Latest news with #Endo
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Envoy stresses economic, security ties on 69th Japan-PH friendship day
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya has underscored the various aspects of partnership between Manila and Tokyo to mark the 69th Japan-Philippines Friendship Day. In his writeup titled "A Friendship Woven in Trust: Commemorating 69 Years of Japan-Philippines Ties," posted on the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines' website, Endo described the economic partnership between the two nations as an "important thread." "Japan has been consistently supporting sustainable development in the Philippines. The past year has seen a significant bolstering of our economic cooperation, with Japan contributing to quality infrastructure projects in the country," the Japanese envoy said. "These include the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP), the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), and the Davao City Bypass Construction Project—all funded by Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Apart from these projects, this year, we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of JICA's Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), which has been providing grassroots support for the development of various countries, including the Philippines," Endo said. He added that Japan also remains as one of the top investors in the Philippines, especially in Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) locations with cumulative investments exceeding P550 billion and direct employment of over 300,000 Filipinos. "Following the relaxation of foreign ownership rules in retail, we've recently welcomed several prominent Japanese brands. Nitori opened its first store in 2024, shortly after I assumed my post last year. In addition, Mitsukoshi BGC opened in mid-2023. These are landmarks in the growing Japanese retail presence in our market," he said. "Japan also continues to extend its steadfast support for the peace process in the Bangsamoro region, through the three pillars of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD). These efforts encompass capacity-building for the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), assistance in the transformation of former combatant communities into progressive and resilient societies, and the provision of socio-economic development assistance. As we look forward to the first Bangsamoro Parliament elections, we recognize this milestone as a significant stride towards achieving lasting peace and prosperity in the region," he added. Security ally The Japanese envoy, moreover, said "security cooperation thread" is growing evidence of deepening trust between the Philippines and Japan, "driven by our shared commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)." "This concept, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity across the region through ensuring rules-based international order, has certainly been realized by our bilateral cooperation. The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) signed in July 2024, for instance, has emerged as a landmark achievement for our two countries," Endo said. The RAA will grant access to military personnel from both states to hold joint trainings in each other's country. Similar to the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, the RAA is Japan's third defense accord after the United Kingdom and Australia. "Its unanimous approval by the Philippine Senate in December of the same year and its approval by the Japanese Diet last June underscore our shared commitment to regional peace and stability. In the recently held Japan-Philippines Summit Meeting, our two leaders further agreed to commence negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The meeting also confirmed the importance of an early conclusion of an Agreement on the Security of Information," Endo said. Earlier this month, Japanese media reported that Japan was set to export six warships to the Philippines. The envoy said Japan's support for the Philippines' security capabilities remains well represented through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) scheme. "At present, the Philippines holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the OSA, as well as the only country to have been granted OSA funding for two consecutive years. Japan is further conducting a feasibility study for the OSA for the third year," Endo said. "We have also witnessed the frequent conduct of Maritime Cooperative Activities (MCA) and increased port visits by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels in the country. This year, in fact, we had the honor of hosting the 71st Anniversary of the Japan Self-Defense Forces aboard the JMSDF vessel, JS ISE, during its visit at the Port of Manila," he added. The envoy also cited the High-Level Launch Meeting of the Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) in September 2024, alongside the Philippines, exemplifies our collaborative approach. "As fellow members