Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Lahaina man killed in moped accident
Maui police have identified the 27-year-old man who was killed Wednesday night when his moped collided with a car on Honoapi'ilani Highway in Lahaina.
Police identified the victim as William Todd Wales of Lahaina, and said he died at the scene of the accident, which occurred at about 9:15 p.m.
The driver of the car was not injured, police said.
Diver rescued from cave in Pahoa
The Big Island Fire Department rescued a diver who was swept into a cave by heavy surf in the Pahoa district yesterday morning.
The diver was pulled from the water in a rescue net dangled from a helicopter and was taken to Hilo Medical Center. A rescue boat, fire engine and two other vehicles were also dispatched to the scene near Highway 137.
Overnight closures set for Kaua'i road
The state Department of Transportation will close Jetty Road on Kaua'i, leading to the former Seaflight terminal, beginning at 3 p.m. today.
Because of complaints by residents and police of loitering, vandalism and noise in the area, the road will be closed to traffic every Friday and Saturday between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day.
Puna man gets 30-year term
HILO, Hawai'i — A Puna man who drove his four-wheel-drive truck over a police patrol car in downtown Hilo earlier this year received a 30-year prison sentence yesterday from Big Island Judge Riki May Amano.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Jon Akio Daffron, 33, pleaded guilty to first-degree property damage, a firearm violation and possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia. In exchange, an attempted-murder charge would be dropped.
Police said officer Jason Grouns was sitting in his patrol car observing suspicious activity at the Hilo bus terminal at about 2:20 a.m. March 4, when Daffron revved his Toyota truck with oversized tires, climbed two curbs, crossed several lanes of traffic and ran over a median strip before ramming the patrol car head-on and landing on top of it. Although Grouns was still inside, he escaped injury.
Police found 1/4 ounce of crystal methamphetamine in Daffron's car along with a semi-automatic handgun.
Geothermal contract let
Puna Geothermal Venture has been selected by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai'i Authority to operate the Noii O Puna geothermal research facility, officials have announced.
Puna Geothermal will refurbish and expand the visitor center at the site as well as solicit proposals from the public for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of a geothermal heat source on the property, the natural energy lab authority said.
Puna Geothermal converts steam from Kilauea volcano into energy for use by Big Island residents.
In February, Puna Geothermal gained permission to double the output of its Pohoiki electrical plant to 60 megawatts.
