Hanalei Aipoalani, an operations and human resources manager in the biotechnology industry, has filed papers to run in the Democratic primary to replace U.S. Rep. Ed Case in Congress.

Aipoalani, a former staff assistant to the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, was born and raised in Hawai'i but now lives in Fremont, Calif. He plans to move back to the Islands in May and live in Nanakuli, which is part of the 2nd Congressional District.

"Involving constituents, irrespective of level of influence or interest, in the public policy processes is, without a doubt, the foremost right way to conduct the business of the people," Aipoalani, 27, said in a statement.

ARC IN HAWAII PROVIDES INTERNS

Twenty-two adults with developmental disabilities will be interning at the state Capitol and federal building this week as part of The Arc in Hawai'i's seventh annual program.

The interns, either independently or with a chaperone, will help the legislative staff in their daily office duties.

The program, which is the only one of its kind in the state, was conceived as a way to help people with mental retardation integrate with the community and reduce the stigma associated with having a disability. It helps the interns to sharpen their vocational skills, broaden their work experience and build self-esteem.

EIGHT PRINCIPALS VYING FOR TOKIOKA PRIZE

Eight public school principals have been nominated for the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award sponsored by Island Insurance Foundation.

The award is named in honor of the late Masayuki Tokioka, founder of Island Insurance Company Ltd.

The nominated principals are Norman Minehira of Leilehua High, Catherine Payne of Farrington High, Milton Shishido of McKinley High, Robert Stevens of Radford High, August Suehiro of Olomana School, Gerald Suyama of Pearl City High, Randy Yamanuha of Maui High and Gilmore Youn of Kapa'a High.

At a dinner May 17, a winner and two semifinalists will be announced. The winner will receive a $10,000 personal cash award plus $15,000 for a school project.

Each semifinalist will receive a $2,000 personal cash award.

HANA GUNSHOT VICTIM IDENTIFIED

HANA — Maui police yesterday identified a Hana man fatally shot Saturday by a friend as Kelsi Ka'ahui, 20.

An autopsy determined that Ka'ahui died from a single rifle shot to the chest, said Lt. Glenn Cuomo.

He said the man was sitting in the passenger seat of a truck outside a home in Koali and his 18-year-old friend was standing outside the vehicle loading a rifle when the gun fired, wounding Ka'ahui, Cuomo said. The victim died before reaching Hana Medical Center.

Cuomo said an initial investigation indicated the shooting was accidental, but the case continues.

MCDONALD HOUSE REOPENS TODAY

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawai'i will host a reopening at its newly renovated Judd Hillside Ronald McDonald House today.

Judd Hillside is one of two RMHC-Hawai'i residential facilities that lodge and assist families with seriously ill children. The Judd Hillside House had been closed for seven months during the renovation project that included major external construction and landscaping, as well as extensive internal upgrades and repairs. Guests began checking in again on Feb. 8.

Local dignitaries and representatives from the numerous trusts and foundations that have contributed to this renovation — as well as the City & County of Honolulu — will be on hand to help celebrate the grand reopening. The contributors include the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, McInerny Foundation, Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, Atherton Family Foundation, G.N. Wilcox Trust and Bank of Hawai'i Charitable Foundation.

Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home where families from all Neighbor Islands, as well as Guam, Saipan, and other Pacific islands, can stay while they are in Honolulu seeking critical pediatric or neonatal medical treatments for their children.