Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
BIG ISLAND
Big Isle man buried by cinders dies
HAWAIIAN OCEAN VIEW ESTATES, Hawai'i — A 48-year-old Ka'u man was killed yesterday when he was buried by cinders while operating a loader.
The man was identified as James Mitchell, 48, of the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision.
Police and fire units responded to an 11:11 a.m. call about the accident, which occurred at a quarry on Lurline Drive in the subdivision, said Sgt. Chad Basque.
Rescuers dug Mitchell out and took him to the Pahala Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m.
Mo-ped driver dies in Pu'uloa crash
A mo-ped driver was killed Sunday night after hitting a guard-rail on Kuakini Highway in Pu'uloa on the Big Island.
An investigation showed the victim was thrown and struck his head. He was taken to the Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:56 p.m. He is believed to be a visitor 35 to 40 years old. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.
Geology student rescued at Kilauea
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawai'i — A University of Oregon geology student learned a lesson about walking at night in volcanic terrain when he tumbled 100 feet into a crack in the earth near Kilauea Caldera.
Nate Sheldon, 24, of Eugene, Ore., and a female companion were walking off the trail through a koa grove a little before midnight Friday when the accident occurred, said National Park Service rangers. Sheldon's companion ran to the nearby Kilauea Military Camp for help. A rope-and-pulley haul system was set up to hoist the student out of the crack. The rescue operation involved about 20 military people, park rangers and a Hawai'i County Fire Department rescue crew.
Sheldon, who was at the park with a group of students studying volcanoes, was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated for scrapes and released.
Agency requests hike in bus fares
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The county's public bus agency is asking the Kaua'i County Council to approve a 50 percent hike in regular bus fees and a doubling of discounted senior citizen and youth rates.
The bus service now costs $1 a ride for the public and 50 cents for students and the elderly. Under the new proposal, those rides would go to $1.50 and $1.
The transportation agency has asked to combine its monthly passes into a single $20 per month pass. Monthly passes are now $25 for regular riders and $12.50 for students and the elderly.
County Executive on Transportation Janine Rapozo said the new fees should increase revenue from $105,000 to $155,000 for the next year if ridership remains the same.
Phosphates in water topic of discussion
PUKALANI, Maui — The Department of Water Supply will hold a meeting tomorrow about the addition of phosphates to the Upcountry water system.
The state mandated the use of phosphates to reduce the levels of lead that have been found in some homeowners' drinking water, a water department news release said.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.
Upcountry consumers may call (808) 270-7550 to have their water tested for lead.
Song festival set for Saturday on Big Isle
NAPO'OPO'O, Hawai'i — Kahikolu Congregational Church will hold Aha Mele O Hualalai starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of the restored historic church.
The song festival will honor the works of Ella Hudson Paris, the daughter of an early missionary who worked under the name Hualalai, also the name of the volcano to the north of the Kona church. Call Kahu Wendell Davis at (808) 328-8110 for information.
Pukalani athletic field reopens May 7
PUKALANI, Maui — Maui County yesterday closed the athletic playing field in Pukalani for rehabilitation of the turf.
The field will reopen May 7. Call Sue Kiang, community resource coordinator, at (808) 270-7329.
Maui inspectors move temporarily
WAILUKU, Maui — Inspectors with Maui County's Land Use and Codes Administration moved to new temporary sites yesterday.
Building, electrical and plumbing inspectors are now in the conference room attached to the men's locker room at Sakamoto Pool at the War Memorial Complex. Construction inspectors were sent to the Public Works and Waste Management director's office on the third floor of the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku.
Building permitting and subdivision staff members will remain in Room 201 at the David K. Trask Jr. Building. Land Use and Codes was moved while its permanent site, the Kalana Pakui annex, undergoes testing for contaminants that closed the building last month. The county anticipates the staff will be at the temporary sites for at least two more weeks.
