Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
MAUI
More dengue cases verified
The Department of Health has confirmed six new cases of dengue fever on Maui.
Four of the cases involve people from Hana who contracted the mosquito-borne disease last year. A fifth person is a part-time Hana resident who had the disease in August. The sixth person lives in Ha'iku, Maui, and had the disease last month.
Eighty-eight cases of dengue fever have been confirmed on Maui, 25 on O'ahu and four on Kaua'i.
BIG ISLAND
Fire destroys Big Island home
KAILUA, Hawai'i — A pre-dawn fire destroyed a home and blocked traffic at the Nani Kailua Street intersection with Queen Ka'ahumanu State Highway yesterday.
Firefighters said the Ray G. Calling family and four other families living in the uninsured home owned by Kenneth Komo were left homeless. Losses were estimated at $120,000.
A 14-year-old girl was treated for "moderate burns" and smoke inhalation, firefighters said.
Investigators said the fire, which broke out at about 3:39 a.m., was likely caused by an electrical fault near the circuit-breaker panel of the residence.
Road extension to be discussed
KEAUHOU, Hawai'i — A $2 million extension of Lako Street south of Kailua, Kona, would give Big Islanders a key mauka-makai access route during tsunami evacuations and help reduce some of the traffic congestion in South Kona, county engineers said.
Dennis Lee, chief engineer for the Department of Public Works, has scheduled a meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 27 at Kahakai Elementary School to discuss the connection between Kuakini Highway and Ali'i Drive.
The road would go through the Komohai Kai subdivision.
Lee said a draft environmental assessment is available at public libraries in Kailua, Holualoa and Keala-kekua, as well as county offices in Hilo and Kona. He said more information is available from the county's Web site.
For more information, call consultant Rodney Kawamura of Hilo Engineering Inc. at (808) 961-3706.
KAUA'I
Food, money drive begins
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Food Bank will conduct its spring food and fund drive today through April 30.
Food donations can be dropped off at any Kaua'i fire station; call the Food Bank at 246-3809 for more information, to be a volunteer or to make a donation.
The Kaua'i Food Bank provides food to more than 7,500 residents each month, three-quarters of whom are children or elderly.
Property-tax data on way
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Property owners on Kaua'i will be getting their new property assessments in the mail during the next week.
To report errors or to appeal information on the assessments, call the county Real Property Assessment Division at 241-6222.
