Hawaii media tracks Obama family visit, rain and fireworks in the forecast, Obama vacation home gets big tax breaks, Maui bodyboarder hit by shark , military to beef up Big Island facility, Hawaii mayors control credit cards, ethics boards, more news from the islands

President Barack Obama, his family and friends went to church at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on the day after Christmas. Star-Advertiser.

After spending most of the day quietly at their rented compound in Kailua, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted service men and women at their annual Christmas dinner at Kaneohe Marine Corps Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and his daughters have spent time together on Christmas Eve at a beach popular for bodysurfing. Associated Press.

The absentee owner of a multimillion-dollar home being used by President Barack Obama's visiting entourage gets one of the biggest residential property tax breaks on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

The National Weather Service expects numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms today through tomorrow morning, giving way to scattered showers tomorrow afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Heavy rain that was soaking Hawaii was expected to last through at least Tuesday, and forecasters warned Sunday of possible flooding. Associated Press.

Heavy rains early Sunday morning on Maui caused flooding and prompted evacuations. KITV4.

Heavy rain soaked an already saturated Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau on Sunday as forecasters issued a flash flood warning for the county through Tuesday afternoon. Garden Island.

The Kmart in Iwilei opened their doors at 6am Sunday to a frenzy of fireworks shoppers. KHON2.

Sales are expected to continue rising after a new city law banning everything from sparklers to fountains takes effect Jan. 2, 2011. KITV4.

As people gear up for New Year's, one ritual for many families is stocking up on fireworks. Tribune-Herald.

Kaua‘i fireworks store owner Erika Kleinfeld said last week that she is anticipating a brisk sale of fireworks and firecrackers for New Year’s celebrations this year. Garden Island.

The Army has given notice that it will seek to modernize facilities and build new ones at its Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. Associated Press.

Part of Kahului Harbor on Maui is closed after a teenage bodyboarder was bitten by what appears to be a shark. KHON2.

Gov. Abercrombie has assembled the members of his administration and among them are several Filipinos. Filipino Chronicle.

Hawaii's mayors may be the only ones in the nation with the power to appoint every member of their ethics commissions. Civil Beat.

Top officials in Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration have racked up $222,083.28 in credit card charges over the past 22 months. West Hawaii Today.

Costco plans to expand its Kahului store and build a gas station next door as part of A&B Properties' first part of Maui Business Park Phase II. Maui News.

Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa has appointed Douglas "Doug" McLeod as the county's energy commissioner after the new administration takes office Jan. 2. Maui News.

Maui County Mayor-elect Alan Arakawa announced last week his appointment of County Councilwoman Jo Anne Johnson as the incoming transportation director of the County of Maui. Lahaina News.

Everything old is new again

HONOLULU -- The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii rang in the New Year with a new state-of-the-art photovoltaic system that allows the nonprofit to generate clean energy and reduce its carbon emissions.

The powerful 12.6 kilowatt PV system was just installed atop the rooftop of the Conservancy’s downtown Honolulu office. Hawaii Energy Connection engineered and supervised the project in collaboration with Siu’s

Electric, the firm’s commercial installation partner.

“We are thrilled that these panels are helping us to reduce our use of petroleum-based fuel,” Suzanne Case, the Conservancy’s Hawaii executive director, said in a statement. “With our conservation mission, it’s imperative that we do our part and walk the talk.”

The Conservancy’s high-performance photovoltaic system is typically valued at more than $100,000. In a Power Purchase Agreement structured by Hawaii Energy Connection, the cost of the system was capitalized up front by a private investor and will be paid over time by the Conservancy as the user. The group will buy the power generated by the renewable energy system at a reduced rate below current utility pricing. The agreement structures the tax incentive provided by the state and federal governments to encourage users to install photovoltaic systems, to enable the investor to take the tax credit and thereby reduce the cost to the non-profit which otherwise could not use the tax credit.

The Conservancy purchased the Wing Wo Tai Building with its graceful gray stone facade on Nuuanu Avenue in 2005 to house its Honolulu office. Originally built in 1877 and rebuilt in 1916, the wood and stone structure survived the Great Fire of Honolulu in 1900 and now demonstrates how even historic buildings can be adapted to meet 21st century needs.

By late 2009, the Conservancy’s Molokai office will be outfitted with a similar system that will fully power the building — taking it totally off the grid.

“We are just doing what we can to tackle the global climate problem on a local level,” Case said. “By taking steps to shrink our own carbon footprint, we can be part of the solution.”