Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Work starts on Maui observatory
HALEAKALA SUMMIT, Maui — A blessing yesterday marked the groundbreaking for a $10 million observatory billed as the largest anywhere dedicated to education.
The Faulkes Telescope is a joint venture involving the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy and the Dill Faulkes Educational Trust of Great Britain.
The 2-meter telescope will be remotely operated by students in Hawai'i and Britain, which is 10 hours away. In Britain, the telescope will be operated from the National Maritime Museum. Another control center will be at Maui Community College in Kahului.
Site work is expected to begin early next month. The telescope is being built in England and is expected to be on Maui by the middle of next year.
Money sought to fight dengue fever
WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui County Council committee is recommending that $250,000 be allocated to help state officials battle the dengue fever outbreak.
The measure, approved by the council's Budget and Finance Committee Thursday, now goes to the full nine-member council for final passage.
The money would help finance community cleanup programs, public education and other efforts to help stop the mosquito-borne virus.
The dengue fever outbreak, which started on Maui, has spread to most of the state's major islands. But Maui continues to be the island hardest hit, with 56 confirmed cases.
Diligence urged in stopping dengue
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Residents were urged this week to check for standing water that might breed mosquitoes after recent rains on Kaua'i.
Water collecting in plants or containers should be drained out, and residents should use mosquito repellent while outdoors, to prevent spread of dengue fever, said Mayor Maryanne Kusaka.
"We're pleased that the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever is stable at four. If we continue to be diligent about controlling mosquitoes the situation should remain controlled," Kusaka said.
Confiscated items returned by police
LAHAINA, Maui — Dominatrix and medieval warriors appeared at the Maui Police Department station in West Maui Thursday to retrieve costume props confiscated during Wednesday's Halloween celebration on Front Street.
Police officers — being extra vigilant in these times of heightened security — confiscated what may be a record 15 items deemed potentially dangerous.
"We didn't want any live weapons out there,'' said police Sgt. David Lake.
Among the confiscated items were four whips, five steel swords, a medieval spike ball and chain, and a pair of nunchucks. The props were taken with the promise of return the next day, Lake said.
Police reported few problems at the Halloween celebration. Police made only one DUI arrest and five other arrests for such things as disorderly conduct and property damage.
Complaints against officers investigated
The Hawai'i County Police Department acknowledged Thursday that it is investigating allegations made against two police officers.
The investigations were begun after a woman said she was sexually assaulted by each officer in unrelated incidents, the department said. The officers involved were relieved of their duties and remain on leave pending the outcome of the investigations.
