Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Fatal crash was suicide, police say
HILO, Hawai'i — After finding a suicide note, Big Island police believe a 74-year-old Hilo woman deliberately crashed her 1994 Toyota Camry into a chartered school bus Sunday on Hawai'i Belt Road in Pepe'ekeo.
The head-on collision occurred at about 4 p.m. when Mitsuko Ikeda's vehicle crossed the center line and hit a bus carrying 11 elderly passengers returning from a Hongwanji church convention in Kona. Ikeda died three hours later at Hilo Medical Center. No one on the bus was seriously hurt.
Police later recovered a suicide note from the woman's home.
Autopsy awaited in Maui death
KIHEI, Maui — Maui detectives are awaiting autopsy results to determine if a man accidentally fell to his death from his third-floor condominium on South Kihei Road.
The man's body was found about 8 a.m. Saturday on the lawn below his balcony in Building 2 at the Maui Vista, police said. He had not been identified as of yesterday.
Buyers to speak at UHH graduation
HILO, Hawai'i — C. Brewer chairman and chief executive officer J.W.A. "Doc" Buyers will be the keynote speaker Saturday at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo spring commencement ceremonies.
More than 300 students will take part in the 9 a.m. program at the UH-Hilo Athletics Complex.
Class valedictorian Julie Hotniansky of Hilo will also speak.
Contract awarded for harbor repairs
KAUNAKAKAI, Moloka'i — The state Department of Transportation has awarded a $44,900 contract to Sea Engineering Inc. for repairs at Kaunakakai Harbor.
The job includes reinforcing a broken pile with concrete above and below the water level. The project is scheduled to begin by August.
Maui honors senior volunteers
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County's 2001 Outstanding Older Americans were honored at a recent luncheon hosted by Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.
Earl Kukahiko, 70, of Lahaina, is involved with the Salvation Army, Na Kupuna 'Ohana Serenaders, the Maui County Council on Hawaiian Churches, and the Lahaina Adult Day Care Center.
Florence Hasegawa, 92, also of Lahaina, was recognized for her work with the Maui County University Extension Homemaker Council, the American Cancer Society and Hospice Maui.
Other nominees were: Louise Borsella and Kanee Wright of Kaunakakai, Theresa Browning of Kula, Joanne Craig of Lahaina, Elsie Kimura of Kahului and Thema Leilani Zinsman of Ha'iku.
Transportation panel to meet
KAHULUI, Maui — The state Commission on Transportation will hold its Maui meeting at 11 a.m. Monday at the old Hawaiian Airlines lounge on the second level of Kahului Airport.
The agenda includes status reports on an assortment of airport, harbor and highway projects.
