Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
Kapa'a man dies of crash injuries
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A Kapa'a man has died of injuries sustained May 29 when he was thrown from his car in a one-car accident on Rice Street.
Sterling Kalama Nobriga, 31, was alone in the car, which police said was speeding. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt.
Suspect arrested in Waikiki assault
A 47-year-old man was arrested Thursday in connection with the alleged assault and robbery of a Japanese national who works as a flight attendant.
Police were called after security at the Princess Ka'iulani Hotel caught the suspect at 3:30 p.m.
The female victim said she was riding the elevator to her room in the hotel when the suspect allegedly attacked her, causing a minor abrasion, police said.
Lighting problem in Pali tunnels
Transportation officials hope that an aging transformer in the Pali tunnels doesn't go the way of a similar one that blew out in 2000, leaving Kailua-bound motorists without lighting for five months until a replacement could be brought from the Mainland.
To reduce the load on the transformer, workers have cut back on lighting in the tunnels since Wednesday.
Lights in the Kailua-bound tunnels were out again Thursday night, but transportation officials said yesterday they weren't aware of the problem and would check it out.
The state Department of Transportation is evaluating its options concerning the tunnel lights, including replacing the whole system, but that would be expensive, spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said.
In the meantime, motorists are being warned by portable message signs on each side of the Pali Tunnels about the reduced lighting.
"Our big concern is if the transformer blows, it will be a total blackout," said Kali, who declined to estimate how long it would take to decide on a solution. The 50-year-old transformer doesn't meet voltage standards anymore, Kali said.
Police to set up driver checkpoints
Honolulu police will conduct impaired-driver checkpoints throughout the summer to deter alcohol- and/or drug-impaired drivers.
The checkpoints started yesterday and will continue through Aug. 19.
As of yesterday, 27 people have died on O'ahu this year as a result of traffic accidents, equal to the 27 traffic-related deaths during the same period last year.
