Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
BIG ISLAND
13th power failure hits Big Island
HILO, Hawai'i — A failure at the Hamakua Energy Partners generator in Haina caused a power failure early yesterday that affected more than 4,400 homes.
It was the 13th power failure this year caused by the private plant, which has a contract to sell electricity to Hawai'i Electric Light Co.
Yesterday's failure occurred at 3:28 a.m., with the average power loss lasting eight minutes, said HELCO spokesman Jay Ignacio. The cause is under investigation.
KAUA'I
Solar-powered craft to attempt record
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Helios solar-powered aircraft is scheduled to attempt a new world altitude record Saturday.
The unmanned aircraft, whose propellers are powered by solar photovoltaic cells on the wing surface, is designed to someday reach 100,000-foot elevation.
It may only make 90,000 to 95,000 feet on this flight, according to a NASA press release, but that would still be a record for a nonrocket-powered winged aircraft.
The record is now held by a sister aircraft, Pathfinder, which reached 80,200 feet flying from Kaua'i in 1998.
Both planes were built by the California firm AeroVironment. They are part of a research program funded by NASA, which hopes to develop aircraft that can remain aloft indefinitely without refueling.
Helios will fly from the airfield at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on West Kaua'i.
If weather conditions or technical problems rule out a Saturday launch, backup days have been established for Sunday or Monday, and Aug. 16-19, NASA officials said.
MAUI
Maui workshops planned this week
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. are sponsoring "Substance Abuse Recovery and Workforce Development" workshops this week at the Sandalwood Clubhouse in Waikapu.
The first session, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, is intended for employers, middle managers and human resource directors.
Topics will include substance abuse in the workplace, symptoms and identification of substance abuse, and strategies and resources for dealing with the problem.
A second session intended for case workers, program staff and counselors will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and repeated in a third session to be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Additional topics for these two sessions include legal issues and confidentiality.
The cost is $10 per person/per session. Call the county Office of Economic Development at (808) 270-7142.
Bone marrow registration slated
KAHULUI, Maui — Bone marrow donor registration and testing will be done from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.
Staff members from the Hawai'i Bone Marrow Donor Registry at St. Francis Medical Center in Honolulu will conduct the free event, which is being sponsored by the Hawai'i Government Employees Association's Maui Division.
The goal is to match registered bone marrow donors with Hawai'i residents who are in need of bone marrow transplants because of terminal blood diseases such as leukemia.
More than 16,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with some type of fatal blood disease each year.
Donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health.
A small sample of blood is collected from potential donors for tissue typing.
For more information, call the Hawai'i Bone Marrow Donor Registry in Honolulu at 547-6154.
