Posted on: Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
CENTRAL O'AHU
H-1 'ewabound lane closed daily
The right lane of the H-1 Freeway in the 'ewabound direction will be closed between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. daily about 1,000 feet before the Pearl City off-ramp as part of the freeway widening project, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The closure began overnight and will last as long as the contractor is working in the area, which is expected to be at least a month.
A section of the right lane may be closed 24 hours a day, and concrete barriers will remain in the lane.
HONOLULU
Museum status to be reviewed
A panel that monitors protections for native burials will review whether the Bishop Museum qualifies as a "Native Hawaiian organization" under federal law.
The federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee yesterday decided to place the issue on its agenda for its next meeting, tentatively set for Sept. 18 and 19 in Washington, D.C.
That decision was made during a teleconference, with a Honolulu link set up in the local office of the National Park Service, the agency that administers the burials law.
Last month museum officials asserted that Bishop Museum qualifies as a Native Hawaiian organization under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and thus can make claims on cultural objects.
Man critically injured in crash
A man was critically injured last night when his car crashed into a pickup truck in Kalihi.
Police said the man was driving south on Likelike Highway at about 9:15 p.m. when he crossed into the oncoming lanes and slammed into the truck near Kula Kolea Drive. He suffered head injuries and was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.
Two people in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries, police said.
KAUA'I
Ice valued at $55,000 seized
Kaua'i police seized 110.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine and $9,600 in cash in a July 2 raid at a Lihu'e home. Police also recovered 1.1 grams of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana.
The street value of the crystal meth, or ice, is estimated at $55,000.
Cresanto Tangonan, 44, faces drug charges. He was released after posting $22,050 bail.
BIG ISLAND
Rx Plus sign-up drive under way
State Department of Human Services officials are in Kona today to enroll Big Island residents in the new Hawai'i Rx Plus program that offers discounted drugs to consumers.
Enrollment is free. State officials estimate about 300,000 people are eligible statewide.
"We need to enroll as many people as possible so we can use those numbers to negotiate greater discounts with drug manufacturers," said Human Services Director Lillian Koller.
The first phase of the program will allow enrollees to buy drugs at Medicaid prices from participating pharmacies. During the second phase, the state hopes to negotiate rebates from manufacturers that will result in discounts to consumers.
Volunteers and state officials will be signing up participants at Oshima's Pharmacy in Kealakekua from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., and at Longs Drugs in Kailua from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, contact the governor's West Hawai'i liaison at (808) 327-4953.