of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative, we are working together to enhance cooperation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation," Endo said. Cultural ties The envoy highlighted the Filipinos' growing interest in Japanese culture, citing the record-high of over 820,000 Filipino visitors to Japan last year. "With the recent opening of the Japan Visa Application Center (JVAC), we are optimistic about sustaining this encouraging trend in the years ahead," Endo said. "With tourism a promising source of shared experiences, our ties continue to find renewal through the personal encounters Filipinos have with Japanese culture. In our lively receptions at the Ambassador's Residence, I've had the privilege of hearing about the lasting friendships and experiences forged by Filipino participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and recipients of the Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT)," he said. "Meanwhile, the aspirations of our Filipino JDS (Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship) Fellows and SSEAYP (Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program) delegates have also been a glowing testament to deepening people-to-people exchanges with the Philippines," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Los Angeles Times
12-07-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Could this Hawaii community be the next Lahaina? Some residents fear a similar wildfire fate
WAIANAE, Hawaii — When there's enough rain, the mountain-framed expanse of vacant land behind Calvin Endo's house looks like the lush and verdant landscape that makes tropical Hawaii famous. But in the summer, when the jungle of eyeball-high invasive grasses and spindly tree branches fade to brown, he fears it could become a fiery hellscape. This isn't Maui, where most of Lahaina burned down during a massive wildfire in August 2023. Endo's duplex is in Waianae on the west side of Oahu. But Waianae and Lahaina have a lot in common. They're both situated on parched western island coasts, with road access pinched by topography, and are bastions of Native Hawaiian culture. Both have sections crisscrossed by overhead power lines atop aging wooden poles, like those that fell in high winds and caused the Lahaina fire. There's even a Lahaina Street through the heart of Makaha, Endo's neighborhood along the Waianae coast. 'It can happen to us,' said Endo, who moved to the Makaha Meadows subdivision in 1980, soon after it was built. 'We can have a repeat of Lahaina if somebody doesn't do anything about the brush in the back.' In recent days, two wildfires a few miles away, including a July 6 blaze that left a 94-year-old woman dead, proved his worst fears could become reality. It's been nearly two years since Lahaina provided a worst-case scenario of the destruction from wind-whipped flames fueled by overgrown brush. With 102 deaths, it's the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. In the months afterward, the number of Hawaii communities participating in the Firewise network, a nationally recognized program that helps communities with resources for safeguarding homes, more than doubled to 35 — but none in western Oahu. Even though Waianae residents have long known about their wildfire risks, only now is one of its neighborhoods close to gaining Firewise status. Communities become Firewise by organizing a committee, creating a hazard assessment, developing an action plan and volunteering hours toward reducing risk, such as removing overgrown brush. Firewise tracks a community's progress, connects residents with experts, and provides ideas and funding for mitigation, workshops and training. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service considers Lahaina and Waianae to be at much higher risk than other U.S. communities for a wildland fire, noted Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Keith Ito. 'The weather, the winds, they're pretty much identical,' he said. 'With all that being said, I think that the high-risk wildfire potential is a state-wide problem, not really specific to Waianae or Lahaina.' Nani Barretto, co-director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, struggles to understand why fire-prone communities like Waianae have yet to join the Firewise movement. There are also no Firewise communities on the island of Kauai. 'Just because we are proactive in getting the word out, it doesn't mean the right people are getting the information,' she said. 