The Big Island of Hawaii included in Travel+Leisure magazines “World’s Best Awards”

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On July 7, Travel +Leisure released the results of its “World’s Best Awards 2011 Readers’ Survey.” Topping the list for Best Island in Hawai’I, Hawai’I Island received the Number One ranking, followed by Kaua’I, Maui, O’ahu and Lana’I, in that order.

 Top accolades for the best island in the world went to Santorini, Greece; Hawai’I Island placed in the Top 10 with a Number 7 ranking, the highest of any Hawaiian island. Congratulations to the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai for taking top honors as the Number One Resort in Hawai’i…

 …In addition, more accolades came from TripAdvisor as it ranked Kailua-Kona as Number Six on its list of Top 25 Destinations in the United States.

 -–from West Hawaii Today, Sept. 12, 2011

 

 

 

 

The Big Island of Hawaii has the highest % of traffic fatalities in the U.S. caused by drunk drivers :-(.

from West Hawaii Today:

http://bit.ly/rfJMvm

 

HILO -- Intoxicated, unlicensed or fraudulent drivers would risk having their vehicles towed at their expense or even sold under a bill heading for County Council consideration.

DUI arrests "haven't motivated the public to stop their drinking and driving," said South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford, the bill's author. "Something's got to change."

Ford said she's "determined" to end Hawaii County's notorious distinction of having the country's highest percentage of traffic fatalities caused by drunken drivers.

"This has been a year's work with me and the prosecutor's office," she said.

The result is a bill that seeks a "policy" change within the Police Department by giving officers the discretion of impounding vehicles after observing specific traffic violations.

The council's Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee will take up the bill during its 1:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday in Kealakehe, Ford said.

According to the bill, unlicensed motorists, those with a suspended license, intoxicated drivers or people using fraudulent plates, tags or emblems could have their vehicle towed.

That decision would be made by the officer arresting or citing the offending driver. If the call is made, a tow company under contract with the county would remove the vehicle, store it and notify the owner.

"Those individuals who refuse to comply with the laws and also refuse to pay for the towing and storage of their vehicle after violating the law will have their vehicle sold after 30 days of being given written notice by the tow company," the bill states.

Ford said that's her attempt at "swift and sure justice," which she said has been found to be the best strategy for reducing intoxicated driving.

Noting she's a drinker, Ford stressed that she's unconcerned if people consume alcohol in their homes, but does have a problem when they do so before getting behind the wheel.

"The policy change will not cost the county any money since these vehicles will be impounded at private tow yards at the expense of the violators or registered owners who allow violators to use their vehicles in an illegal manner," the bill adds.

Ford said that means parents could lose use of their car if they allow a teenage child to drive it while intoxicated or without a valid license.

The bill, if enacted as law, would not take effect for six months. That's so police will have time to negotiate new towing contracts or modify existing agreements.

"What the bill is trying to do is reduce the number of people who are dying on our highways," said Mitch Roth, a deputy prosecutor who helped to craft it.

jarmstrong@hawaiitribune-herald.com

Photos from the UofN International Workshop in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

My photos from the UofN International Workshop going on here on our campus in Kona:

http://www.dennisfahringer.com/UofNKona_Workshop_2011_Day1/

http://www.dennisfahringer.com/UofNKona_Workshop_2011_Day2/

Succeeding days will follow the same pattern for the link. :-)

Other photos from all three of us on the photo team documenting the Workshop at:

http:// www.ywam-kona.smugmug.com

By Day 1, Day 2, etc.

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