HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Winds fading, forecasters say
Advertiser Staff
The strong winds that pummeled the state Sunday and early yesterday are expected to weaken tonight and become light and nearly nonexistent by Friday.
The National Weather Service yesterday afternoon canceled a wind advisory for all areas but South Kohala on the Big Island. Wind advisories are issued when there are sustained winds of 30 to 39 mph, said Tom Birchard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Birchard said it should be a little breezy today, but nothing like the 40 mph gusts that buffeted the state Sunday and sent tree limbs crashing into power lines and Hawaiian Electric Co. repair crews from job to job.
More than 9,000 HECO customers lost power at one time or another between 4:34 p.m. Sunday and 8:45 a.m. yesterday, when power was restored to the last darkened home. There were no reports of outages after 9 a.m.
On the Big Island, the strong winds caused short circuits on Hawaiian Electric Light Co. transmission lines and led to brief service interruptions. The outages affected about 6,800 customers in Hilo and Kailua-Kona.
WINDWARD
Hospital trying to ID 'Jane Doe'
Castle Medical Center is asking for the public's help in identifying a woman who was brought in early Sunday.
The woman was picked up by police in Waipahu near the freeway. She was not injured, but the hospital said she appeared to be disoriented.
The hospital said she repeatedly says the name "Linda Lum," and police do not think she is homeless.
"Jane Doe" is Asian in her 70s, 5 feet 4, 110 to 120 pounds, with short, black hair. She was found wearing brown pants and a black-and-white sweater.
Call Castle Medical Center at 263-5500.
WAIKIKI
Free seminar on long-term care
A free seminar on long-term care will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave. John Wesley Nakao of Long Term Care Advisors will discuss the facts about long-term care, including the costs, needs and impact on families. Call 923-1802.
CENTRAL
Copter rescues stranded hikers
Two hikers who spent a cold and wet night on the Manana Trail above Pacific Palisades were airlifted to safety about 8:15 a.m. yesterday by the Honolulu Fire Department helicopter.
The hikers, two women in their mid-to-late-30s, called 911 a little after 5 p.m. Sunday to say they had reached the summit but feared they would not be able to climb back down before night fell.
"The good news is they were equipped with a cell phone, but unfortunately they were not equipped with much of anything else," said Emmit Kane, a Fire Department spokesman. Kane said the hikers were advised to find a safe place to stay before darkness fell.
After the weather cleared yesterday, the helicopter brought out the hikers, their two dogs and the rescue team members sent to help them.
MAUI
Makawao DMV office reopens
MAKAWAO, Maui — The county Division of Motor Vehicles and Licensing has reopened its Makawao satellite office. The office in the Makawao Business Center is open from 8 to 10:45 a.m. and noon to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The office was closed several months due to staff shortage.
Swim center gets relief from sun
KIHEI, Maui — Two shade structures are being installed at the county's Kihei Aquatic Center. The Department of Parks and Recreation said the work is not expected to interfere with public use of the pool.
Pacific Recreation Co. was given a $78,074 contract to install a 170-foot-by-11-foot shade structure between the main pool and the training pool, with a 52-foot-by-22-foot structure to be installed over the bleachers on the Lipoa Street side of the main pool.
Gholkar & Associates was awarded a $6,800 contract for structural engineering and permit processing for the shade structures.
The work is scheduled to be completed before the 2005 Junior Pan Pacs international swim meet to be held at the Kihei pool Jan. 6 to 9, 2005.
BIG ISLAND
Open forum on environment
WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i — A forum focusing on land, the ocean and cultural traditions and how they relate to the Big Island's economic development will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott.
The Environmental and Natural Resource Conference, sponsored by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, is open to the public and will feature keynote speaker Kyle Datta of the Rocky Mountain Institute.
Panelists include historian and cultural specialist Hannah Springer, marine biologist Bill Walsh, Barry Raleigh of the University of Hawai'i School of Ocean Science and Technology, Peter Simmons of Kamehameha Schools' land management office, and Rick Gaffney of the West Hawai'i Fisheries Council.
Conference organizers say participants will be divided into working groups to develop action plans to address the environmental challenges facing the Big Island.
The fee is $35, which includes lunch. To register, contact the chamber at (808) 329-1758 or e-mail info@kona-kohala.com.
