O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

HONOLULU

Pali Highway to remain dark

The streetlights along a nearly mile-long curved stretch of Pali Highway on the Kailua side of the tunnels will remain out for another month.

Motorists have complained that driving the highway after dark is dangerous, especially when rainy weather cuts visibility.

An aging transformer powering the lights failed three weeks ago and will be replaced by a new one from Hawaiian Electric Co. in about a month, Department of Transportation officials said.

UH creates building office

The University of Hawai'i is creating a new office to oversee campus construction projects — a major step in the university's move to realize the autonomy given two years ago by voters.

The UH Board of Regents on Friday approved the establishment of an Office of Capital Improvements. It is expected to be headed by UH construction chief Allan Ah San, who will report directly to the president.

The office will be responsible for administering all campus building projects, including planning, design and construction of all physical facilities.

The university gained autonomy in November 2000 through a constitutional amendment, taking the bidding and construction process for all UH buildings out of the purview of the State Department of Accounting and General Services.

LEEWARD

Wai'anae house burns to ground

Firefighters battled a two-alarm house fire last night at 85-576 Wai'anae Valley Road.

The first fire company on scene at the 8:55 p.m. alarm reported the structure was fully involved but the occupants were safely out. Seven fire companies joined in the fight and brought the blaze under control by 9:20 p.m.

A fire investigator was called to the house to determine the cause, and firefighters were still estimating the damage late last night.

The Red Cross was called to assist the six people who lived there, three of whom were home at the time of the fire but escaped unharmed. The house was burned to the ground. No firefighters were injured.