Geoffrey Cox used to be happy to show curious friends his glucose test meter, how he pricks his finger to test his blood sugar level and the insulin pump that's attached to his stomach through a tube.

Monica Bell is able to remain calm and cheerful even as her legs swell and ache, and she's feeling nauseous — frequent reminders of the diabetes that has laid waste to three generations of her family and taken hold of a fourth.

Three companies are advancing plans to produce power in East Hawai'i by burning biomass such as eucalyptus trees in ambitious projects that — if completed — would generate enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes and businesses.

A smile spreads across Joe Otulau's face as he recites his food vices, most notably pork smothered in gravy with rice and macaroni salad on the side.

In a single generation's time, type 2 diabetes has become so prevalent in children it's no longer known by its traditional label of "adult-onset" diabetes.

The Hawai'i chapter of the American Diabetes Association is trying to make companies and their employees more aware of diabetes prevention and care, which can end up reducing healthcare costs for businesses.

Sweeping demographic changes in the American electorate are undercutting old assumptions about swing voters and battleground states and making the 60-day general election campaign that started Friday even less predictable than usual.

The widening housing crisis took center stage on the presidential campaign trail yesterday after the Treasury Department confirmed to the candidates it was preparing a historic seizure of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Barack Obama and John McCain brought the battle over who is better prepared to change Washington to a pair of states that will be critical to the November election, and they sought to win over voters eager to turn the page on eight years of the Bush administration.

Ocean Safety officials yesterday posted signs advising people to stay out of the water at Kailua Beach Park, Bellows Beach and Lanikai Beach due to a shark sighting in the afternoon.