The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 35

tnn iB'myywuy WW W9 1 'aj is PAGE B3 FRIDAY I March 18,2005 CITY DESK 525-8090 Red kettles coming out for tsunami aid TAHITI CALLS 1 PI i ft iigiiiirs 1 7 American Red Cross has received a donation of $73,000 raised by First Hawaiian Bank. The bank's special account for the American Red Cross International Response Fund drew public donations totalling $48,000, augmented by a $25,000 matching grant from First Hawaiian. The Rotary Club of Honolulu has given $20,835 to the Aloha Medical Mission for its tsunami relief work. The gift includes a $10,000 matching gift from Rotary International Foundation and $10,835 from individual Rotarians. Other matching gifts include total donations of $1,040 from the Lions Club and its Honolulu members; $1,000 from the Rotary Club of West Kaua'i organization and members; and $7,110 from Diagnostic Laboratory Services and employees.

HMSA Foundation launched the drive in January with a $20,000 grant. Students of Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School collected $1,050, matched by a $1,000 grant from Star Market. Salvation Army drive latest effort to help survivors Advertiser Staff The Salvation Army will sponsor a donation drive tomorrow at the Ke'eaumoku Street Wal-Mart store, with proceeds to support relief efforts for the survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Kauluwela Mission Corps youth groups will stand by the red collection kettles, usually seen only over the holidays, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Make a donation by calling (800) 725-2769, going to www.salvationarmy.org or by dropping off a check at any Salvation Army office. Checks, made payable to Salvation Army, should be marked "South Asia Relief Fund" on the memo line. Recent efforts in the statewide tsunami relief drive include the following: The Hawaii Chapter of the is a Tamie Onchi, a senior at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, is encircled by other dancers from UH ethnomusicologist Jane Moulin's Tahitian BRUCE ASATO The Honolulu Advertiser Dance Ensemble in a performance at Kapi'olani Community College's International Festival. The 1 7th annual festival concluded yesterday. AROUND THE ISLANDS itnerracKQie rawer irire Widescale dispute on safety of glyphosate BY JAN TenBRUGGENCATE Advertiser Science Writer To read the reviews, you'd think the herbicide glyphosate the active ingredient in Roundup, Rodeo, AquaMaster and a number of other plant-killing formulas was the Dr.

Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of weed control. Detractors say it's unsafe. "It may be better than Agent Orange, but it's still bad," said Bari Green, educational program director with the Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association. Manufacturers and many outside the industry say it's one of the safest pesticides no more toxic than table salt or aspirin.

"It is one of the safest compounds out there. There is no real chronic toxicity," said Stephanie Whalen, director of the Hawai'i Agricultural Research Center. Because of its effectiveness and its reported safety, glyphosate is hugely popular. "It remains one of the largest volume herbicides used globally," said Dr. Daniel Goldstein, a pediatrician and toxicologist who works for Monsanto, which produces Roundup.

Opponents say its extensive use creates a problem. "Pesticides are designed to kill, and they do. It may be safer than others, but it is the most-used herbicide and that causes a problem," said Kaua'i resident Caren Diamond. The EPA says that there can be health problems from excessive exposure to glyphosate, but that such exposure is very uncommon. The EPA also says that it's unlikely the herbicide will get into the water supply and that it "does not tend to accumulate in aquatic life." Most agree that in some people, Roundup can be irritating to the skin and eyes.

University of Washington environmental toxicologist Allan S. Felsot compared its irritation potential to baby shampoo. Goldstein, the Monsanto toxicologist, acknowledges there has been "some mild irritation." Reach Jan TenBruggencate at janthonoluluadvertiser.com or (808)245-3074. Maul Christie Wilson 244 4880 cwilson HonoluluAdvertiser.com 4 V. I 1 r.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IT EPA's Integrated Risk Information System page for glyphosate: www.epa.goviris subst0057.htm Pesticide Education Center: www.pesticides.org Monsanto data on Roundup: www.monsanto.common santolayoutproducts productivityroundup ing under guardrails and on median strips. It is not used in sensitive areas such as near taro patches in Hana, Maui, near East Moloka'i fishponds and Kaua'i's north-shore streams. Some residents argue that the precautions are not sufficient, both for health reasons and because of overspray. "Some people report respiratory problems and skin reactions. I get migraine headaches.

