Posted on: Monday, June 14, 2004
Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
LEEWARD O'AHU
Woman dies in two-car crash
A 79-year-old woman died yesterday after a two-car accident shortly before 7 a.m. on Farrington Highway in Waipahu, police said.
The woman was driving a 1999 Toyota on Awamoku Street and crossed onto Farrington Highway heading west. At the same time, a 1997 Dodge, driven by a 29-year-old man, was heading east on Farrington Highway, and the two cars collided, police said.
The two motorists were taken to The Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition. At 12:30 p.m., the woman's status changed to critical and she suffered a heart attack and died, according to police.
Police said speed appears to be a factor in the crash.
The woman's death marked the 32nd traffic fatality so far this year, compared with 36 last year.
HONOLULU
Suspect charged in burglary
The man accused of driving a stolen car that triggered an April 22 collision that injured four people in Kapalama has been charged with first-degree burglary in a separate incident.
Ian Chang, 35, is accused of breaking into a Pensacola Street apartment on March 15. The homeowner returned home at 11:10 a.m. to find the front doorknob to his unit damaged and Chang inside, police said.
Chang is at O'ahu Community Correctional Center awaiting trial for auto theft. He allegedly was driving a stolen 2001 Ford Mustang that ran a stop sign at Bernice Street and Kapalama Avenue before sideswiping a 2004 Dodge sedan.
The collision, which was witnessed by an off-duty police officer, set off a chain reaction that caused five other vehicles to be damaged.
The auto-theft trial is scheduled to begin today at Circuit Court while a preliminary hearing for the burglary charge is scheduled for tomorrow at District Court. Chang is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail each for the burglary and auto-theft counts.
Work to begin on Kapi'olani
Road work on Kapi'olani Boulevard begins today and is likely to cause detours and delays.
The work, which includes planing and resurfacing, is expected to take six weeks or longer, depending upon the weather, according to city officials.
Crews will start from Kalakaua Avenue and move toward Date Street on the diamondhead-bound lanes, then turn around and work the other direction on the 'ewa-bound lanes. They will work Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The work is part of a project to resurface heavily traveled roads in Honolulu's urban core.
WINDWARD
Kane'ohe Lions sponsor fun fair
The Kane'ohe Makahiki Fun Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to noon July 10 at Kane'ohe District Park. Sponsored by the Kane'ohe Lions Club, the event will feature entertainment by keiki, food, carnival games, pool rides and more.
The event is also supported by Windward businesses and volunteers, and the city.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Lana'i project breaks ground
Ground was broken last week on Lana'i marking the start of construction for luxury duplex homes.
The 38 units will be priced between $2 million and $3 million and will be built along the Challenge of Manele golf course. The project is called the Palms at Manele Bay and is being developed by Island of Lanai Properties.
The units will range from 2,400 to 3,200 square feet and will have unrestricted views of Wailea and Kaho'olawe.
The first units are expected to be completed by late 2005.
Power company to close Nov. 30
The Hilo Coast Power Co. will close on Nov. 30 after more than 30 years of producing electricity for the Big Island.
The closing date coincides with the end of the company's contract with Hawaii Electric Light Co.
HELCO announced earlier this week that it would not renew its contract to buy electricity from Hilo Coast Power. It said Hilo Coast Power won't be needed because of the recent expansion of HELCO's Keahole plant in Kona.
Hilo Coast Power currently provides 22 megawatts of electricity to HELCO, a little more than 13 percent of HELCO's total supply.
The Hilo Coast plant's 15 employees will be laid off, and the equipment will be dismantled and sold, said Kent Lucien, one of two chief executive officers of the parent C. Brewer and Co.
"Quite frankly, it took me by surprise they made that decision," Lucien said. "Our unit is one of the most reliable in the system."
