Kauai is going high-tech. The donation of a federal grant worth 1.1 million dollars to spur high-tech training and job development on the island was announced earlier this week by U.S. Senator kaniel K Inoye.

The grant will help to renovate a building that will be turned into a high-tech training field for young adults entering the work force.

“While the grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce is for the renovation of a building to house the Waimea Technology and Training Center, its benefits go far beyond bricks and mortar,” Inouye said. “The grant, in essence, supports the mission of the Center. With a new, modern home, the Center will have the facilities to better offer customized technology training.

When people dream of vacationing on a paradise island, Kauai is one of the names that comes to mind. It is an island known for its’ golden sand beaches, breathtaking sunsets, and romantic moments. It is also known as being one of the finest places to golf in all the world.

World Golf Magazine just featured Kauai’s golf courses citing a few Kauai’s top ranked courses.

“Let’s face it, choosing the right golf course in Kauai is a win-win proposition. This is an island that saw several of its golf courses honored by both Conde Nast Traveler readers as among the top-100 of 2007, and Golf Digest, after all,” wrote World Golf Magazine writer William K. Wolfrum.

In spite of winning in court and having most of the case against the Superferry thrown out the Superferry has decided not to resume service to Kauai just yet.

The decision was made shortly after Gov. Linda Lingle spoke to a crowd of about 1000 hecklers saying the Superferry would resume service. Members of Lingle’s staff said that they also shouted obscenities at the governor and cursed her.

“I have been going to public hearings for 25 years, but I have never seen the personal rudeness that went on not just against people who were there to share information, but to their own fellow residents,” Lingle said.

Kauai is fast becoming the “in” place to vacation in Hawaii.

This year Kauai has been king with Matt LeBlanc’s much publicized Kauai wedding, and visits from stars such as Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and more.

Aside from those who come to visit there are the many movie stars who have homes on Kauai. So many that locals no longer pay attention to them when they see them in stores. That however, changed slightly with Matt LeBlanc’s wedding. At that time there were so many stars that no one was sure who was getting married and the paparazzi arrived in droves.

The Superferry will resume service on Wednesday September 26 said Gov. Linda Lingle.

“We respect everyone’s right to voice their opinion, but we will not allow a small group of protesters to act out in a lawless manner to obstruct the operations of a legitimate business, intimidate the people who wish to use its services or put people’s lives at risk,” Gov. Lingle said.

Gov. Lingle said the decision was made by a “unified command”.

The Superferry has elected not to make runs to Kauai this week although a judge did not issue the asked for temporary restraining order.

There is a hearing scheduled for Monday, the 17th on a request for a permanent restraining order until a environmental study can be completed. If that one is turned down the Superferry will most likely resume service after the hearing.

In the meantime a Big Island attorney, Larry Sinkin, is asking the Coast Guard to repeal its emergency ruling creating a federal security zone extending 100 yards around the Superferry at the Nawiliwili Harbor.

Last night the night sky of Kauai was lit up with more than the stars that so many Kauai vacationers come to see. It was also lit up with fire.

A series of eight brush fires erupted between 10:30 p.m. and 2:45 a.m. Today two brothers were arrested for starting the blazes and are in police custody. They are Joshua Wong, 24 and Michael Wong Jr., 25.

By midday all the fires. except for one off Ahukini Road, were out and no air support was needed. Some of the smaller fires were put out by responding policeman. The rest were put out by firefighters from the Airport Crash Fire unit and personnel from the Department of Public works.

Vacationers love to come to Kauai to see one of the many festivals and this years Aloha festivals are underway with the best still to come.

The Aloha festivals first began in 1946, as Aloha Week - a cultural celebration of Hawai’i’s music, dance and history. A group known as the Jaycees Old-timers of Hawaii - had the vision to create a public celebration to honor Hawaii’s cosmopolitan heritage, and ended up creating a celebration which has itself become a state wide tradition.

Kauai visitors will soon have much better access to a harbor in Kauai between the towns of Kekaha and Waimea on the southwest coast of Kauai. There a $19 to $22 million dollar renovation project has just begun.

The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to a Kapolei firm, the Kiewit Pacific Company.

“The people of Kauai’ have waited a long time for the harbor improvements,” said U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “They were keenly aware that the improvements will strengthen harbor safety by eliminating dangerous conditions within the entrance channel, and will permit the safe passage of vessels entering the basin.”

Home sales may be falling but condominium prices are going up despite less sales at least on the vacation paradise island of Kauai.

There the median price of a condo increased 30.3 percent over sales last year in august rising from $452,000 to $589,000.

Sales were less with just 23 units being sold compared to the 33 units sold in August in 2006.

Overall condominium prices for the year were up 43.3 percent rising from $389,000 to $557,500.