Each week I pore through Google alerts to find Hawaii's science and tech news. These are my finds for December 26th through December 28th:

• Solar Companies Get Another Boost from the PUC - State regulators have rejected a proposal by Hawaiian Electric Co. to require solar companies to install expensive remote monitoring systems for small solar photovoltaic systems.
• Navy gets OK to buy two Hawaiian superferries - Congress has given the Navy the green light to spend up to $35 million to acquire two Hawaiian superferries from the U.S. Maritime Administration.
• Honolulu Civil Beat - Civil Beat Business - OluKai To Present TEDxMaui Conference - Olukai has announced it will present its first version of the independently produced TED conference. The spin off, dubbed TEDxMaui, will be a one-day event featuring 18 speakers from the islands of Hawaii and beyond.
• Pilot program to advance Race to the Top initiatives | Hawaii 24/7 - The state Department of Education has announced the creation of a new three-year pilot program to begin in the 2012-13 school year.