Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
UH-Hilo names writer-in-residence
HILO, Hawai'i — Author and former newsman Scott Stone of Volcano has joined University of Hawai'i-Hilo as its writer-in-residence.
Bill Chen, vice chancellor of academic affairs, described Stone as "an eminent writer of history, biographies, novels and more."
Stone has written 24 books and has three more scheduled for publication. He received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1969 for "The Dragon's Eye."
Stone is a former naval officer and was an assistant city editor for The Honolulu Advertiser. He is available for free student consultations at the UHH Mo'okini Library. For more information and appointments, call (808) 974-7507.
Police suspect arson on Big Isle
HILO, Hawai'i — Police are seeking information on two July fires that damaged property owned by Metcalf Construction Co.
Detective Grace Castillo said a 1989 Ford flatbed truck was found burning near the corner of Kanoelehua Avenue and Puainako Street around 8 p.m. July 12.
Earlier in the day, around 10:45 a.m., a fire broke out at the company's Railroad Avenue office. Police suspect arson in both cases. Call Castillo at (808) 962-2377, or call CrimeStoppers Hawai'i at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
Energy workshop offered on Kaua'i
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Residents interested in the status of energy production and use in the Islands are invited to a free workshop titled "Energy 101" at 6:30 p.m Tuesday at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall.
State Energy Resources and Technology Administrator Maurice Kaya will speak, and there will be discussions of proposed wind and hydroelectric generation facilities on Kaua'i.
Maui schedules appliance pick-ups
WAILUKU, Maui — The County of Maui's Department of Public Works and Waste Management has announced the latest dates for the freon appliance pick-up program.
County crews will pick up refrigerators and freezers from the Upcountry and Pa'ia areas tomorrow and Saturday. Appliance pick-up dates for Central and South Maui are Sept. 21-22. Dates for West Maui will be announced later. Each household is limited to two items.
To schedule a pick-up, Upcountry and Pa'ia residents should call (808) 572-3958 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Central and South Maui residents should call (808) 270-7452 during the same hours.
Field in Kula getting new lights
KULA, Maui — A project to install lights at the Kula Gateball Field began this week and is expected to continue until mid-October.
The field, used for a game that resembles croquet, will remain open while the work is being done. Electrical Solutions Corp. was awarded a $25,000 contract for the project, according to the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Koke'e program receives grant
The Koke'e Resource Conservation Program, which removes alien plants in the upland forests of Kaua'i, has received a $50,000 grant from the Hawai'i Community Foundation's Natural Resources Conservation Program.
The Koke'e program also received a $20,000 grant from the foundation's Kaua'i Fund to help in education and community outreach.
Company to work on Moloka'i roads
KAUNAKAKAI, Moloka'i — The state Department of Transportation has awarded a $1.3 million contract to Rimrock Paving Co. for improvements to Kala'e Highway from Maunaloa Highway to the Kalaupapa Lookout parking lot.
The project includes installing guard rails, resetting existing guard rail posts, extending pipe culverts, constructing paved shoulders and concrete gutters, and installing markings and striping.
Work is scheduled to start sometime this month.
Rangers plan hikes, stargazing
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Maui — The rangers at Haleakala National Park have three special programs planned for the month.
On Saturday, rangers will lead a daylong hike through the crater. The strenuous 12-mile trek will take hikers from Sliding Sands to Halemau'u, past volcanic landscapes and unique subalpine plants.
Hikers should meet at 8 a.m. at the Halemau'u parking lot, where the hike will end around 5 p.m. Rangers recommend bringing layered clothing for cold and warm weather, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, a hat, rain gear, lunch, snacks and two quarts of water.
On Sept. 16, hikers will visit a native Hawaiian cloud forest during a five-hour, moderately strenuous hike through wet and muddy terrain in the Waikamoi Preserve. The hike is co-sponsored by the Nature Conservancy.
Hikers should meet at noon at the Hosmer Grove parking lot, and bring rain gear, a snack, water, sunscreen and binoculars.
A Kilo Hoku (star watching) event will be held 7: 30 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Hosmer Grove campground. Participants should prepare for cold weather and bring a beach mat or blanket to sit on, a red-filtered flashlight, binoculars and hot beverages.
All three programs are free, but a $10-per-vehicle park entrance fee may be charged. Call (808) 572-4459 for more information.
Man-of-war alert issued on Kaua'i
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Water safety officials have warned that Portuguese man-of-war have been seen in the waters of East Kaua'i.
The county water safety office reported the stinging creatures off Wailua and Lydgate, and beachgoers have noted them off the Nawiliwili area.
Group meeting to save landmarks
WAIMEA, Hawai'i — A community meeting at 5:30 tonight will search for ways of saving four landmarks in the South Kohala ranching and retirement community of Waimea.
The Waimea Community Association meeting will be held in the Kahilu Town Hall.
Spokesman Peter Hendricks said at the top of the list is the restoration and preservation of the 100-acre Anna Ranch, including the home of noted Waimea rancher and social figure Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, who died in June 1995 at age 95.
The other landmarks are the county water department building at Kawaihae and 'Opelu Roads, the former state tax office, also known as the Hospice Building, and the old courthouse, police station and probation office now being used as the Waimea Senior Center.
21 on Big Island cited for DUI
Big Island police said they arrested 21 motorists for drunken driving during the week of Aug. 27-Sept. 2. Three were involved in traffic accidents.
So far this year on the Big Island, there have been 538 DUI arrests, a 36 percent decrease from the 835 arrested during the same period last year.