'For Maui, it took a very devastating event for them to join.' Organizing a community can be challenging because it requires residents to put in time and step up as leaders, she said. Endo, who is a longtime member of the Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board, had never even heard of Firewise until recently. A development called Sea Country, near the neighborhood that was recently ordered to evacuate during a wildfire, is close to becoming the fist Firewise community in Waianae, said Andria Tupola, a resident who also represents the coast on the Honolulu City Council. The process got underway around 2018 but picked up momentum after Lahaina, she said. Sea Country recently completed a hazard assessment and has planned some mitigation events, including a park cleanup in August, said Ashley Bare, the Firewise support specialist for Oahu. Lahaina also provided the spark for opening an emergency access route in Waianae, Tupola said. Farrington Highway, the main artery along the coast, can get clogged with just an accident. Military officials who control a mountain pass above Waianae started talking about letting civilians access the route after Lahaina, she said. During the July 6 fire, state and military officials were ready to open the road as a way out of the coast and into central Oahu, said state Rep. Darius Kila, who represents the area. A Hawaiian homestead community in Waianae's Nanakuli Valley is also trying to achieve Firewise status, said Diamond Badajos, spokesperson for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Home to the largest concentration of Native Hawaiians, Waianae is rich in Hawaiian culture and history. But much of the coast also struggles with poverty and homelessness. Residents have grown accustomed to wildfires in the dry summer months, said Republican state Rep. Chris Muraoka: 'It's almost like if it doesn't burn, something's not right.' However, Muraoka said he thinks communities along the coast would benefit more from fire-prevention and safety education in schools rather than organizing to be Firewise. Muraoka, who lives in Makaha, said communities in Waianae have unique needs that being Firewise might not address, including sections with neighborhoods that are more spread out than in Lahaina and blazes that are often started by arsonists or kids playing with fire. Some residents already do what they can, especially with the dry season underway. Endo often tries to clear brush on private property behind his home himself, to create a firebreak. Some properties in Waianae Valley use sheep to eat the overgrown vegetation. Retired firefighter Shermaih 'Bulla' Iaea recalls fighting blazes in the brush near Endo's home and Makaha Elementary School. In 2018, his farm burned down during high winds from a passing hurricane. He was using a herd of sheep on his property until wild dogs killed them in April. Neighborhoods banding together to become Firewise is another tool that will help, he said. 'There's a 100 percent chance that will happen here,' he said. 'I thought it would never happen to me. Now I'm trying to ring the bells. I'm trying to sound the alarm.' Being one of the poorest communities in the state is a major factor preventing Waianae from becoming Firewise, said Kila, who lives near where the July 6 fire happened. Before the summer, the Democratic lawmaker sent a letter to Hawaiian Electric and telecom companies urging 'immediate and coordinated action' to address dangerous, sagging utility lines on aging wooden poles along the coast. It's not clear why Makaha ended up with a long street named Lahaina, which can mean 'relentless sun' in Hawaiian. But like the west Maui town, it fits the sunny west Oahu neighborhood, which is home to the world-famous Makaha surfing beach. Some neighborhoods above Lahaina Street are newer and have underground utilities, like Endo's. But toward the ocean, older neighborhoods are laced by overhead power lines. That worries Glen Kila, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner in Waianae, who is not related to Darius Kila. Power lines are blamed for sparking the Lahaina blaze. 'If that happens to Waianae,' he said, 'we're done.' Kelleher writes for the Associated Press.
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Katie Price reveals surgery scars in busty bikini as she shows off 17th boob job after botched BBL and recent facelift
The botched operation left her in agony HARD BARGAIN Katie Price reveals surgery scars in busty bikini as she shows off 17th boob job after botched BBL and recent facelift Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KATIE Price has revealed scars from her surgery in a very busty bikini as she showed off the results of her 17th boob job. The former Page 3 icon took to social media to show off the results of her latest procedure, but with unintended consequences. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Katie Price posted a new snap after her extensive plastic surgeries Credit: Getty 4 Scars could be seen in a new picture posted to her Snapchat Credit: Snapchat / @katie-pricey / Backgrid Katie, 46, wore a very revealing burgundy and white striped bikini top as she showed off the results of her latest procedure. She posted a faceless selfie onto her Snapchat profile where her assets were completely on show. The former Celebrity Big Brother star practically busted out of the already skimpy swimsuit. However, scars underneath the bottom of her breasts from the various operations could clearly be seen as she attempted to relax. Her stomach horse tattoos were also on show as she soaked up the sun on a towel in her garden. She previously went under the knife for her 17th boob job in Brussels, Belgium after she admitted wanting to downsize. This was after she wanted to have the "biggest boobs in Britain", and she got massive 2120 CC implants in her her 16th operation. It comes after she previously admitted that her botched Brazilian butt lift left her in agony. Although she previously swore off having surgery in the UK for good, the mum-of-five had a £1,500 bum filler procedure in May. Two surgeons injected 500ml of filler into Katie's rear end which she revealed in a livestream on TikTok. Katie Price moans 'oh my god I'm so ugly' as she shows off BALD eyelids after removing fake lashes and make-up She told fans at the time: "I've just had Endo laser and filler, I'm having it put in my bum. 