O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
CENTRAL
Woman dies in Pearl City accident
One woman was killed and three people seriously injured shortly after 6:30 p.m. yesterday after a van struck a utility pole in front of Sam's Club on on Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City.
Randy Dela Cruz • Special to The Advertiser
A security guard, rescue crews and bystanders were dealing with the aftermath of the accident, which hindered westbound traffic for several hours.
A fatal accident in Pearl City yesterday slowed traffic for hours.
The woman who died had been taken to Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi in critical condition. The other three victims were listed in serious condition at Queen's Medical Center. Traffic was re-routed to Acacia Road.
Saturday crash victims named
The Honolulu medical examiner has released the names of two people killed in an automobile crash Saturday on Kamehameha Highway.
The 29-year-old Pearl City man was identified as Al Jimmy Mehau Bray, who died from multiple injuries. The 33-year-old 'Ewa Beach woman was identified as Merliza Vitolo, who died from a fractured neck.
At about 1 a.m. Saturday, Bray's sport utility vehicle was speeding through stoplights along a wet portion of Kamehameha Highway when it struck a Ford Mustang in the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Acacia Road, police said.
Bray and Vitolo were killed after the vehicle went airborne, severed a utility pole and damaged a building under construction in Pearl City.
LEEWARD
Kamaile gets new principal
Wai'anae resident Glen Kila has been named principal of Kamaile Elementary School, Leeward District Superintendent Hazel Sumile told the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board on Tuesday.
Kila, a former board member, most recently was principal of Ka'ala Elementary in Wahiawa.
Kamaile Elementary also has become part of the America's Choice reading program. The program is a standards-based school reform model with an emphasis on language arts. As part of the program, teachers stay with a class for two or three years.
Leeward adds 'Dragonfly' date
An additional matinee performance of the musical "On Dragonfly Wings" has been added at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Leeward Community College Theatre.
"We have received so much support from the community and the response has been so positive that we decided to add an extra showing to close out our successful run," said Lisa Matsumoto, executive director of Ohi'a Productions and creator of the play.
"On Dragonfly Wings" is a musical about Wendy, a cheerful young waterbug who is small but has big dreams. The role is performed by Janel Parrish, who at age 12 is already a Broadway veteran, having portrayed Little Cossette in Les Miserables.
For ticket information, call the box office at 484-8800 or order on-line at www.ohia.com.
Farrington plan to be reviewed
State plans to redesign portions of Farrington Highway near Kili Drive will be discussed at the next Makaha Ahupua'a Community Association meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Makaha Neighborhood Park.
Some bridges could be rebuilt and parks realigned during the proposed projects, according to association president Betty Waller.
For more information on the meeting, call 696-8942.
Wai'anae park ideas solicited
The Parks and Recreation Committee of the Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board will hold a Pu'u o Hulu Community Park planning meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the park.
The park, off Kaukama Road, serves the subdivisions of Pualani by the Sea, Lokelani and Ma'ili Kai.
The park was set to have a softball field built, but the city had problems with grading.
The meeting will be used to discuss how best to spend $800,000 of city capital improvement money earmarked for the park.
EAST HONOLULU
Board to meet at Ala Wai
Residents with suggestions on improvement projects for the communities of Diamond Head, Kapahulu, and St. Louis Heights are asked to attend the Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Ave., second floor.
The board has been charged with finding the best way to spend $1million on capital improvement projects.
For more information call 527-5749.
HONOLULU
State receives firefighting aid
The State of Hawai'i has received $200,000 in federal fire prevention money from the Volunteer Fire Assistance program, administered by the U.S. Forest Service through the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Each of Hawai'i's four counties will receive $50,000, which can be used by their fire departments for firefighter training and education, and to purchase fire-resistant clothing, helmets and hoses. The fire departments also will make public fire awareness presentations in communities that have a lot of brush fires.å
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information for the "On Dragonfly Wings" musical.
