O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Biker rescued after accident
Firefighters and paramedics assisted a mountain biker yesterday who crashed on a trial from Wa'ahila State Park at the top of St. Louis Heights.
The trail is a popular downhill run for bikers, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The biker was the second firefighters have assisted there this year.
The man, in his 20s, appeared to have a compound fracture to his left leg, Tejada said.
Firefighters hiked down the trail to reach him, while paramedics rode up in a truck driven by the biker's friends.
Emergency personnel worked together to immobilize the man and place him aboard the truck.
Paramedics then took him to The Queen's Medical Center.
New Democrat facility opens
Hawai'i Democrats opened a new party headquarters at 770 Kapi'olani Blvd. yesterday with chili, rice, stew and soft drinks for about 200.
"Our new location is more convenient for our party members," said executive director Chris Ovitt. The headquarters formerly was on Ward Avenue.
Gov. Ben Cayetano, House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate Vice President Colleen Hanabusa were among party luminaries attending a special blessing.
Discuss kids' legal issues
The state judiciary is sponsoring a free public informational session on "Children's Legal Issues" from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Supreme Court Courtroom at 417 S. King St.
Chunmay Chang, a lawyer specializing in family law, will talk about child support and custody issues.
For details call the judiciary's public affairs office at 539-4909.
WINDWARD
Eight companies called to blaze
Difficult access and confusion over addresses resulted in eight fire companies responding to a fire that destroyed a storage shed on a Kane'ohe betel nut farm late Saturday, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Firefighters had to hike across a ravine from Apapani Street with their hoses to reach the area, because a driveway from Kamehameha Highway was too narrow for fire trucks, he said.
Because of the delay, the woman who first reported the fire at 45-510 Kamehameha Highway called again to say that no one had responded, prompting dispatchers to send additional units, Tejada said.
Five companies fought the fire, which caused $15,000 damage to the storage shed, and $5,000 to contents including power equipment stored in the building.
LEEWARD
Barrels dumped in Wai'anae
Polluters dumped seven 55-gallon containers and auto parts near the entrance to Navy property on Lualualei Homestead Road near Ma'ili'ili Road in Wai'anae, the fire department reported yesterday.
One of the barrels had tipped over and was leaking what appeared to be acetone or paint thinner when firefighters got a hazardous materials call at 11:55 a.m., Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said.
Four fire trucks responded, and a hazardous materials crew secured the site for the state Department of Health's emergency environmental response team.
Only two of the seven barrels contained any material, Tejada said.