'It will dissolve over time, but it can last up to two years. Something can always go wrong. "Anaesthetic is always a risk, but I haven't been put to sleep for this — I'm awake, talking to you guys." She underwent her third Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), where she also had up to 800ml of dermal fillers pumped into her cheeks. Katie Price's Surgery: A Timeline 1998 - Katie underwent her first breast augmentation taking her from a natural B cup to a C cup. She also had her first liposuction 1999 - Katie had two more boob jobs in the same year, one taking her from a C cup to a D cup, and then up to an F cup 2006 - Katie went under the knife to take her breasts up to a G cup 2007 - Katie had a rhinoplasty and veneers on her teeth 2008 - Katie stunned fans by reducing her breasts from an F cup to a C cup 2011 - Going back to an F cup, Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers 2014/5 - Following a nasty infection, Katie had her breast implants removed 2016 - Opting for bigger breasts yet again, Katie had another set of implants, along with implants, Botox and lip fillers 2017 - After a disastrous 'threading' facelift, Katie also had her veneers replaced. She also had her eighth boob job taking her to a GG cup 2018 - Katie went under the knife yet again for a facelift 2019 - After jetting to Turkey, Katie had a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift and a tummy tuck 2020 - Katie has her 12th boob job in Belgium to correct botched surgery and a new set of veneers 2021 - In a complete body overhaul, she opts for eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, fat injected into her bum and full body liposuction 2022 - Katie undergoes another brow and eye lift-and undergoes 'biggest ever' boob job in Belgium, her 16th in total 2023 - Opting for a second rhinoplasty, Katie also gets a lip lift at the same time as well as new lip filler throughout the year 2024 - Katie has her 17th boob job in Brussels after revealing she wanted to downsize. She performed at Dublin Pride just days later and surgeons warned the lack of recovery posed a risk of infection Earlier this year, she went under the knife yet again as she shared a video on Instagram promoting CBD oil. Fans couldn't help but nice how her face looked extremely tight as she opted for tweakments abroad after being unhappy with her latest £10,000 facelift. Back in January, she posted a series of gruesome photos on Snapchat, showing the sides of her face and cheeks all taped up. The Pricey has famously had hundreds of plastic surgery ops and aesthetic treatments over the years. This has included over a dozen boob jobs, hundreds of syringes of lip filler. 4 The star was left in agony after a botched BBL Credit: Paul Jacobs/
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Katie Price reveals surgery scars in busty bikini as she shows off 17th boob job after botched BBL and recent facelift
KATIE Price has revealed scars from her surgery in a very busty bikini as she showed off the results of her 17th boob job. The 4 Katie Price posted a new snap after her extensive plastic surgeries Credit: Getty 4 Scars could be seen in a new picture posted to her Snapchat Credit: Snapchat / @katie-pricey / Backgrid Katie, 46, wore a very revealing burgundy and white striped bikini top as she showed off the results of her latest procedure. She posted a faceless selfie onto her Snapchat profile where her assets were completely on show. The former Celebrity Big Brother star practically busted out of the already skimpy swimsuit. However, scars underneath the bottom of her breasts from the various operations could clearly be seen as she attempted to relax. READ MORE ON THE PRICEY Her stomach horse tattoos were also on show as she soaked up the sun on a towel in her garden. She This was after she wanted to have the "biggest boobs in Britain", and she got massive 2120 CC implants in her her It comes after she previously admitted that her botched Brazilian butt lift left her in agony. Most read in Showbiz Although Two surgeons injected 500ml of filler into Katie's rear end which she revealed in a Katie Price moans 'oh my god I'm so ugly' as she shows off BALD eyelids after removing fake lashes and make-up She told fans at the time: "I've just had Endo laser and filler, I'm having it put in my bum. 