Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

BIG ISLAND

Big Isle adds 11 DUI arrests

HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police arrested 11 motorists on suspicion of drunk driving during the week of May 21-28 and said DUI roadblocks and patrols will be continued islandwide.

Three of the drivers arrested were involved in traffic accidents, police said, and one was under the age of 21.

There have been 309 DUI arrests on the Big Island this year, a 35 percent decrease over the same period last year.

MAUI

New Kihei road opens today

WAILUKU, Maui — Starting today, Maui County will open the first part of a new collector road designed as another route for motorists traveling between north and south Kihei.

Starting at 8 a.m., Liloa Drive will be opened from Halekuai Street, near Lokelani Intermediate School, to the makai entrance of Pi'ilani Village Shopping Center.

The long-awaited road, commonly known during its planning stages as the North/South Collector Road, will run parallel to Pi'ilani Highway and South Kihei Road. Drivers along the new road will be able to access Halekuai Street, Lipoa Street and Pi'ikea Avenue.

Mayor James "Kimo'' Apana said he hopes the new route will help ease traffic in one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.

Additional portions of the north-south road are under construction by private contractors, a requirement of their projects, officials said.