Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

HONOLULU

Holiday drivers spared roadwork

The state Transportation Department is giving holiday shoppers a break this weekend.

The department said it will suspend roadwork from tomorrow through Monday so drivers can have an uninterrupted trip to grandma's house or the shopping mall.

Regular roadwork that involves closing one or more lanes of traffic will be halted during the period, transportation officials said.

Among the areas where lane closures will be suspended:

• H-1, H-2 and H-3 freeways;
• Kalaniana'ole Highway, from Kahala Mall to Lunalilo Home Road;
• Kamehameha Highway, from Acacia Road to Valkenburg Street;
• Nimitz Highway and Ala Moana Boulevard, from Valkenburg Street to Kalakaua Avenue;
• Kalihi Street/Likelike Highway, from Nimitz Highway to Kamehameha Highway;
• Pali Highway/Kailua Road, from Vineyard Boulevard to Kailua town;
• Vineyard Boulevard, from Palama Street to Punchbowl Street;
• Kamehameha Highway from Kane'ohe to Kahuku.
• Moanalua Freeway;
• Kahekili Highway.
  
  
  

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Vandals, thieves strike in Hilo

HILO, Hawai'i — Several businesses on Maka'ala Street in Hilo were targeted by burglars and vandals over the weekend.

Early Saturday morning, thieves attempted to break into several warehouses and auto repair shops, said community policing officer John Pagay. They managed to get into one of the businesses and stole a number of custom silk-screened T-shirts and other items. Before leaving the area, they punctured several vehicle tires, Pagay said.

Then late Sunday or early yesterday, vandals sprayed graffiti and caused other damage to properties along Maka'ala Street. Pagay said it is not known if the vandalism is related to the earlier break-ins.

Anyone with information about the crimes should call Pagay at (808) 961-8892, the police nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.

WINDWARD O'AHU

Kahuku projects to be discussed

The state will hold an informational meeting next week to discuss the Kamehameha Highway drainage improvements project near Kahuku Hospital and the replacement of Ki'i Bridge.

The meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Kahuku Village Association Community Center, 56-576 Kamehameha Highway.

The project is necessary to help solve flooding problems in the area, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Work will include building a reinforced concrete box culvert at Hospital Ditch, near Kahuku Hospital, and replacing Ki'i Bridge. To request special accommodations, call Leslie Kurisaki at 944-8848.