The Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokule'a could arrive from Palmyra Atoll to the Big Island as early as today and reach Honolulu late tomorrow or Sunday.

Hokule'a has been sailing a 1,000-mile course north from Palmyra under the worst conditions it has experienced in the canoe's 34-year-history, according to officials with the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

While the canoe has weathered bigger storms, it has never endured such constant bad weather, they said.

SOETORO-NG SIGNS BOOK CONTRACT

Maya Soetoro-Ng, President Obama's sister, has signed a contract to produce a picture book for Candlewick Press.

Publishers Weekly reports that Soetoro-Ng, a teacher at La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls, will author a book titled "Ladder to the Moon."

The book imagines what lessons Soetoro-Ng's 4-year-old daughter, Suhaila, might have learned had she known Ann Dunham, the mother of Soetoro-Ng and Obama.

The book will pay homage to Dunham's tradition of storytelling and her legacy of service.

Candlewick has yet to determine the book's illustrator or its publication date.

Candlewick Press, based in Cambridge, Mass., publishes books for children.

MAN, 25, CHARGED IN ATTACK ON OFFICER

A 25-year-old man who was shot after he allegedly attacked an off-duty police officer Sunday in Makaha was charged today with illegally entering a motorized vehicle.

Kiha K. Silva of Wai'anae was arrested at The Queen's Medical Center at 1:25 p.m. and taken to the main police station, where he was charged.

Silva's bail was set at $50,000.

Silva had been confined at Queen's since he was shot Sunday morning after police said he attacked off-duty police Sgt. Keith Marini in the parking lot of the Makaha 7-Eleven store. Police said Marini, a 21-year veteran assigned to the Kalihi substation, had bought a cup of coffee at about 5:10 a.m. and got back into his unmarked police vehicle when a man attacked him.

Police said the attack was unprovoked and Marini defended himself by firing two to three shots at the man, identified by police as Silva. Silva was taken to Queen's, where he was treated for his wounds.

Marini suffered bruises to his face.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS EVENT NEEDS HELP

Six Special Olympics teams from Kona, Hilo and Ho- noka'a will compete in a Big Island softball tournament April 11 at the fields behind the Kona Community Aquatic Center on Kuakini Highway, and volunteers are needed.

Through this competition, teams qualify for the Summer Games held May 29 to 30 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

Opening ceremonies for the Big Island softball tournament begin at 9:15 a.m. Volunteers should check in between 8 and 8:30 a.m.

Volunteers are needed to prepare and hand out awards; distribute snacks and drinks; handle minor injuries; as well as help people check in and answer questions and other duties.

Donations are being sought for snacks, drinks, lunches, paper goods, ice, medial supplies and tents.

For more information or to donate, call Dave Ross, Special Olympics West Hawaii area director, at 345-1344 or e-mail sowhdave@yahoo.com or visit www.sowh.org.