Because U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns approved Gov. Linda Lingle's request for a disaster declaration, Hawai'i farmers whose crops were damaged by heavy rains and flooding on Kaua'i and O'ahu from Feb. 20 to March 26 may be eligible for government assistance.

The declaration means farms may be eligible for federal low-interest loans. For assistance, call the Agricultural Loan Division on O'ahu at 973-9460 or the state Department of Agriculture's Kaua'i office at (808) 274-3069.

Or see www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/agl_qfarm.htm.

Lingle also extended her own emergency proclamation, which will allow expedited work to recover from storm damage and will suspend some regulations to allow faster dam and reservoir repairs.

UNCLAIMED CASH MAY BE FOR YOU

Staff members from the state's Unclaimed Property Program will be at this weekend's Spring New Products Show and Hawaii Boat Show Expo at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall to help people find out if they have money due them.

The Unclaimed Property Program receives and holds abandoned or unclaimed property such as money, bank accounts, certificates of deposit, negotiable instruments, gift certificates, credit balances and insurance refunds. In most cases, the property has been inactive for at least five years.

Staff people will be available to conduct searches for the public at the show from 5 to 9 p.m. tomorrow; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There is no fee, and those interested need only provide their names.

People also can conduct searches at www.unclaimedproperty.hawaii.gov. Click on "search for unclaimed property." Or call 586-1589.

RECYCLING ISSUES WILL BE DISCUSSED

The Big Island Economic Development Board will host a recycling conference May 20 at the Mauna Lani Bay Resort and Bungalows in Kona.

The conference will explore planning and solid-waste issues. The $35 fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Call Skylark Rossetti at (808) 935-2180.

KALALAU TRAIL REPAIRED, OPEN

The Kalalau Trail, recently damaged by heavy rains and erosion, has been reopened now that state Department of Land and Natural Resources crews and volunteers have finished repairs.

The rugged 11-mile trail provides access to the Na Pali Coast, ending in Kalalau Valley. Camping in the valley also has been reopened.

"We are glad to finally reopen this very popular hiking and camping trail after an unusual six weeks' worth of heavy and prolonged rains that affected the entire state, especially the island of Kaua'i," said DLNR director Peter Young.

For information about the Na Pali Coast State Park, see www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dsp.

HAWAIIAN HEALING EVENTS PLANNED

Free presentations on Hawaiian herbal medicine and Hawaiian healing through lomilomi massage are among the special events planned May 5 as Hawai'i's Plantation Village features the Native Hawaiian heritage group in "Relive the Plantation Days — 2006" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is an admission charge to the village complex, 94-695 Waipahu St.

NIU VALLEY

WALDORF SCHOOL PLANS A SOIREE

The Honolulu Waldorf School in Niu Valley will hold its annual Tastes & Treasures fundraiser from 5 to 10 p.m. May 6 at the home of Morrie and Camille Stoebner in Kailua.

The fundraiser supports the private school and is open to the public. Restaurants are offering plates of food and there will be a silent auction. The event, at 145 Kailuana Loop in Kailua, is being organized by parents with the support of the school.

Among the auction items are architectural drawing and design by Aulden Badenhop, building-permit services, hand-crafted necklaces by parent Corlis Chang and a violin/viola duo performance.

Tickets are $100. To donate an item or to buy tickets, call the development office at 377-5489.

CAMPBELL HIGH ALUMS TO GATHER

The third annual Campbell High School alumni picnic will be Saturday at 'Ewa Beach Park, at the end of Fort Weaver Road, starting at noon.

An announcement about the newly organized Campbell Alumni and Community Foundation will be made at the picnic.

Campbell High graduated its first class in 1965.

For information on the picnic or the new foundation, call Tesha Malama at 478-9170.

WHALE-BOAT COLLISIONS TOPIC

MA'ALAEA — The Pacific Whale Foundation's Making Waves Lecture Series will present a free program on whale-boat collisions at 6 tonight at the Ocean Science Discovery Center at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea.

Foundation president Greg Kaufman and researcher Sara Lehmann will discuss when and where collisions are likely to occur, and what's being done to prevent them.

The foundation has long studied whale-vessel encounters and researched whale distribution patterns in Ma'alaea Bay, a favorite calving area for humpback whales.

A foundation whale-watch boat collided with a humpback calf in March.