Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Wai'anae scorched by five brushfires

A rash of brushfires swept across the Wai'anae area yesterday evening, though the Honolulu Fire Department wasn't certain whether they were deliberately set or related.

As many as five fires burned starting at 6:24 p.m. The first fire was near the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center at 86-260 Farrington Highway. Officials brought the fire under control relatively quickly, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo, but it was burning between the two buildings and causing a hazard.

Two fires burned later at Wai'anae Intermediate School, and one at the Wai'anae Boat Harbor, close to Wai'anae High School.

Fire officials were called back to the health center around 10:30 p.m. when flames reignited.

A series of arsons plagued the Wai'anae area in May and June, with most of the fires set at schools.

Maui to step up spraying by copter

WAILUKU, Maui — Resource managers who have been battling the invasive weed species miconia said yesterday they plan to step up aerial herbicide spraying in East Maui now through the end of September.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee announced that the helicopter work will occur between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Miconia is a Central American species that is crowding out native forests with its large leaves, killing the plants underneath its canopy and creating single-species ecosystems that accelerate erosion and undermine the watershed.

Recent discoveries of miconia breakouts on Maui have led to calls for an expanded attack on the weed in the next couple of years.

Puna woman killed in one-car crash

HILO, Hawai'i — A Puna woman died Thursday afternoon when her car ran off the Kea'au-Pahoa Highway, in an accident that tied up traffic for several hours on the only access into lower Puna.

Police said the crash occurred about 3 p.m. The driver was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center.

The death of the 57-year-old woman was the Big Island's 20th highway fatality this year, compared with 25 at the same time in 2000.

Haleakala fire chars 3.5 acres

A fire that raged on Haleakala yesterday afternoon burned about 3.5 acres and was still being monitored by the state forestry division late last night.

The Maui Fire Department was alerted to the fire near Olinda Road at about 3:30 p.m. Two engines and two helicopters with fire crew totaling 11 brought the fire under control by 7:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.