LA'IE — A man in his 50s drowned yesterday afternoon while swimming by the popular surf spot called Pounders near La'ie, firefighters said.

The man, who was visiting Hawai'i with his wife, daughter and two sons, was pulled from the ocean by bystanders, said HFD Capt. Kenison Tejada. The beach where the man was swimming does not have lifeguards. He was pronounced dead at Kahuku Hospital.

BIG ISLAND

MAN DROWNS OFF POLOLU BEACH

A man drowned off Pololu Valley Beach yesterday morning, despite CPR efforts by family members and bystanders, firefighters said.

It was unknown if the man was a resident or a tourist or how old he was. He was pronounced dead at Kohala Hospital.

LANA'I

GROUPS SEARCH FOR ELDERLY MAN

Police, firefighters, Hawai'i Air National Guard troops, Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel and residents searched yesterday for a missing 77-year-old Lana'i resident who suffers from dementia.

Robert "Bobby" Amaral was last seen on Friday wearing a light blue T-shirt, dark blue/grey pajama pants, running shoes and a blue cap.

Call the Maui Police Department Lana'i station at (808) 244-6496.

MAUI

STATE RELEASES $4.1M FOR PROJECT

Gov. Linda Lingle released $4.1 million for the expansion of the emergency and urgent care unit at the Maui Memorial Medical Center — the oldest and largest acute care facility of the Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation.

The project will expand the facility by adding nine new patient rooms, increase the size of the public waiting room and improve the triage and support areas.

Earlier this year, the governor released $3.1 million for renovation and expansion of Hilo's emergency room.

EX-MAYOR APANA WILL RUN AGAIN

WAILUKU — Former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana has resigned as chairman of the local Democratic Party unit to take another run at the county's top post in 2006.

Apana, 43, was upset in his 2002 re-election bid, losing to former councilman Alan Arakawa.

Apana said he has gotten a clean bill of health from his doctor to take on the rigors of a campaign after undergoing two heart surgeries in recent years.

"When you have a near-death experience you start to look at life differently," Apana said.

Maui Democratic Party vice chairman John Sucich will serve as acting chairman until a new leader is elected Aug. 16.

O'AHU

FREEWAY TO CLOSE FOR RESURFACING

Parts of the westbound Moanalua Freeway will be closed because of resurfacing work between tonight and Wednesday morning: