Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Hilo dries out after torrential rains
HILO, Hawai'i — Life was almost back to normal yesterday following Wednesday's torrential rains that dropped up to 14 inches on some areas mauka of Hilo.
County public-work crews reported to work at 5 a.m. yesterday and had all roads reopened by 8 a.m., according to Bill Davis, Hawai'i County Civil defense administrator.
He reported that a number of homes in the Pi'ihonua and Kaumana neighborhoods upslope of Hilo experienced minor to moderate flooding.
Unlike November 2000, when a disaster was declared, no record is being made of the losses from Wednesday's downpour.
The greatest damage may have occurred at Akolea Place in Kaumana where repairs on the November damage were partially done.
"The contractor was ready for paving later this week and now most of the preparation work has been washed away," Davis said.
It was not immediately known if a federal grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency being used to make the repairs can be increased to cover the additional cost.
Yesterday brought no additional rain. Road crews today are expected to continue removing rocks and debris from rural highways, including the Saddle Road that was littered with rocks upslope of the Kaumana City subdivision.
Maui Senior fair offers fun, food
KAHULUI, Maui — Blood pressure and cholesterol screening, and vision testing will be offered at the 28th Annual Maui County Senior Fair tomorrow at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
The theme for this year's event, sponsored by the county's Office on Aging and Council on Aging, is "Kulia Na Kupuna I Ka Hau'oli A Me Ka Pono" ("Seniors Strive for Happiness and Balance"). The free fair runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Along with health screenings, there will be arts and crafts made by local senior citizen clubs, information booths, food and entertainment, with Uluwehi Guerrero as a special guest.
This year's Senior Fair is dedicated to the memory of Arda Vonderheid, 76, a longtime mayoral appointee to the Council on Aging and past Senior Fair chairwoman who died Oct. 15.
Understand issues about energy
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Maurice Kaya, State energy, resources and technology administrator, will speak at a free energy conference at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall.
The session, titled "Energy 101," was rescheduled after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Speakers will address the island's energy consumption, oil supplies and other issues to help the public better understand energy issues.
