HO'OLEHUA — Fire blackened more than 50 acres of brush south of Moloka'i's airport yesterday before it was brought under control by firefighters.

The fire was reported at about 4:30 p.m. about 2.5 miles south of the Ho'olehua Airport. It was under control an hour and a half later, fire officials said. No homes or structures were threatened.

The cause remains under investigation.

EAST HONOLULU

STORSECURE NEARS CONSTRUCTION

StorSecure, a self-storage company, will break ground on its new building July 15.

The storage facility is the latest of new construction in Hawai'i Kai. StorSecure Self-Storage @ Hawai'i Kai LLC is developing a four-story facility next to the main channel entry of Kuapa Pond just east of Roy's and Outback Steakhouse restaurants.

The 120,144-square-foot project recently began preparations for construction.

DIAMOND HEAD CLOSED MONDAY

The Diamond Head State Monument will be closed Monday for demolition and removal of the park restroom. Asbestos roofing material was used in the construction of this structure originally built in 1977. The park will be closed during the demolition and subsequent cleanup in the interest of public safety.

The restroom will be replaced by a larger facility now under construction. The new restroom is part of improvements that include a shelter at a visitor drop-off/pick-up area, new picnic tables and benches, a new irrigation system, and landscaping with native trees and shrubs.

KALIHI

FIRE DAMAGES KALIHI APARTMENT

A small fire yesterday morning caused about $8,000 in damage to an apartment in Kalihi.

The fire, at 1815 Colburn St., was reported just after 8 a.m.

Domiciano Tungpalan said he awakened to the smell of smoke and went to a bedroom where his 27-year-old son sleeps. Tungpalan said he saw smoke and flames coming from a blanket and a plastic chair in the room.

"My son and I, we fight the fire," Tungpalan said.

He said he went down the exterior stairs that lead to his son's bedroom on the second-floor of the two-story duplex, grabbed a garden hose, pulled it back up the stairs and began to shoot water on the fire, while his son grabbed a blanket and tried to smother it.

Fire officials said the fire likely was caused by a candle.

LEEWARD

THIS BARREL DIDN'T GLOW IN THE DARK

Navy officials are investigating how a steel drum that may have contained radioactive chemicals at one time ended up at the HPOWER plant.

The old 10-gallon drum with a "radioactive materials" sticker on it was found Tuesday at the power plant in the Campbell Industrial Park.

Teams from the state Department of Health, HPD and the Navy were called to the scene, but tests indicated no radioactivity above normal levels, said Russell Takata of the DOH.

The can, marked "1963" and "plutonium-beryllium," was taken by Navy officials to the Pearl Harbor Shipyard, where it was tested again and determined to be harmless.

Jason Holm, spokesman for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, said it was a case of incorrect markings.

HPOWER plant manager Robert Webster said it's a mystery how the Navy drum ended up at HPOWER.

PEARL HARBOR

MISSOURI TO OPEN LATE TOMORROW

The Battleship Missouri Memorial will have shortened hours tomorrow because of a private morning event. The Missouri will be open to the public at 12:30 p.m. The memorial usually is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 12 and younger. The Missouri also offers military and kama'aina rates. Call 423-2263, (877) MIGHTYMO, or visit www.ussmissouri.org.