Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

BIG ISLAND

Road extension ready in Hilo

HILO, Hawai'i — The $9.4 million Moho'uli extension in Hilo will open to traffic at noon tomorrow.

The 1.4-mile road traverses the developing neighborhood of Sunrise Ridge and connects the communities of Lower Kaumana/'Ainako with the existing Moho'uli Street. Motorists are advised to drive cautiously through the area because of new traffic patterns.

Tomorrow's road opening will be preceded by a 9:30 a.m. ceremony at the Moho'uli-Kukuau intersection.

Laundry-room fire sweeps Puna home

An apparent laundry-room explosion late Friday night caused a fire that destroyed much of a Big Island home in the Kea'au area of Puna.

The fire resulted in an estimated $150,000 in damage to the two-story, Mountain View home belonging to Paul Crawford, according to the Hawai'i County Fire Department.

A report filed by Capt. Steven Narikiyo said Crawford was sleeping upstairs when he heard "a rumbling type of explosion and went downstairs to find his laundry room in flames."

The fire was extinguished by 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

Isbell running in West Hawai'i

KEALAKEKUA, Hawai'i — Former state Rep. Virginia Isbell has announced her candidacy for the new West Hawai'i Senate seat created by the recent reapportionment.

The seat covers all of West Hawai'i except Waimea.

Isbell, 70, is running as a Democrat.