SOUTH KOHALA FIRE KEEPS ROAD CLOSED

Firefighters spent a second day battling a 2,000-acre South Kohala brushfire yesterday and were expected to continue the fight overnight last night.

Mamalahoa Highway, or Highway 190, remained closed between Waikoloa Road and the Waimea airport junction most of yesterday.

Hilo-to-Kona traffic was detoured onto Kawaihae Road through Waimea.

Bulldozer operators worked to build firebreaks, and county and forestry firefighters back-burned the blaze.

About 2,000 acres had burned by late yesterday afternoon, and the road remained closed.

The fire, which was on the makai side of the highway, did not endanger any homes, but Big Island Civil Defense officials warned motorists in the area to expect traffic delays and to be alert for smoke and other fire-related hazards. Civil Defense also asked homeowners to remain vigilant.

UHH AG COLLEGE DEAN SELECTED

HILO — The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents has named William Steiner as dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo.

Also at the regents' July meeting, the board appointed Marcia Sakai dean of the College of Business and Economics at the UH-Hilo effective Aug. 1.

For the past decade Steiner has served as director of the Pacific Islands Ecosystems Research Center in Honolulu. The Center conducts federal research on the living natural resources in the Pacific Basin for the U.S. Department of Interior, the Department of Defense, and the state and counties.

Steiner has been adjunct professor at UH-Manoa since 1995, and is an associate in research with the Bishop Museum. He also serves on the state's Hawai'i Endangered Species Review Committee.

Steiner will assume his new duties in September.

Sakai, a professor in tourism and economics, has been interim dean since 2004. She previously served as director of the college, director of the School of Business Administration and chairwoman of the Division of Business and Economics at UH-Hilo.

EAST HONOLULU

KA IWI SHORELINE TO BE DISCUSSED

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will discuss its plans for the Ka Iwi Shoreline, and the developer of the cemetery in Kamiloniu Valley will present its plans at the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria.

O'AHU

DIVER IMPALED IN STOMACH BY FISH

A 19-year-old Mililani man is recovering at The Queen's Medical Center after being impaled by what he says was a barracuda.

Tonga Piu Loumoli was night diving off Kahana Bay near Ka'a'awa late Thursday night when a 4-foot-long fish charged into his stomach. The fish wiggled loose, but left behind a 6-inch-long gash and a tooth.

A fishing buddy put Loumoli in a small dinghy and dragged him nearly a mile to shore and flagged down a police officer who called for help.

Marine expert Craig Thomas said he has never heard of a barracuda charging into a swimmer. He said it seems more likely that Loumoli was impaled by a needlefish.

But Loumoli and his fishing companion, Braven Rivera, said it was a barracuda.

Loumoli was in serious condition, being treated for a liver injury. He was on a machine to help his breathing and could not talk.

But he scribbled a note to his mother and sister saying, "I'm going to quit diving."