Honolulu

A powerful earthquake and repeated aftershocks shook Hawaii on Sunday, rattling nerves, knocking out power in Honolulu and prompting Governor Linda Lingle to issue a disaster declaration for the entire state. The earthquake was not strong enough to trigger a tsunami warning, according to Victor Sardina, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.

An oil tanker spilled up to 9 000 litres of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, an official said. The coast guard and the state health department categorised the spill on Saturday morning as a minimal one, said Nathan Hokama, spokesperson for Tesoro, which owns the tanker. There were no immediate reports of harm to wildlife.

Ocean scientists can now plunge into the middle of the sea without leaving their offices. Two-metre, 45kg, underwater gliders are swimming the oceans of the world and dutifully sending data home on everything from whale calls to the massive waves produced by hurricanes.

Schoolgirl Michelle Wie makes her United States PGA Tour pro debut in Hawaii on Thursday at the ,1-million Sony Open, a familiar home-course event where she has twice failed to make the cut against men. The 16-year-old Korean-American makes her fourth US PGA appearance.

Michelle Wie, a Koren-American schoolgirl whose power has stunned golf rivals twice her age, turned professional in Hawaii on Wednesday, six days shy of her 16th birthday. ”From the first time I grabbed a golf club, I knew I would do it for the rest of my life and I loved it,” Wie said. ”Twelve years later, I’m turning pro and I’m so excited.”

Vijay Singh rallied from a four-shot deficit heading into the final round to beat South Africa’s Ernie Els by one stroke and capture the ,8-million Sony Open on Sunday. World number one Singh shot a five-under-par 65 in another windswept day at Waialae course to register his 25th career victory on the PGA Tour.

Ernie Els has played before the largest galleries this week at the Sony Open, in part because he is trying to become the first player in its 40-year history to win three straight times — and because the Big Easy has been hanging around the Big Wiesy. In the first full-field event, 15-year-old Michelle Wie remains the star attraction.

Researchers said they found a Japanese midget submarine sunk more than an hour before the attack on Pearl Harbour.