Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kaua'i boy dies in single-vehicle accident

A 16-year-old Lihu'e boy died early yesterday morning after he lost control of his sport utility vehicle, drove off the road and was ejected, Kaua'i police said.

Police said the crash occurred at about 2:15 a.m. on Ma'alo Road.

A 17-year-old Hanama'ulu boy who was a passenger in the vehicle was treated at Wilcox Memorial Hospital for minor injuries. The passenger was wearing a seat belt. The driver was not.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident. It was the island's sixth traffic fatality of the year.

Anti-drug program alliance announced

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Hawai'i National Guard has assigned one of its officers, a psychologist and trainer, to work with Kaua'i County's anti-drug programs.

Staff Sgt. Jessica Higa will work with county anti-drug coordinator Roy Nishida through Sept. 30. Her assignment is being paid for by federal Drug Demand Reduction money provided to the state Department of Defense.

Nishida said Higa is expected to help coordinate youth activities and build community partnerships.

HONOLULU

Interim chief sought for arboretum

The University of Hawai'i will name an interim director for the Lyon Arboretum before searching for a permanent replacement for Alan Teramura.

Teramura resigned as UH investigated allegations of mismanagement brought by staffers. The allegations include safety concerns and the loss of rare plants because of a badly planned renovation.

"He (Teramura) has done a number of things that have helped the Lyon Arboretum, but he's also done a number of things that the staff has not been in agreement with," said Charles Hayes, interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences.

A native of Los Angeles, Teramura came to UH-Manoa in 1995 as dean of the College of Natural Sciences. He became director of the arboretum in August 2001. He will retain his tenured faculty position in the botany department.