Wildlife officials yesterday gave up their search for a snake reported a week ago near the entrance to Lihu'e Airport.

A visitor had spotted what appeared to be a live snake while driving into the airport Aug. 2. The snake was reported by a 16-year-old Mainland resident whom authorities consider a credible witness.

The Kaua'i Invasive Species Committee, state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and agencies of the state and federal Departments of Agriculture conducted six days of searches and trapping in the area, deploying 45 traps, with no success.

"There was no evidence and no confirmation from anyone else," said Karen Gundersen, project manager of the Kaua'i Invasive Species Committee.

The traps were pulled yesterday, she said.

MAUNAWILI

2 WATER MAINS UNDERGO REPAIRS

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply yesterday asked residents in upper Maunawili Valley to conserve water throughout the night as crews repaired a ruptured 12-inch main at 1040 Maunawili Loop and an 8-inch main at 1253 Pu'ualoha St.

Both breaks were reported at 1:45 p.m. yesterday. About 200 households were affected in the area from Aloha Oe Drive on up. A roving water wagon provided water to residents.

Crews also were setting up a bypass line and pumping water to replenish the drained reservoir. Coincidentally, the water board has been working to install a new main in the area to replace the old pipe.

WAHIAWA

15 ACRES SCORCHED BY BRUSHFIRES

Firefighters yesterday afternoon battled three brushfires along Kaukonahua Road that scorched a total of about 15 acres.

The biggest of the fires was on the Wai'anae side of the roadway about a half-mile from the other two fires on the Waimea and Wahiawa sides of Poamoho Estates, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada. Firefighters responded to the 5:45 p.m. alarm and had the three fires under control by 6:50 p.m.

All appear to have been deliberately set by someone lighting "jumping jack" fireworks, Tejada said.

Police closed Kaukonahua Road between Thomson Cornerand Wilikina Drive from 6:15 to 8:02 p.m.

Firefighters also put out two small brushfires on Kamehameha Highway near the water tank between Hale'iwa and Wahiawa. Those fires also appear to have been deliberately set, Tejada said.

KAPAHULU

BANK OF HAWAII BRANCH ROBBED

Bank of Hawaii's Kapahulu branch was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash yesterday by a man who handed a demand note to a teller. The robbery at 727 Kapahulu Ave. was reported to police at 12:18 p.m.

The robber was last seen on Kapahulu Avenue headed mauka on foot.

Anyone with information on the robbery can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

MAN STILL BEING HELD IN STABBING

A 32-year-old Kapahulu man arrested Sunday night for questioning about a stabbing outside his Olokele Avenue home remained in custody last night at the main police station cellblock. Police have until tonight to charge the man, who was booked for investigation of second-degree attempted murder.

A 26-year-old man was stabbed after he allegedly went to the Olokele Avenue home of his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend. The stabbing occurred after a verbal exchange escalated into a physical confrontation between the two men, police said. The injured man was taken in critical condition to The Queen's Medical Center.

WAI'ANAE

HIT-RUN SUSPECT HELD ON WARRANTS

A 21-year-old Wai'anae man who ran away Sunday morning after the car he allegedly was driving rear-ended a pickup truck near Wai'anae High School was being held on outstanding warrants unrelated to the traffic accident at the main police station cellblock.

The man was arrested about two hours after his 1992 Mazda struck the back of a pickup on Farrington Highway, about 430 feet west of Ala Akau Street. Witnesses told police the car was speeding.

Five women and a man who were in the truck were taken to The Queen's Medical Center. None has life-threatening injuries, police said.

KALIHI

MAN ARRESTED IN GUN INCIDENT

A 24-year-old Aliamanu man was arrested Monday night in Kalihi after he allegedly threatened to shoot a 49-year-old man and then fired a handgun several times into the air.

Police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Kamehameha IV Road about 8:30 p.m., where they arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening, reckless endangering and failure to properly store a firearm.

No one was injured.

MILILANI

3 TEENS SUSPECTS IN RESTROOM FIRE

Two boys, 15 and 18, and a 16-year-old girl were arrested Monday afternoon as suspects in the burning of a restroom at a park in Mililani.

Police said a park user heard an explosion and saw the three youths running from the area.

The park user called out to the teens and ordered them to stop, but only the 18-year-old boy complied, police said.

They said the park user questioned the youth, who reportedly admitted helping set the blaze.

The three suspects were released without charges pending further investigation.

AROUND THE STATE

16 VACANCIES FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

Federal officials are seeking applicants for 16 primary and alternate-seat vacancies on the advisory council of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The positions are open to the general public. There are vacant seats for those with special knowledge in education, fishing and research, plus a resident of each of the four counties and a Native Hawaiian.

The openings exist because of the expiration of council members' terms.

For an application or more information, call Keeley Belva at 397-2651 extension 248, or write to Keeley.Belva@noaa.gov. Or see hawaiihumpback whale.noaa.gov.