Advertiser Staff and News Services
BIG ISLAND
Sewage spills in Keauhou
KEAUHOU, Hawai‘i — A ruptured sewer pipe yesterday allowed about 100 gallons of untreated refuse to spill into a tidal pond and onto the shoreline fronting the Aston Keauhou Beach Resort.
The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m., and officials at the hotel south of Kailua-Kona immediately sealed off the pond and beach to the guests and public, said Mark McGuffie, general manager.
State health officials ordered the hotel to place warning signs around the spill area yesterday, advising the public the water may be contaminated.
Inspectors are due to arrive today to begin water sampling at the site off Ali‘i Drive and determine the extent of the contamination and when the areas can be reopened to the public.
Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo on O‘ahu said because of the estimated volume, the health risk is expected to be slight.
MAUI
Snake found on Maui
KAHULUI, Maui — A 2 1/2-foot live corn snake was turned in yesterday to the Maui Humane Society after it was found over the weekend by a youngster in the Pe‘ahi area.
State Agriculture Department inspectors took custody of the snake and today will send it to the Plant Quarantine Branch on O‘ahu.
Although illegal in Hawai‘i, corn snakes are common in much of the Mainland and northern Mexico. These nonvenomous snakes can grow to more than 6 feet long on a diet of rodents and birds.
Anyone caught with illegal animals is subject to penalties, including fines of up to $200,000 and up to three years in jail. Illegal pets may turned in by their owners under the department’s Amnesty Program.
Anyone with information or knowledge of illegal animals in Hawai‘i should call the department’s hot line at 586-PEST (7378).
Home Depot hiring on Maui
WAILUKU, Maui — Home Depot will begin hiring 135 full- and part-time sales associates for its Kahului store this Saturday.
The store, near the corner of Pu‘un«n« Avenue and K¬ihelani Highway, is scheduled to open in late spring.
The company also announced that it has named a store manager and has promoted 11 department supervisors from its Iwilei store on O‘ahu to work at the new Maui location. The manager is Jessi Holguin, an assistant manager at Iwilei since the store opened in September 1999.
The Maui store will have 130,500 square feet of retail space plus a 20,000-square-foot garden center. There will be approximately 50,000 home improvement products on sale.
Job seekers may apply for a position at the store’s hiring trailer.
UH-Hilo offers new program
KAHULUI, Maui — The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is offering a new bachelor’s degree program in English, with an emphasis in writing, to Maui County residents.
An informational meeting on the new program will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Friday. On Maui, the meeting will convene in Maui Community College’s Library 101 (SkyBridge Studio A). On Moloka‘i and Lana‘i, students will meet at their respective MCC education centers.
Christian Weisser, a UH-Hilo faculty member in the English department, and University of Hawai‘i Center counselor Colleen Shishido will discuss prerequisites for the degree, coursework and other details.
Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a space and packet, call (808) 984-3525 on Maui, (808) 553-4490 on Moloka‘i and (808) 565-7266 on Lana‘i.
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