O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD
Accident puts tunnel in dark
Parts of the Wilson Tunnel were left in the dark yesterday after a drunken driver slammed into a circuit box on the Likelike Highway, a state Department of Transportation representative said.
The traffic accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. yesterday, said Dean Harvest, a transportation department spokesman.
The driver was taken by ambulance to Tripler Army Medical Center and was reported to be in stable condition.
The car, which hit the circuit box on the Kane'ohe end of the tunnel, caught fire and burned part of the circuit box.
Harvest said lights inside the tunnel on the Kane'ohe side were out, as were lights leading up to the tunnel on both the Kane'ohe side and the Honolulu side.
Crews will be working this morning to determine the extent of the damage and to repair it, he said.
Depending upon what action needs to be taken, one lane of traffic may be shut down after 8:30 a.m.
Castle High observes 50th
Castle High School will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a benefit dinner, concert and dance from 5 p.m. to midnight Sept. 8 at the school campus.
For information, call Hank Iida at 247-4241 or Sam Kakazu Jr. at 233-5600, ext. 570, or visit the school's Web site.
NORTH SHORE
North Shore plant sale soon
The Waimea Botanical Foundation and the North Shore Outdoor Circle will present their 22nd annual plant sale Sept. 1 at Waimea Falls Park.
The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Arboretum staff will be available with gardening tips and propagation information. Admission is free.
For information, call 638-0374.
Weed Circle benefit Nov. 17
The North Shore Outdoor Circle and the Hale'iwa Main Street Business Association are planning to hold a fund-raising event Nov. 17.
The money raised will be used to landscape and beautify the roundabout, known as Weed Circle, at the entrance of Hale'iwa.
Tickets are $50, which include lunch and admission to a country gardens tour, a fashion show and a silent auction.
Arrangements about location are still being made. For tickets and information, call 638-0374.
LEEWARD
'Ewa Beach grants offered
The 'Ewa Beach Community Trust Fund is accepting applications for grants to be awarded this year to groups and organizations that have a history of involvement with the 'Ewa Beach community.
There will be a meeting at 9 a.m. Sept. 8 to familiarize community groups with the fund, provide grant applications and assist groups with the applying process.
Of particular interest to the fund are programs that involve youth or elderly and projects that promote positive community identity.
The meeting will be held at the Haseko Community Room at 91-919 Kuhina St., #102.
For information, call Rochelle Gregson at the Hawai'i Community Foundation, 566-5544.
Wai'anae fights rash of arson
Firefighters in Wai'anae spent the weekend running from one small brush fire to another, fighting 12 fires in 48 hours.
The fires appeared to have been intentionally set, said HFD Capt. Richard Soo.
Six fires were set on Friday and six more on Saturday. One fire was set very early yesterday, and firefighters were called to at least one other fire yesterday evening.
The fires burned brush near Wai'anae Boat Harbor, Wai'anae Intermediate School and Wai'anae High School, as well as other areas.
Firefighters ask that anyone with any information about the fires notify CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300 or call the police.
Beautification group to meet
Ho'onani Mau, a nonprofit organization working to beautify the Wai'anae Coast, will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. today in the Wai'anae Neighborhood Community Center conference room.
The group will reviewing the status of its federal nonprofit application; discuss fund-raising efforts; review projects; and schedule their next workdays.
For more information, call Georgette "Jo" Jordan at 696-6009.
