O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
Woman dies in Nimitz crash
A woman in her 20s died just before 8 p.m. last night when her sport utility vehicle slammed into a freeway support piling on Nimitz highway near Lagoon Drive.
Firefighters initially responded to a report of a car fire but found the woman dead when they arrived. The Nissan SUV had been traveling westbound on Nimitz and appeared to be the only vehicle involved in the accident, an HFD spokesman said.
Building begins in Kunia phase
Groundbreaking was held Dec. 12 for the second phase of a Royal Kunia private recreation site for area residents.
Kunia Residential Partners, made up of Castle & Cooke Kunia Inc. and Halekua Development Corp., will build two full-size basketball/volleyball courts, two tennis courts, one children's-size basketball court, fitness equipment, picnic tables, comfort station, jogging walkway and a parking lot.
Construction at the 4.6-acre site at the corner of Anoiki and Anonui streets is set to begin in mid-January.
The site will be turned over to the Royal Kunia Community Association when completed in October or November.
Mountain biker hospitalized
A 44-year-old man was taken to The Queen's Medical Center yesterday after he crashed his mountain bike on a trail above the Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area, near St. Louis Heights.
Forest cover was too thick for an HFD rescue helicopter to reach the scene, so the man was carried down to the parking lot near Ruth Place, Capt. Kennison Tejada said.
The accident occurred about 300 yards from the top of the trail, he said, and another bike rider called for help on a cellular phone, he said.
Parade to alter Waikiki traffic
A holiday parade to recognize Special Olympics athletes and volunteers will take to the streets of Waikiki for one hour Saturday.
The parade will feature about 2,000 marchers, 25 vehicles and five marching bands.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Beach Walk and Kalakaua Avenue, continue down Kalakaua to Monsarrat Avenue, ending at Kapi'olani Park at about 11 a.m.
Sections of Kalakaua Avenue will be closed during the parade.
For more information, call Moa Mahe at 926-2244.
State budget hearing today
Lawmakers will hold a public hearing tonight on the state's financial problems and Gov. Ben Cayetano's plans to cut the budget.
The state is expecting a $315 million shortfall over the next 18 months in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Members of the House Finance Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee will be briefed by state Budget Director Neal Miyahira on the proposed state budget at 7 p.m. tonight in the State Capitol auditorium.
"Exactly where the public thinks the cuts should be made is what we need to hear," said House Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine, D-1st (Hamakua-N. Kohala).
Hearings are also scheduled for the Big Island on Jan. 3; for Kaua'i on Jan. 7; and on Maui on Jan. 9.
