HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Maui helicopter begins service

Advertiser Staff

WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County's new helicopter ambulance is finally in service and awaiting its first emergency call.

The helicopter became operational Saturday morning, more than three weeks after the service was launched at a blessing. Officials said there were delays in finalizing flight rules and procedures, obtaining insurance and training, among other things.

The government-subsidized helicopter, which will serve Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i, will be stationed at Kahului Airport, with paramedics at Kula Fire Station and a backup crew in Wailea. It will be the first air ambulance to serve the county since a private firm, Mercy Air, left the islands in the mid-'90s, saying there wasn't enough business to support the service.

Firefighter given highest honor

NAPILI, Maui — The Maui County Fire and Public Safety Commission awarded its highest honor, the Kahu Ola Award, to firefighter James Brent for becoming a bone marrow donor.

Brent

"Kahu ola" means "guardian of life," and the honor is awarded by the commission to a firefighter or community member whose actions result in the saving of another human life.

LEEWARD

Harbor pact hearing set

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be holding a public hearing tonight at Asing Park in 'Ewa Beach on a proposed "safe harbor agreement" for Chevron Hawaii to maintain six acres of stilt nesting habitat and five acres for stilt and coot foraging at the refinery's open-water ponds, which are surrounded by tanks that store crude oil and petroleum products.

The two-hour hearing begins at 7 p.m.

The proposed safe-harbor agreement is for six years. Private owners who implement conservation efforts for certain species will not be subjected to increased property-use restrictions if their efforts increase the numbers or distribution of those species on their property.

The proposed agreement and other associated documents are available at the Hawai'i State Main Library, the Kapolei Public Library, DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Honolulu, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife office in Honolulu, and online at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/index.html

DLNR is accepting comments on the proposal until Oct. 22, while the deadline for public comment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is Thursday.

CENTRAL

HPOWER plant open to public

The city is sponsoring an open house Saturday at the HPOWER garbage-to-energy plant in Kapolei, which may be expanded soon.

The plant typically processes more than 2,000 tons of waste per day, and the planned addition of a third boiler would increase its capacity by 20 percent, according to city officials.

HPOWER began operating in 1990 with the goal of reducing the amount of garbage dumped in the city's landfill. The expansion is needed to further limit dumping, officials say.

The open house will be Saturday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending must register in advance by calling 945-1122. You can also register online at www.honolulupower.com.

Parade to slow Salt Lake traffic

Traffic will be slowed Friday in the Salt Lake area from 3 to 3:50 p.m. due to the annual Moanalua High School homecoming parade.

The parade will begin at the school's Ala Ilima Street entrance near the Salt Lake fire station, cross over Ala Napunani Street and proceed down into the condominium area, turn right on Ala Nanala Street, right on Likini Street, left onto Ala Napunani and back to the school.

Police will be stopping traffic on the parade route.

Man charged in limousine theft

Viavia Manuma, 40, was charged with auto theft and drunken driving for allegedly taking a limousine away from its driver Saturday night in Pearl City.

The driver told police he pulled up to a business on Kamehameha Highway to pick up a passenger for a client of his and got out of the limo, leaving his door open and the motor running, to help load the passenger and his belongings into the car.

The driver was walking around the car when he heard the driver's door close and saw the limousine speed away, striking a parked car as it left.

The driver then called police, who found the car in a parking lot off Ka'ahumanu Street, with its motor running and a man in the driver's seat who appeared to be intoxicated.

HONOLULU

Grant will train first responders

Hawai'i will receive a grant of nearly $89,000 from the federal government to improve response to hazardous materials transportation incidents, the federal Transportation Department announced yesterday.

The money will be used to train firefighters, police and other first responders on how to deal with hazardous materials accidents, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said.

The money was part of $12.8 million distributed to state agencies across the country through the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness program, funded by fees paid by shippers and carriers.

Drama students in Scotland trip

Saint Louis School's drama program will be performing in Edinburgh, Scotland in August as part of the Fringe Festival.

Saint Louis was one of 50 programs selected from a field of 1,100 to represent the United States.

At least 24 students will participate, with cast members drawn from several public and private schools.

The program was selected by the American High School Theatre Festival Board of Advisors based on its most recent bodies of work, awards, community involvement, philosophies and recommendations.

The drama program will be fund-raising for the trip and donations are welcome. Call 739-4800 for more information.