホノルル市のアン・コバヤシ議員は、増税の必要性は理解しているものの、今回のホノルル市長のガソリン税値上げに対する提案が実現するか否かは不透明であるとしている。
参考：KHON2

The Honolulu Star-Adver­tiser strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Ed Lynch, managing editor/news, at 529-4758.

PUZHAI, China » Chinese investors have anointed it "white gold." Carvers and collectors prefer the term "organic gemstone." Smugglers, however, use a gruesomely straightforward name for the recently harvested African elephant tusks that find their way to this remote trading outpost on the Vietnamese border.

WASHINGTON » On Friday, $85 billion in spending cuts intended to be so painful and stupid that they would never come into effect started to come into effect.

Unique koa doors stolen from hall at Coco Palms Resort • Chicken causes power to fail at Maui airport • Search to go on for Kauai man who is missing