'It will dissolve over time, but it can last up to two years. Something can always go wrong. "Anaesthetic is always a risk, but I haven't been put to sleep for this — I'm awake, talking to you guys." She underwent her third Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), where she also had up to 800ml of dermal fillers Katie Price's Surgery: A Timeline 1998 - Katie underwent her first breast augmentation taking her from a natural B cup to a C cup. She also had her first liposuction 1999 - Katie had two more boob jobs in the same year, one taking her from a C cup to a D cup, and then up to an F cup 2006 - Katie went under the knife to take her breasts up to a G cup 2007 - Katie had a rhinoplasty and veneers on her teeth 2008 - Katie stunned fans by reducing her breasts from an F cup to a C cup 2011 - Going back to an F cup, Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers 2014/5 - Following a nasty infection, Katie had her breast implants removed 2016 - Opting for bigger breasts yet again, Katie had another set of implants, along with implants, Botox and lip fillers 2017 - After a disastrous 'threading' facelift, Katie also had her veneers replaced. She also had her eighth boob job taking her to a GG cup 2018 - Katie went under the knife yet again for a facelift 2019 - After jetting to Turkey, Katie had a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift and a tummy tuck 2020 - Katie has her 12th boob job in Belgium to correct botched surgery and a new set of veneers 2021 - In a complete body overhaul, she opts for eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, fat injected into her bum and full body liposuction 2022 - Katie undergoes another brow and eye lift-and undergoes 'biggest ever' boob job in Belgium, her 16th in total 2023 - Opting for a second rhinoplasty, Katie also gets a lip lift at the same time as well as new lip filler throughout the year 2024 - Katie has her 17th boob job in Brussels after revealing she wanted to downsize. She performed at Dublin Pride just days later and surgeons warned the lack of recovery posed a risk of infection Earlier this year, she went as she shared a video on Instagram promoting CBD oil . Fans couldn't help but nice how her as she opted for after being unhappy with her latest £10,000 facelift. Back in January, she posted a series of gruesome photos on Snapchat, showing the sides of her face and cheeks all taped up. The Pricey has famously had hundreds of plastic surgery ops and aesthetic treatments over the years. This has included over a dozen boob jobs , 4 The star was left in agony after a botched BBL Credit: Paul Jacobs/ 4 LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 17: Katie Price attends the 'Katie Price: This Is Me' book launch at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on July 17, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Credit: Getty
San Francisco Chronicle
12-07-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Could this Hawaii community be the next Lahaina? Some residents fear a similar wildfire fate
WAIANAE, Hawaii (AP) — When there's enough rain, the mountain-framed expanse of vacant land behind Calvin Endo's house looks like the lush and verdant landscape that makes tropical Hawaii famous. But in the summer, when the jungle of eyeball-high invasive grasses and spindly tree branches fade to brown, he fears it could become a fiery hellscape. This isn't Maui, where most of Lahaina burned down during a massive wildfire in August 2023. Endo's duplex is in Waianae on the west side of Oahu. But Waianae and Lahaina have a lot in common. They're both situated on parched western island coasts, with road access pinched by topography, and are bastions of Native Hawaiian culture. Both have sections crisscrossed by overhead power lines atop aging wooden poles, like those that fell in high winds and caused the Lahaina fire. There's even a Lahaina Street through the heart of Makaha, Endo's neighborhood along the Waianae coast. 'It can happen to us,' said Endo, who moved to the Makaha Meadows subdivision in 1980, soon after it was built. 'We can have a repeat of Lahaina if somebody doesn't do anything about the brush in the back.' In recent days, two wildfires a few miles away, including a July 6 blaze that left a 94-year-old woman dead, proved his worst fears could become reality. It's been nearly two years since Lahaina provided a worst-case scenario of the destruction from wind-whipped flames fueled by overgrown brush. With 102 deaths, it's the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. In the months afterward, the number of Hawaii communities participating in the Firewise network, a nationally recognized program that helps communities with resources for safeguarding homes, more than doubled to 35 — but none in western Oahu. Even though Waianae residents have long known about their wildfire risks, only now is one of its neighborhoods close to gaining Firewise status. Communities become Firewise by organizing a committee, creating a hazard assessment, developing an action plan and volunteering hours toward reducing risk, such as removing overgrown brush. Firewise tracks a community's progress, connects residents with experts, and provides ideas and funding for mitigation, workshops and training. Identical risk The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service considers Lahaina and Waianae to be at much higher risk than other U.S. communities for a wildland fire, noted Honolulu Fire Department Battalion Chief Keith Ito. 