Neighbor Island briefs
HANALEI, Kaua'i — Water safety officers closed Hanalei Bay to swimming yesterday after a swell out of the north created dangerous shore breaks.
The swell averaged 8 to 12 feet with higher sets, and the direction of the waves created a hazardous condition directly on the beach, said county water safety chief Kaleo Hookano.
The swell was expected to begin dropping today. Hookano said lifeguards would lift the swimming ban when it appeared safe.
On O'ahu, surf was not as high as expected on the North Shore, and no beaches were closed yesterday afternoon.
Police investigate shooting threats
KAHULUI, Maui — Police yesterday continued their investigation into rumored threats of a shooting that resulted in the closing Thursday morning of Maui's largest high school.
No incidents were reported at Maui High School, and the campus remained closed yesterday. Maui Police Department officers were investigating several leads.
Body found in tent near KÇ'Ç Beach
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police yesterday were investigating the discovery of a man's body in a tent near KÇ'Ç Beach at Ha'ena.
A beachgoer from Kilauea called police yesterday afternoon after finding the body and tent in a forested area near the popular beach. The victim apparently had been dead for some time.
NTSB probing helicopter crash
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were scheduled yesterday afternoon to begin an investigation into the crash Thursday of a Ni'ihau Helicopters Agusta 109 aircraft.
Only the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration official were on board. No one was injured. The crash, on the runway at Burns Field outside HanapÇpÇ, occurred during a standard FAA pilot check ride.
Accident snarls Ali'i Drive traffic
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai'i Ü An accident that sheared a utility pole on Ali'i Drive early yesterday caused a nine-hour traffic jam before Hawai'i Electric Light Co. crews could replace the damaged pole.
Hawai'i Electric spokesman Jay Ignacio said a car cracked the pole fronting White Sands Beach Park around 4:45 a.m. Power was not disrupted. The replacement was completed at 1:10 p.m., but telephone repair work continued for hours more.
