Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

HONOLULU

Police want line besides 911

Fewer than 40 percent of 911 calls to police are emergencies, and the Honolulu Police Department has begun drumming up support for a separate 311 number for nonemergencies.

The Neighbor Islands have seven-digit numbers for nonemergency problems, but in Honolulu all calls go to 911, overwhelming dispatchers, police say.

A City Council committee approved a resolution yesterday supporting the separate phone line, which police say will cost $1 million to $5 million to launch.

The resolution will go before the full council Sept. 25, with a proposal brought to the state Legislature when it convenes next year.

Police will ask lawmakers to approve a monthly surcharge on each phone line to help pay for the service. Verizon currently adds a 27-cent surcharge to each phone line for 911 service.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Suspicious mail reported

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — An area of Puhi was evacuated yesterday after a resident reported receiving a piece of mail containing an unknown substance.

The Leleiona Street resident called authorities about 10:40 a.m., and police evacuated the immediate area, said county spokeswoman Beth Tokioka. Members the Kaua'i Fire Department's hazardous materials team turned over the substance to the Department of Health for testing, and the area was reopened at 2:30 p.m.

Police are investigating the case for possible criminal charges, Tokioka said.