If they're spraying the roadsides, in many cases there are no alternative highways," said Diane Koerner of Hawai'i's Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides. "All you have to do is drive down the highway and the big machines are spraying, and you can't avoid it." On Kaua'i, after meetings with the Kaua'i Network for the Chemically Injured, state highway crews agreed to post signs when they are working in specific areas to alert drivers that they might encounter spray trucks. That is not done in much of the rest of the state, even though Roundup manufacturer Monsanto suggests it. "We recommend you post that you're going to spray that day," said Monsanto toxicolo-gist Donna Farmer, who testified last month at a Kaua'i County Council hearing on herbicide use in parks. Although the state Department of Transportation tries not to spray when it's windy, organic farmers said the problems persist.

"We get so many calls from infuriated people who say they can see it drifting onto their property. It's a big problem for a lot of our organic growers," said Bari Green, educational program coordinator for the Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association. A crop exposed to Roundup does not meet organic standards. Farmer said the company recommends that people with weed issues apply integrated pest-management techniques. Several agencies have used it, and The Big Island Kevin Dayton 935-3916 kdayton HonoluluAdvertiser.com a.

LEEWARD 2 bodies found off Makaha beach The bodies of a man and woman were recovered yesterday in waters off Lahilahi Beach in Makaha. Police Lt. Frank Pugliese said two surfers brought the body of the woman ashore and called police at 2:55 p.m. A police helicopter spotted the man's body floating in the water 35 to 45 minutes later, leading to its recovery. Fishing equipment belonging to the pair was recovered on a rocky point near the park, said Pugliese.

There was no evidence of foul play, police said. Moped fatality identified The city Department of the Medical Examiner has identified Kaleo'okalani Joseph Peltier, 20, as the man who was killed Monday morning when his moped collided with a milk aenvery trucK near tne mc Donald restaurant in Wai'anae. Police traffic investigators have said that Peltier was headed toward Makaha when the truck, headed the other way, made a left turn in front of him. The 54-year-old man driving the dairy truck was not injured. Students perform again at Nanakuli Due to popular demand, the Nanakuli High and Intermediate School Arts and Communication Learning Center will present an additional, final performance of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" musical tonight at 7:30 at the school's multi-purpose cafeteria.

The show features students from Nanakuli High and Intermediate, Kapolei High, and Wai'anae High. Tickets, can be reserved or purchased at the door. Adults, $8, students, $5, and children under 12, $3. For information and ticket reservations, call 668-5823, ext. 351.

HAWAI'I KAI School to stage appeal to drivers Students and parents of Kamiloiki Elementary School, along with police and representatives of AIG Hawai'i, will line Hawai'i Kai Drive beginning at 7 a.m. today with signs to ask motorists to slow down and remind them of the 25 mph Leeward O'ahuN. Short Will Hoover 525-8038 whoover HonoluluAdvertiser.com Urban James jgonser school zone. Police will erect a speed monitor digital radar sign showing drivers how fast they are traveling, and officers will issue warnings to speeders. More than 100 participants were expected to show.

'EWA BEACH Groups sponsor food distribution The Hawai'i Foodbank and Hale Pono 'Ewa Beach Boys Girls Club is sponsoring a food distribution today. Food will be distributed at the Boys Girls Club gym at 91-884 Fort Weaver Road, starting with seniors from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Families with five or more children can pick up food from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. Items will then be distributed to other families from 4:15 p.m. until supplies run out.

Those planning to pick up food should bring shopping bags. Call 689-4182. 'Easter Bash' at 1 1 LW2i DCaCft parK An "Easter Bash" featuring costume contests, an egg hunt, food and games will be held tomorrow at 'Ewa Beach Community Park from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is being presented by the 'Ewa Beach Community Association and 'Ewa Beach Lions Club.

Call Eileen Lynn at 689-3219 for information. KAIMUKT Grandparents in music workshop The Hawai'i Intergenera-tional Network is kicking off a music-making workshop for grandparents and grandchildren called "The Grand-Orff Workshop" from 9:30 a.m. to noon tomorrow at Sacred Hearts Academy. Grandparents with their grandkids ages 8 to 12 will use special Orff melody instruments including wooden xylophones and metal glockenspiels that offer food sound immediately. Kac.n Drodz, Hawaii Orff Schulwerk Association president, will lead the workshop.

