Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fire burns office at Wilcox School
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Firefighters last night extinguished a blaze that burned the office building at Wilcox Elementary School in downtown Lihu'e.
The cause of the fire was not known last night. The fire started after dark and firefighters had the flames under control by 9:15 p.m., before it could spread to adjacent buildings.
Wilcox is the island's main elementary school. No damage estimate was available last night.
Wave surge kills visitor on Kaua'i
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A visitor was killed yesterday morning after being washed by a large wave from the rock shelf at Queen's Bath, an area that Mayor Maryanne Kusaka's administration last year sought to close to public access because of the hazard.
The 68-year-old California man was part of a group hit by the wave. Several of the group's members suffered scrapes from rocks. The victim's body was recovered about 100 yards from shore by a lifeguard in a jet-powered watercraft.
Meetings set on longline project
Planners working on an environmental impact statement for a program to limit the effect of longline fishing on sea turtles will hold meetings in Hilo and Honolulu.
The project by the National Marine Fisheries Service will test a range of alternatives for reducing the deaths of threatened and endangered turtles caused by longline fishing fleets.
The scoping meetings will be held at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the Kilohana Room of the Hawai'i Naniloa Hotel in Hilo and at 6 p.m. April 9 at Paki Hale at 3840 Paki Ave. near Kapi'olani Park in Honolulu.
To submit written comments, or to be included on a mailing list to receive information, contact Christofer Boggs, NMFS Honolulu Laboratory, 2570 Dole St., Honolulu HI 96822, or call Wende Goo at 983-5303.
LEEWARD O'AHU
Kapolei library opens tomorrow
The long-awaited Kapolei Library Reading Room will open with a 2 p.m ceremony at the facility tomorrow.
The facility has never had books because the state Legislature has yet to provide money for them. The temporary reading room will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, using donated books. Patrons can read, borrow or purchase the books. Call 689-3185.
WINDWARD O'AHU
Waimanalo road median to go up
Work will begin tomorrow to install about 600 feet of concrete barriers near an accident scene in Waimanalo where Ramus Seabury, 62, was killed Feb. 23 after another vehicle crossed the center line and collided with his vehicle.
Royal Contracting will install the barriers in the median about 200 feet above the entrance to Olomana Golf Links. Officials said the project will cost less $25,000.
Correction: The hours of the Kapolei Library Reading Room are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 2 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. Incorrect hours were listed in a previous version of these briefs.
