O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
HONOLULU
Forum to look at education
The Democratic Party of Hawai'i will hold an education forum from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Kaka'ako Conference Room at Ward Warehouse.
Participants include Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly President Alexander Malahoff, Hawai'i State Teachers Association President Karen Ginoza and Senate Education Committee Chairman Norman Sakamoto.
City Councilman Duke Bainum will moderate. A question-and-answer period will follow.
Power failure in airport area
A contractor digging along Kuntz Avenue damaged an electrical cable and caused a power failure near the airport yesterday afternoon.
Hawaiian Electric Co. spokeswoman Likelike Davis-Nutt said the power failure occurred at 2:09 p.m. and affected 148 customers between Valkenburgh Street and the Hickam Air Force Base gate. Power to most of the customers was restored by 3 p.m., she said.
The outage also knocked out some traffic signals in the area.
LEEWARD
Pedestrian group to meet
The 'Ewa Beach Pedestrian Coalition will meet tonight discuss safety improvements for people crossing Fort Weaver Road near the Leeward Child and Family Services office.
The discussion will begin at 7 p.m. in the Child and Family Services community center at 91-1841 Fort Weaver Road.
Residents are being asked to assign their priorities to proposed solutions. Suggestions include a pedestrian overpass or tunnel under the road, a new traffic light, reducing the speed limit, a pedestrian-activated flashing light, moving the crosswalk, and painting a solid line down the road to prevent vehicles from switching lands.
For more information, call 586-6360.
Missing man's body found
A 19-year-old man reported missing Monday was found dead in the ocean near Poka'i Bay by fishermen at about 12:20 p.m. yesterday, according to police.
Alika Apela was last seen at about 1 p.m. Monday when he went swimming at Poka'i Bay Beach Park.
Apela had apparently drowned, police said. Lifeguards retrieved the floating body and brought it to shore where Apela was pronounced dead.
WINDWARD
Marines to hike into community
A 15-mile conditioning hike will take Combat Service Support Group 3 Marines into the Windward community this evening from 8:30 to 10.
About 600 Marines will begin their hike at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i, exit the base onto Mokapu Road and then march along Kane'ohe Bay Drive. The Marines will re-enter the base along a path that borders H-3 Freeway.
Honolulu police will escort the Marines on the public roads.
NORTH SHORE
Waimea Park update Monday
The Waimea Park Master Plan Advisory Committee will present its recommendations at 3 p.m. Monday in the Mayor's Conference Room.
The meeting is open to the public.
The city has expressed interest in purchasing the 1,875-acre valley since it was put on the market in August. The parcel includes Waimea Valley Adventure Park, an arboretum, archaeological sites and more than 1,500 acres of undeveloped land.
During the last few months, the North Shore communities have tried to determine how to maintain public access while preserving and protecting the valley and falls.
City Councilwoman Rene Mansho formed the advisory committee.
Mansho said that if the city acquires Waimea Falls Park, a private/nonprofit entity would operate the facility because of city budgetary constraints. The master plan provides guidelines for a Request for Proposal.
EAST HONOLULU
Steve Hirano fills vacancy
The Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board appointed Steve Hirano to fill a vacancy in Subdistrict 10, an area east of Lunalilo Home Road from Kalaniana'ole Highway to Keahole Street.
The position was held by Bruce Fisher, who recently resigned.
Hirano was an active participant in the city vision teams and actively supported the construction of a canoe halau at Maunalua Bay. His term expires by June, when a new board is elected and sworn in.
