Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
BIG ISLAND
Search still on for Hilo teen
Big Island police are looking for a 15-year-old boy missing from his Hilo residence since April 24.
The missing youth was identified as Jack LaForge. LaForge is described as Caucasian, 5-feet-6, weighing about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Call Detective John Ancheta at 961-2276, or 935-3311. Or call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo, or 329-8181 in Kona.
53-year-old drowns off Big Island
KAWAIHAE, Hawai'i — A 53-year-old Arizona visitor died from an apparent drowning yesterday morning while snorkeling in Kauna'oa Bay fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in South Kohala.
Mark Trueblood of Scottsdale was pronounced dead at North Hawai'i Hospital. He was taken there by county ambulance while fire paramedics tried to revive him .
Witnesses told officials Trueblood was in the water with family members when he told them he was feeling tired and was going ot leave the water. He was later spotted floating in the bay.
Man named as beach caretaker
KEALAKEKUA, Hawai'i — A longtime South Kona family has taken responsibility for the care of Manini Beach on the southern end of Kealakekua Bay.
Wayne Kaleohanohano Leslie, will be paid to serve as the konohiki, or caretaker, of the small but significant beach that was once a site where only female ali'i were permitted to bathe. Today, it is among the best snorkeling beaches on the island.
The Bill Healy Foundation of Oregon is underwriter of the program that includes building public restrooms with lauhala walls, installing gates that will limit access to pedestrians only, and removing trash and other debris.
KAUA'I
Kaua'i studying shoreline path
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The county has launched an environmental impact statement study for a four-mile bikeway and walking path along the shoreline at Kealia.
Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said Sen. Daniel Inouye secured $300,000 in federal highway enhancement money for the design.
The coastal land to be occupied by the bike path and walkway is a former Lihu'e Plantation cane road. When a developer bought the plantation's land in Kealia, the coastal land was donated to the county as a condition for approval of the Kealia Kai development.
MOLOKA'I
Maui County mayor has Moloka'i office
KAUNAKAKAI, Moloka'i — Maui County Mayor James "Kimo" Apana has opened a liaison's office on Moloka'i.
The office, in the county building at 100 Ainoa St. in Kaunakakai, is staffed by part-time assistant Sherman Napoleon Sr. The phone number is (808) 553-3700.
MAUI
Maui begins sending tax bills
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County has mailed out about 45,000 first-installment real property tax bills for fiscal year 2001-02.
Property owners who pay their taxes directly and who have not received their real property tax bills by tomorrow should visit the Real Property Tax Division's Collections Section at the War Memorial Gym Complex in Wailuku, or call (808) 270-7697. On Lana'i, call (800) 272-0125, Ext. 7697; on Moloka'i, call (800) 272-0117, Ext. 7697.
Payments may be mailed to the County of Maui, P.O. Box 1405, Wailuku, HI 96793, or delivered to the War Memorial office. Lana'i residents may pay by mail or in person at First Hawaiian Bank.
