Hirono and Case in tight U.S. Senate race, Honolulu misses senior center deadline, Hawaii County elected officials could face drug tests, Kauai cleaning up civic center, APEC group 'ready,' more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Makaha Resort courtesy photo

The Makaha Resort & Spa is poised to close on Oct. 31, according to workers at the hotel. Employees were told the closure is temporary, they said, but no date has been set for reopening. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former congressman Ed Case are in a close race in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey. Star-Advertiser.

Jon Yoshimura, communications director for U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, is stepping down at the end of the month to take a job with a Honolulu-based solar energy firm. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is returning to Hawaii from a two-week trip to Japan and China. Associated Press.

Hawaii submitted its proposal Wednesday for how it would spend a $50 million federal grant to improve the state's early education system, saying it plans to institute a quality rating system for child care providers, make reforms to improve outcomes for at-risk students and improve coordination among multiple state agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Some Hawaii Teachers Ignore Ethics Code. Civil Beat.

Col. Jeffrey R. "Woody" Woods, commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, was relieved of duty Wednesday due to a "lack of confidence," just nine months after taking command of the base, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar, known informally as the giant floating golf ball, will be visible on the horizon today as it pulls into Pearl Harbor for maintenance and crew training, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools is on the verge of settling its lawsuit against a mother and child who received $7 million from the Schools after challenging the institution’s admissions policy that favors students of Hawaiian ancestry. Hawaii Reporter.

Prison garden providing growth, taste of freedom. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu has missed a federal deadline to review financial records of a Wahiawa senior center under investigation for possible misuse of $7.9 million in federal funds. Civil Beat.

Members of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings taking place in Honolulu in 20 days want everyone to know this: “We are ready.” Pacific Business News.

A group that plans to protest the policies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting next month has been granted a permit to demonstrate, but said the location may be too far from the Hawai‘i Convention Center for people attending the conference to notice. Star-Advertiser.

A Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. subcontractor’s construction vehicle working on Honolulu’s rail transit project struck an overhead communications line near Aloha Stadium today, affecting the City’s traffic camera coverage. Hawaii Independent.

Every day as many as 4,000 hikers embark upon what is considered one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world at Diamond Head Crater. KITV4.

A stretch of Kamehameha highway in Kahalu'u has been a magnet for accidents particularly in the past two weeks. Residents are finally speaking out hoping some fix can be done before someone gets seriously hurt. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong is proposing a charter amendment requiring that council members, the mayor and the prosecuting attorney pass annual drug tests or face removal from office. West Hawaii Today.

Comments from a deputy attorney general prompted the Hawaii County Council to delay, again, a final vote on a proposed comprehensive building code. West Hawaii Today.

Just one West Hawaii public school missed the mark during the 2010-11 Department of Education's Fire Inspection Program. West Hawaii Today.

Tonight October 19th, at UH Hilo, Dr. Brian Schmidt, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, – will speak on the Accelerating Universe. Hawaii Public Radio.

Residents on the Big Island of Hawaii were shaken by a magnitude 4.5 earthquake Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

State officials confirmed Tuesday that they have removed the property manager of troubled West Maui affordable housing complex Honokowai Kauhale. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday unanimously approved two bills intended to clean up — literally — the grounds of the Lihu‘e Civic Center. Garden Island.

Rayne Regush was honored as Environmentalist of the Year at the Kaua’i Group Sierra Club annual picnic on Saturday at Hanama‘ulu Beach Park. Garden Island.

Molokai

A solid foundation to the new Veterans Caring for Veterans center was laid last week as five truckloads of concrete were poured early Thursday morning at the wharf road site. Molokai Dispatch.