Karen Meyer, the owner of Bali Hai Photo Company, has been in business on the ground floor of Ching Young Village Shopping Center in the heart of Hanalei for 16 years. Meyer adapted to the diminishing demand for film several years ago by providing services for photographers using digital cameras, and creating new artwork of her own to sell in her shop on the ground floor of Ching Young Village Shopping Center.

When gasoline prices soared in 2008, and airfares increased, the wedding industry on Kaua‘i was affected immensely because brides stopped planning weddings here, and a large part of Bali Hai Photo’s business disappeared. The general economic downturn meant fewer visitors and less shopping for locals, shrinking daily revenue.

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Source: Roxanne McCann – Special to The Garden Island

Surf along north facing shores will be 8 to 12 feet through early afternoon, then rise to heights of 20 to 30 feet late this afternoon.

Check out Today’s Surf Report …

Consultant Doug Hinrichs of Sentech Hawai‘i and Diane Zachary of the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance listen to the Kaua‘i County Council, Wednesday, while waiting to present the final draft of the Kaua‘i Energy Sustainability Plan. Credit: Dennis Fujimoto

Public meeting set for tonight

Kaua‘i drivers would be forced to pay an additional 50 cents for every gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel they purchase if the County Council goes along with measures recommended in the final draft of the Kaua‘i Energy Sustainability Plan released this week.

That tax increase would generate $186 million for the county over the life of the 20-year plan and would fund a program incentivizing hybrid electric vehicles, according to consultant Douglas Hinrichs of Sentech Hawai‘i.

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Source: Michael Levine, The Garden Island

The National Weather Service has extended a high surf warning for the state until 6 a.m. Friday.

Surf along the north and west facing shores of Kauai and Niihau is expected to reach 25 to 35 feet with occasional larger sets at 40 feet tonight.

Surf along north facing shores of Oahu, Molokai and Maui will reach 25 to 35 feet through tonight.

Surf along the west facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island is expected to be 10 to 20 feet through tonight.

Source: KHON 2