Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Fall from pickup kills Puna manw
HILO, Hawai'i — A 39-year-old Puna man died yesterday of head injuries he received after falling out of the bed of a pickup truck while moving household belongings.
The victim was identified as Jacob H. Kauakahi of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Police said the accident happened around 12:09 p.m. Tuesday. A 16-year-old girl was driving a 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck west on Paradise Drive at 29th Avenue when Kauakahi and a mattress fell out of the truck. Information on whether the driver was a family member was not available.
Kauakahi was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead yesterday.
Because the accident happened on a private subdivision road, it is not being included in the Big Island's traffic fatality count.
Hamakua library to close temporarily
LAUPAHOEHOE, Hawai'i — The Laupahoehoe Public & School Library will be closed Monday while carpet is installed.
The library, which serves the Hamakua Coast, will open Aug. 6.
The book drop will remain open during this period.
Volunteers sought to help clean Maui
KAHULUI, Maui — Maui County's Community Work Day program is enlisting volunteers for the July 21 "Litter Bugs Me" cleanup.
The beautification campaign begins at 8:30 a.m. runs until around noon at beaches, parks, highways, historic sites and other spots on Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i. Volunteers will be supplied with rubbish bags, gloves and refreshments.
To contact site coordinators, call (808) 877-2524.
Hikes scheduled at Haleakala park
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Maui — All-day hikes and other free activities will be held during the summer months at Haleakala National Park.
This Saturday and Aug. 11, park staff will lead a daylong, 12-mile trek through the crater. The hike starts at the Sliding Sands Trail and ends at Halemau'u. Participants should meet at 8 a.m. at the Halemau'u parking lot, where the hike is expected to end around 5 p.m. Bring layered clothing for warm and cold weather, sturdy shoes, lunch, snacks and two liters of water.
A "Kilo Hoku" (star-watching) program will be held July 20, Aug. 19 and 25, and Sept. 21 at the Hosmer Grove campground. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. Bring cold-weather clothes, a blanket or mat to sit on, a red-filtered flashlight, binoculars and a hot beverage.
A "Walk on the Wet Side" afternoon hike through the Waikamoi native cloud forest will be conducted July 22. The five-hour hike is moderately strenuous through wet, muddy terrain at high elevation. Wear shoes with good traction and bring rain gear, snacks, water and binoculars.
Hikers should meet at noon at Hosmer Grove.
Although the programs are free, there is a $10 per vehicle park entrance fee. Call (808) 572-4459.
Army troops train at Hanapepe, range
MANA, Kaua'i — Army troops from four states are conducting training exercises this week in Hanap«p« and at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
Residents can expect to see soldiers landing in military aircraft this afternoon at Port Allen's Burns Field. From there, the soldiers will move to the National Guard Armory.
Troops in vehicles and on foot will travel the Sidewinder Road area of the missile range, and will be firing weapons but not using live ammunition.
The participants are from Hawai'i, Texas, Arizona and Kansas. Some will portray civilians, so passers-by may see them in both camouflage outfits and street clothing.
Police seek identity of man found dead
KAHULUI, Maui — Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man whose nude body was found Sunday in the ocean off Amala Place in Kahului.
Lt. Glenn Cuomo said an autopsy ruled out foul play, but the exact cause of death is pending toxicology reports. The man, believed to be approximately 30 years old, is 6 feet tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has close-cropped blond hair and a tattoo band around his right bicep.
Anyone with information on the man's identity should call the Maui Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division at (808) 244-6425.
MPD adds recruits; shortage persists
WAILUKU, Maui — The Maui Police Department has added 20 new members to its roster, but is still facing a shortage of officers.
Of the 334 authorized positions for sworn personnel, 33 remain vacant. Still, that's an improvement from last November, when MPD reported 45 vacancies. To speed up hiring, the department organized back-to-back recruit classes, said Lt. Jon Morioka.
The 20 members of MPD's 55th recruit class graduated last week and will undergo field training for the next three months. The 56th recruit class, with 10 members, is about a quarter of the way through the police academy, he said. Morioka said the department hopes to launch another class in August.
Bus service starts public shuttles
KIHEI, Maui — Akina Aloha Tours & Akina Bus Service has started public shuttles in the West and South Maui areas, with stops at shopping areas and public beaches.
Maui has no municipal transportation system.
The one-way fare for service in West Maui is $1 for travel between Ka'anapali and Lahaina town, and $2 between Kapalua and Ka'anapali. In South Maui, the fare is $2 for stops between Makena and Ma'alaea Harbor and a $5 round trip between Makena, Wailea, Kihei and Ma'alaea.
A Lahaina-Ma'alaea connection is provided to allow travel between the two resort areas.
During July, passengers aged 55 and older can ride free. Monthly passes are available. For more information, call (808) 879-2828 or visit the Web site www.akinatours.com for a route schedule.
Big Island reports fewer DUI arrests
During the week of July 2-8, Big Island police arrested 27 motorists for drunk driving, including one who was involved in a traffic collision and seven motorists under the age of 21.
According to Big Island police, this year there have been 397 DUI arrests, a 37percent decrease from the 633 arrested during the same period last year. There have been 1,172 major accidents this year, compared to 1,108 during the same period last year, an increase of 6 percent.
There have been 18 traffic fatalities on the Big Island this year, compared to 20 during the same period last year, a decrease of 10 percent. Three of the traffic fatalities this year were related to driving while intoxicated, compared to 10 at the same time last year, a decrease of 70 percent.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will be continued on an islandwide basis.
Project PAU fights underage drinking
Community police officers and personnel from the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) kicked off Project PAU, a crackdown on underage drinking on the Big Island.
DOCARE is a division of the State Department of Lands and Natural Resources.
Police will continue the crackdown on underage drinking throughout the remainder of the year in an attempt to stop underage drinkers before they get behind the wheel of a car.
This year, Big Island police have made 144 arrests for underage drinking.