Cost is $10 per grandparent-grandchild. KAPOLEI Library cancels author program Tomorrow's program featuring author Carolyn Choy at Kapolei Public Library has been postponed because of illness. It will be rescheduled. Central O'ahu Rod Ohira 535-8181 rohira HonoluluAdvertiser.com if- rf A Roundup chemical sparks debate over safety, overspraying BY JAN TenBRUGGENCATE Advertiser Science Writer Public and private land managers in Hawai'i are facing increasing scrutiny over use of the herbicide Roundup to kill grasses and weeds. Other herbicides are used for those purposes, but Roundup has become a lightning rod for the criticism, partly because it is so widely used.

The main agent in Roundup, glyphosate, is considered by users as among the safest of agricultural chemicals, but some residents say they worry about its frequent use and doubt the safety claims of the chemical industry. "I just think it's unnecessary. The risk is too great," said Peggy Kadey, who with her husband started the Kaua'i Network for the Chemically Injured. "I know a lot of people who are affected by it, and it's just not fair to use it in public places for the sake of some weeds. Let's just weedwhack under the fences." The herbicide glyphosate has many brand names, the most familiar of which is Roundup.

Another glyphosate formulation known as AquaMaster was used to kill the salvinia weed in Lake Wilson in 2003. Jeff Mikulina, director of the Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter, said there may be isolated cases of appropriate uses for the product, but it should not be applied along roads and in public parks. "Just get rid of it," Mikulina said. "We think there are less toxic approaches that could be employed, like designing, so no weed control is needed." Weed-control experts say they've considered the alternatives and most have concluded that Roundup, when applied properly, is among the safest methods to combat unwanted vegetation. "We do use Roundup," said Winnie Singeo, acting director of the city's Honolulu Botanical Gardens.

"Our people suit up entirely when they apply it, but it's supposed to be safe and there's a real quick re-entry time. As soon as it dries, the public can go back into areas." The state Department of Transportation tries to limit use of the herbicide in areas it can't reach by mechanical means, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa. Roundup is the department's herbicide of choice for spray- Windward O'ahu Eloise Aguiar 234-5266 eaguiar HonoluluAdvertiser.com East Suzanne Pesticide Action Network of North America: www.pesti cideinfo.org Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides glyphosate report: www Response to NCAP glyphosate report by Allan S. Felsot, University of Washington: www.aenews NovOOAENews.htm Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i applies it to weed control in its several natural reserves. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has concluded that herbicide use is one of the best solutions for small infestations of invasive grasses.

"We do find herbicides the most practical tool but our strategy is to minimize use by using it on weeds before they become widespread. We do tests to look at the minimum amount that is effective. We want to reduce costs and minimize our nontar-get effects," said Rhonda Loh, a resource manager with the Big Island park. Maui County does not spray lawns or landscaping at beach parks because heavy public use means it's difficult to find a time when people aren't present, a parks official said. Herbicides other than Roundup are used at ballparks and playing fields, and less so at small community parks.

Signs are posted for several days to alert the public that the area was recently treated. The Maui Public Works department does use Roundup and another herbicide to control weeds around roadways, guardrails, sidewalks and signs. Even Mikulina concedes there may be safety concerns that argue for roadside spraying in certain areas: "It's more dangerous for the guys when you're out there weedwhacking when cars are coming by at 60 miles an hour." Big Island road and park maintenance personnel use it in some areas, but Hawai'i County has had an herbicide-free policy along several test roadways since 1990 and at some county parks since 1992. Kaua'i County, in response to concerns by residents, is experimenting with pesticide-free parks, comparing the cost of manual weed control with the use of herbicides. Reach Jan TenBruggencate at janthonoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.

Kaua'i Jan TenBruggencate 245-3074 jant HonoluluAdvertiser.com Maul Timothy Hurley 244-4880 thurley HonoluluAdvertiser.com Honolulu Roig 395-8831 sroigig HonoluluAdvertiser.com Honolulu Gonser 535-2431 HonoluluAdvertiser.com sawn mzsnjtmrmr -i-i ift a -i ib.o.i- a. i i at iin.