Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Sumo proposed to promote Big Isle
HILO, Hawai'i — State Rep. Helene Hale wants to renew Pahoa's sumo heritage as a way to revive Japanese tourism following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
She said that playing up the fact there used to be a sumo ring in the area and that an old community theater shares its name with Hawai'i-born sumo champion Akebono may strike a chord with potential Japanese visitors.
Hale, D-4th (Ka'u-Puna), and other politicians and business leaders yesterday shared with Gov. Ben Cayetano their ideas for keeping the Big Island's economy afloat. The closed-door meeting took place at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.
Cayetano said he was not able to respond immediately to Mayor Harry Kim's economy-related proposals submitted to the governor earlier in the week.
Honomu man dies, 2 hurt in crash
HILO, Hawai'i — A 44-year-old man died and two others were seriously injured in a head-on collision Wednesday on Mamalahoa Highway near the 46-mile marker in Hamakua.
Dennis J. Langston of a Honomu, the driver of a 1988 Honda Prelude, died at 8:37 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center.
Police said the collision happened about three hours earlier when Langston's Hilo-bound car crossed the center line and hit a 1990 Jeep pickup driven by Mark Weiner, 50, of Waimea.
Weiner and his front-seat passenger, John Gildroy, 49, also of Waimea, were taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where Gildroy was reported in stable condition.
Weiner was flown in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
There have been 21 traffic fatalities in Hawai'i County this year, compared with 30 at this time last year.
Arts center opens in Wailuku
WAILUKU, Maui — The Dragon Arts Center, the newest transformation of an old building in Wailuku, will open tonight with a celebration and blessing.
The former Maui Dry Goods Automotive building at 1980 Main St. has been remodeled by Starr Equities into an arts center, featuring art shops and an Internet cafe.
The grand opening from 5 to 11 p.m. also will kick off First Friday Wailuku Art Walk. The monthly showcase of Wailuku's growing art scene will be on the first Friday night of each month.
