Posted on: Friday, September 17, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Missile site adds $23M facility
Advertiser Staff
MANA, Kaua'i — The Defense Department's Missile
Defense Agency this week opened a $23.4 million complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility that will support Terminal High Altitude Area Defense testing scheduled to begin in 2006.
The project includes a launcher, radar foundations, block house and support facilities.
While other programs in the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System aim at intercepting incoming enemy missiles in the earlier stages of their flights, THAAD is designed to shoot down missiles in the final phase of their trajectories.
THAAD flight tests initially will be at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, but will move to Kaua'i once the program requires "more robust objectives that cannot be accommodated at (White Sands) because of geographical constraints," the Missile Defense Agency said in a press release.
A problem in providing proper public notice of yesterday's planned Kona meeting of the Hawai'i Island Burial Council forced officials to cancel the meeting and reschedule it for Thursday at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. The meeting to discuss burials in the path of the planned Ali'i Highway project near Kailua was expected to draw a large crowd.
The burial council voted in July to reject a request by county officials to remove burials in the highway's path, which would run between Keauhou and Kailua town.
The county's request to reconsider the decision was on yesterday's agenda.
County officials contend that leaving the remains in place would force them to redesign the highway project, which could kill or delay it. Federal money for the highway is scheduled to lapse in October, and county officials say they must put the project out to bid before then to preserve the financing.
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Maui — National parks across the country are flying their flags at half staff in honor of Maui park ranger Suzanne "Suzi" E. Roberts, 36, who died Tuesday when she was struck by a boulder while attempting to remove rocks on the road in the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park.
Roberts was the ninth National Park Service ranger to die in the line of duty since the early 1970s.
The Department of the Interior also authorized park service staff to wear black bands on badges and mourning devices on civilian clothes until her funeral. Services have not been announced.
Through generous grants from the Friends of Hawaii Charities and Beta Beta Gamma Foundation, 14 scholarships are available for American Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training.
The course provides students with the fundamentals for safe and knowledgeable caregiving as a nurse assistant in the long-term healthcare setting and includes lecture, about 70 hours of laboratory work and about 30 hours of clinical experience.
Scholarships are available for day and evening classes on O'ahu and the Big Island. For information on how to apply, call the Hawai'i Red Cross at 739-8123 or 739-8132.
For information on supporting the lifesaving work of the Red Cross in Hawaii, contact the American Red Cross, Hawai'i State Chapter, at 739-8105 or make a secure online donation at www.hawaiiredcross.org.
One town-bound lane of Kalaniana'ole Highway from Kapa'a Quarry Road to Castle Junction will be closed from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday, the state Transportation Department warned motorists yesterday.
The work is part of an on-going $13 million project to restore the right-turn lane in the stretch of roadway that was lost to last year's landslides, DOT said.
When the project is completed in November, the right-turn lane toward Kane'ohe will be lengthened and widened to 12 feet. An 8-foot shoulder lane and a 6-foot gutter for drainage also will be added.
Burial Council resets meeting
Parks lower flags to honor ranger
Red Cross offers nurse training
Kalaniana'ole lane to be closed
