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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

NEIGHBOR ISLAND

21 arrested in Maui drug raids

WAILUKU, Maui — The Hawai'i Narcotics Task Force has arrested 21 people and seized drugs and guns in raids at 11 homes on Maui this week.

Search warrants were executed at five homes in Kahului, three in Wailuku and three in Kihei. Sixteen men and four women were arrested, along with a 16-year-old girl, by task force members including Maui, Kaua'i and Big Island police, Hawai'i National Guard members and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

The suspects were released without charges while the investigation continues.

The task force seized $40,000, eight guns and a silencer, a 1998 Volkswagen sedan and methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, crack cocaine and prescription painkillers worth more than $31,000.



EAST HONOLULU

Koko fire traced to gun range

Firefighters have determined that the 100-acre brush fire on Koko Head Crater on Nov. 2 was caused by a spark from the rifle range, said Hawai'i Kai Fire Department Capt. Robert Thomas.

A spark caused by friction from a bullet hitting a metal target landed in dense brush at the Koko Head Shooting Complex, over the ridge from the fire.



HONOLULU

Some downtown lights still dark

Street lights on Fort Street Mall, Hotel Street and parts of Nu'uanu were still out yesterday after a transformer vault that powered most lights in the downtown area blew out on Friday.

City crews were able to restore most lights in other areas by rewiring around the damage, said Carol Costa, city spokeswoman.

The city plans to rent a generator to power the remaining lights while it works on a permanent repair with the parts manufacturer and the electric company, she said.



5,000 waiting for phone repair

About 5,000 telephone customers statewide were without service yesterday, Verizon officials said, in the wake of recent rain storms. While most lines were to be repaired within 48 hours, others will take longer, Verizon said.

Residential customers experiencing telephone problems should dial 611 to report them. Large business customers on O'ahu should dial 643-6633 .



Fund raising may be scam

Police are warning of a possible telemarketing scam that involves donation requests for magazine ads on behalf of the Association of Retired Fire Fighters and/or the Disabled and Retired Fire Fighters.

The Hawai'i Fire Fighters Association is not affiliated with either organization, and the Honolulu Fire Department is not aware of any fund-raising efforts by the retired group. Other solicitations that may be bogus offer firefighter badges or decals for contributions, police said.