Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

MAUI

New York woman drowns near Hana

HANA — A woman from New York drowned Saturday after falling into a stream and being washed out to sea, Maui fire officials said.

The accident occurred near Hana at the Seven Sacred Pools, or 'Ohe'o Gulch, inside Haleakala National Park.

The 42-year-old and a friend were taking pictures when she slipped and fell into rushing Pipiwai Stream, officials said. A man who was with her jumped into the water to try to rescue her, but she was swept away.

The man managed to cling to a rock at the mouth of 'Ohe'o Gulch for 90 minutes before he was rescued by fire personnel.

Firefighters pulled the woman from the ocean just outside the gulch. She was pronounced dead at Hana Medical Center.

The case was being investigated by national park rangers.

Drainage system to be installed

OMA'OPIO, Maui — Goodfellow Brothers Inc. will begin work Wednesday on drainage improvements to Pulehu Road, about a half-mile mauka of the Oma'opio Road intersection.

Although the road will remain open, motorists are being advised to use an alternate route during construction.

The $664,000 project involves installation of a new drainage system and repaving of a portion of Pulehu Road.

The work is expected to be completed by October.

Kealia plans to be discussed

KIHEI, Maui — Plans to further protect the coastal dune system at Kealia Beach will be discussed at a public meeting at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

The proposal calls for placing boulders along a section of the beach to keep vehicles out while allowing pedestrian access. The action is necessary to prevent vandalism and trash-dumping in the area, said officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the Kealia National Wildlife Refuge.

Other parties involved in the project are the community group Halau Maui Nui o Kama and Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

The meeting will be at Milepost 3 along Kealia Beach, next to the Kealia Resort at 191 N. Kihei Road.