Neighbor island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Navy to negotiate Kaua'i beach use
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — West Kaua'i residents have complained to the county and the Navy that the beaches fronting the Pacific Missile Range Facility remain closed six months after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The missile range fronts more than six miles of white sand beach that is popular for surfing, fishing and other ocean activities. Prior to Sept. 11, the beaches were open to the public except during specific military operations.
Mayor Maryanne Kusaka has raised the issue with officials at Pearl Harbor and has arranged for Navy personnel to meet with residents to discuss the situation.
The meeting will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 1 at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center. Stanford B.C. Yuen, executive assistant in the Navy Intergovernmental Affairs Office at Pearl Harbor, will be among those present, the mayor said.
"We need to fully understand the security issues involved and then work together toward what will hopefully be an easement of the security restrictions when the time is appropriate," Kusaka said.
Maui helicopter rescues hiker
LAUNIUPOKO, Maui — The Maui Fire Department helicopter yesterday rescued a man who had become disoriented while hiking in the West Maui Mountains.
The 45-year-old man was dehydrated and dizzy after a couple of days in the wilderness and used a two-way radio to call for help, said Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro. The message was intercepted and officials were notified around 9 a.m. yesterday.
The rescue helicopter spotted the hiker in Launiupoko at an elevation of about 3,500 feet, and picked him up in a net around 10:30 a.m. Cordeiro did not have information on where the man is from.
Fumes briefly close Lihu'e Wal-Mart
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Wal-Mart store in Lihu'e was evacuated for more than an hour yesterday after several employees became ill from cleaning fluid fumes.
A contractor was using a product containing hydrochloric acid to clean a drain near the back the store when fumes overcame one employee and made at least three others ill.
All were treated at Wilcox Hospital and released yesterday afternoon.
The store was evacuated shortly before 1 p.m. The fire department ventilated the building. The store was reopened about 2 p.m.
Home fire injures Maui woman, son
MAKAWAO, Maui — A woman and her 6-year-old son suffered serious burns in a cooking oil fire Wednesday.
The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. when a pot of oil caught fire on the stove at an Apau Place home in Makawao, said Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro.
The 30-year-old woman was attempting to take the pot outside when she dropped it, spilling oil on herself and her young son who was standing next to her.
The woman suffered second- and third-degree burns on an arm and leg, and her son suffered third-degree burns on his right foot, Cordeiro said.
The two were initially treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center, but a nursing supervisor said yesterday the boy was no longer there and the woman had been transferred to an O'ahu hospital.
Hilo man charged in mall robbery
Police arrested and charged a 31-year-old Hilo man with robbery after store employees on Wednesday chased and tackled him in the Prince Kuhio Plaza parking lot.
The suspect, Jesus S. Perez, was charged with robbery, second-degree theft, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held in lieu of $5,050 bail.
Police were called at 5:35 p.m. about a theft in progress at the mall's Macy's store, where the suspect allegedly had concealed clothing valued at more than $500 in his backpack and left without paying.
