Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

KAUA'I

Unidentified body found at beach

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police recovered the body of an unidentified man yesterday afternoon at Fujii Beach in Kapa'a.

Detectives were still investigating the case late yesterday, and had not determined the cause of death.

Police believe the man might have been a tourist.

Valenciano joins Kaua'i mayor's race

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i County Councilman Randal Valenciano yesterday became the third council member to announce his candidacy for the mayor's seat.

Valenciano, an attorney in private practice, has served 12 years on the council. He was elected as a Democrat before county elections became nonpartisan.

Council chairman Ron Kouchi and Bryan Baptiste also are running for mayor.

Mayor Maryanne Kusaka is completing her second four-year term and is not eligible to run for a third.

MAUI

Maui tire-dumping remains unsolved

KAHULUI, Maui — An investigation into the dumping of 56 tires on the Ma'alaea shoreline has reached a dead end, a state conservation official said yesterday.

Maui branch chief Randy Awo of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement said no new leads have surfaced in the probe, which began after the tires were discovered Jan. 12.

The tires apparently were discarded at the end of a residential road off Honoapi'ilani Highway. The state had to hire a contractor to remove them. State officials described it as the largest shoreline dumping incident of its kind on Maui.

The investigation included visits to businesses to check on their tire-disposal procedures.

A county ordinance prohibits dumping tires in landfills. Used tires must be shipped off-island for disposal. State laws also govern tire disposal.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Awo's office at (808) 984-8110.