Posted on: Thursday, July 22, 2004
Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
LEEWARD
Three in 'Ewa Beach lose home to fire
A fire gutted an 'Ewa Beach home last night, leaving three people homeless.
The fire at 91-772 Makule Road was reported at 8:31 p.m. and brought under control at 8:54 p.m.
Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Emmit Kane said most of the home's interior was destroyed.
Two women and a man lived at the home, but they were not injured. The American Red Cross was called to assist them.
The cause of the fire and a damage estimate were not available last night, Kane said.
HONOLULU
H-1 on-ramp to be closed
The Lunalilo Street on-ramp to the H-1 Freeway will be closed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. tonight, the state Transportation Department said.
The ramp will be closed to prepare it for the on-ramp modification demonstration project set to begin Aug. 9.
Under the three-month project, the ramp will not be used to access the 'ewabound freeway during the morning rush hours.
Transportation officials hope closing the ramp will relieve morning rush-hour congestion on the freeway.
State ID office to close for two days
The State Identification Office will be closed July 28 and 29 to allows staff training time for a new ID system that is being installed, according to the attorney general's office.
The identification office, at 465 S. King St. at the intersection with Punchbowl Street, will open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Aug. 14, to make up for some of the inconvenience to the public. Call 587-3122.
Waikiki plans to be opposed
Sidewalk demonstrations will be held at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and at 8 a.m. tomorrow along Ala Wai Boulevard to protest beautification work scheduled to begin next month.
Residents say the project will remove 60 parking spaces and disrupt the flow of traffic making it difficult for emergency vehicles to respond to needs in Waikiki.
The city has said a new parking lot at Seaside Avenue and Aloha Drive will offset the loss of stalls along the Ala Wai and construction work will take place only in specific areas to limit traffic disruptions.
For more information, call Bob Kessler at 922-6188.
WINDWARD
Musical seeks performers
Musical director Ron Bright will conduct auditions for "Big River," a musical based on Mark Twain's story of Huckleberry Finn, at 7 p.m. Aug. 9, 10 and 11 at Paliku Theatre on the Windward Community College campus in Kane'ohe.
More than 40 parts are available, from teens to seniors.
Auditioners should bring sheet music to a song they have memorized. Script excerpts will be provided.
The production will open Oct. 8 and run weekends through Nov. 7.
For more information, call the theater office at 235-7330, or visit www.Paliku.com.
EAST HONOLULU
Blood drive set for Saturday
The Hawai'i Kai Cares Blood Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Hawai'i Kai.
The church, at Kalaniana'ole Highway and Lunalilo Home Road, is a co-sponsor, with the Hawai'i Kai Lions, Jaycees and the Rotary Club.
For more information call the Blood Bank of Hawai'i at 845-9966 or Blood Drive coordinator Cynthia Bond at 395-4242.
CENTRAL
Kunia brushfire flares up again
Firefighters yesterday returned to Kunia after a brushfire flared up.
The fire, off Kunia Road near the Hawai'i Country Club, began July 14 and has burned about 220 acres. The fire also has threatened endangered species at the Honouliuli Forest Reserve.
Firefighters contained the blaze Tuesday, but they returned yesterday at about 12:45 p.m.
"It's not a large area that's involved," said HFD Capt. Emmit Kane. "It's actually in between two burned-out areas down in a gully."
Four engine companies, two tankers and the Air One helicopter were sent to battle the hot spot.