'The weather, the winds, they're pretty much identical,' he said. 'With all that being said, I think that the high-risk wildfire potential is a state-wide problem, not really specific to Waianae or Lahaina.' Nani Barretto, co-director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, struggles to understand why fire-prone communities like Waianae have yet to join the Firewise movement. There are also no Firewise communities on the island of Kauai. 'Just because we are proactive in getting the word out, it doesn't mean the right people are getting the information,' she said. 'For Maui, it took a very devastating event for them to join.' Organizing a community can be challenging because it requires residents to put in time and step up as leaders, she said. Endo, who is a longtime member of the Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board, had never even heard of Firewise until recently. A development called Sea Country, near the neighborhood that was recently ordered to evacuate during a wildfire, is close to becoming the fist Firewise community in Waianae, said Andria Tupola, a resident who also represents the coast on the Honolulu City Council. The process got underway around 2018 but picked up momentum after Lahaina, she said. Sea Country recently completed a hazard assessment and has planned some mitigation events, including a park cleanup in August, said Ashley Bare, the Firewise support specialist for Oahu. Emergency route and hungry sheep Lahaina also provided the spark for opening an emergency access route in Waianae, Tupola said. Farrington Highway, the main artery along the coast, can get clogged with just an accident. Military officials who control a mountain pass above Waianae started talking about letting civilians access the route after Lahaina, she said. During the July 6 fire, state and military officials were ready to open the road as a way out of the coast and into central Oahu, said state Rep. Darius Kila, who represents the area. A Hawaiian homestead community in Waianae's Nanakuli Valley is also trying to achieve Firewise status, said Diamond Badajos, spokesperson for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Home to the largest concentration of Native Hawaiians, Waianae is rich in Hawaiian culture and history. But much of the coast also struggles with poverty and homelessness. Residents have grown accustomed to wildfires in the dry summer months, said Republican state Rep. Chris Muraoka: 'It's almost like if it doesn't burn, something's not right.' However, Muraoka said he thinks communities along the coast would benefit more from fire-prevention and safety education in schools rather than organizing to be Firewise. Muraoka, who lives in Makaha, said communities in Waianae have unique needs that being Firewise might not address, including sections with neighborhoods that are more spread out than in Lahaina and blazes that are often started by arsonists or kids playing with fire. Some residents already do what they can, especially with the dry season underway. Endo often tries to clear brush on private property behind his home himself, to create a firebreak. Some properties in Waianae Valley use sheep to eat the overgrown vegetation. Retired firefighter Shermaih 'Bulla' Iaea recalls fighting blazes in the brush near Endo's home and Makaha Elementary School. In 2018, his farm burned down during high winds from a passing hurricane. He was using a herd of sheep on his property until wild dogs killed them in April. Neighborhoods banding together to become Firewise is another tool that will help, he said. 'There's a 100 percent chance that will happen here,' he said. 'I thought it would never happen to me. Now I'm trying to ring the bells. I'm trying to sound the alarm.' 'Relentless sun' Being one of the poorest communities in the state is a major factor preventing Waianae from becoming Firewise, said Kila, who lives near where the July 6 fire happened. Before the summer, the Democratic lawmaker sent a letter to Hawaiian Electric and telecom companies urging 'immediate and coordinated action" to address dangerous, sagging utility lines on aging wooden poles along the coast. It's not clear why Makaha ended up with a long street named Lahaina, which can mean 'relentless sun' in Hawaiian. But like the west Maui town, it fits the sunny west Oahu neighborhood, which is home to the world-famous Makaha surfing beach. Some neighborhoods above Lahaina Street are newer and have underground utilities, like Endo's. But toward the ocean, older neighborhoods are laced by overhead power lines. That worries Glen Kila, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner in Waianae, who is not related to Darius Kila. Power lines are blamed for sparking the Lahaina blaze. 'If that happens to Waianae," he said, "we're done.'
