WASHINGTON — Hawai‘i will receive $1.9 million to improve roadways, parking lots and pedestrian walkways in National Parks on Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i and the Big Island, according to a recent news release from Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.

LIHU‘E — The students at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School have joined hands with tens of thousands of other school children around the world who share the vision and dedication to empower communities through education in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

LIHU‘E — Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, the third president of the Soka Gakkai International group, and his wife, Kaneko, are honorary citizens of Kaua‘i.

LIHU‘E — Anyone interested in voting online for the next “Movie in the Park” feature film can do so at www.kauai.gov/moviesinthepark.

LIHU‘E — Anyone who doubts the existence of miracles should take a long look at Ku‘uipo Estrella, 17, and Kailana Estrella, 19, of Kalihiwai.

LIHU‘E — A state judge on Tuesday granted a motion that will publicly disclose the amount the county has agreed to pay in the settlement for the civil cases of wrongful death and property damage surrounding the Ka Loko Reservoir failure nearly four years ago.

LIHU‘E — 2010 is shaping up to be a critical year for momentous legislation on the state and federal levels, and the organization tasked with representing business interests hopes it will play a major role in the action.

LIHU‘E — Tuesday night’s surprising Republican victory in a special election to fill “Liberal Lion” Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts Senate seat could be the beginning of the end of President Barack Obama’s agenda in Congress, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Western Region executive director told Kaua‘i business leaders Tuesday morning.

LIHU‘E — Used prescription glasses will be collected from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at locations around the island.

LIHU‘E — Brock-Alan Reyes, 18, of Kapa‘a, who was 17 when he was arrested on attempted murder, weapons and ammunition charges in connection with a drive-by shooting at the Waipouli Town Center McDonald’s restaurant in June 2008, recently appeared in court before Judge Randal Valenciano.

PUHI — Warren Haruki, president and CEO of Grove Farm, presented a $5,000 check to Kaua‘i Teen Court representatives, last week at Kilohana.

An initial Salvation Army assessment team is on the ground in Haiti and en route to the capital city of Port Au Prince, a news release states.

LIHU‘E — Proposed changes in rates for amounts of water used by households on a bimonthly basis will be discussed at public meetings across the island, a county Department of Water press release states.

LIHU‘E — A pair of residents both wanted by the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority for parole violations top this week’s Most Wanted list.

The Koloa Community Association will hold a general meeting at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Koloa Neighborhood Center.

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i will be the location for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” the fourth installment of the highly successful Walt Disney Pictures’ action adventure film series starring Johnny Depp, according to a news release Monday from the governor’s office. 

LIHU‘E — “All humanity is involved in a simple process, and all men are brothers,” Martin Luther King Jr. said in a 1958 speech.

LIHU‘E — With a new member sworn in, a new chair elected and a new year underway, the Kaua‘i Board of Ethics last week made dramatic strides toward resolving long-standing conflict-of-interest issues.

LIHU‘E — An angry Puhi mother is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for bashing out the windows and tail lights of her son’s vehicle.

The singers sing for free and because of their love for music.