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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, June 26, 2005

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Brushfire closes section of road

Advertiser Staff

Kaukonahua Road from Thompson Corner to Wilikina Drive was closed yesterday for more than an hour as Honolulu firefighters fought a 1-acre brushfire near Weed Circle.

The fire began shortly before noon and was extinguished shortly after 1 p.m., said Fire Department Battalion Chief Thomas Perkins.

"It was two separate fires," Perkins said. "There was one farther up, which they put out. And then they went down to the other."

Four engine companies and two tankers were used to extinguish the blaze.

Perkins said no property was threatened, and vehicles were rerouted along Kamehameha Highway.

He said one engine was called shortly after 3 p.m. to another small brushfire near Whitmore Village that was quickly extinguished.

Perkins said fire investigators suspect the fires may have been deliberately set.



Motorcycle hit, woman injured

HANALEI — A woman who was a passenger on a motorcycle was seriously injured near Hanalei when the sports bike was hit by a pickup truck yesterday.

Firefighters, paramedics and police were called to Kuhio Highway between Hanalei town and the black bridge over the Hanalei River at about 2:15 p.m., officials said.

The motorcycle, driven by a man, was hit by a pickup truck just beyond the bridge, throwing the couple off the bike.

As the pickup driver attempted to pass the bike's wreckage, he ran over the woman, said Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Kaden.

The man was walking around after the wreck, but the woman, whose helmet had been knocked off, was taken in serious condition to Wilcox hospital.

Traffic was backed up for hours as officers investigated the accident.


Man sentenced in stabbing

LIHU'E — A 62-year-old Kaua'i man convicted of second-degree assault for stabbing another man at Nawiliwili Beach Park has been sentenced by 5th Circuit Judge George Masuoka to five years in prison.

Prosecutor Craig De Costa said four witnesses testified they saw Antonio Acevedo stab his victim twice on July 15 of last year. He was sentenced Thursday.



4,090 applied to be firefighters

Only 4,090 men and women submitted applications this month in hopes of becoming a firefighter, city officials said. Fire officials had estimated that more than 6,000 people would apply during the five-day application period that ended June 16.

Three years ago, when the department last accepted applications, 5,096 people applied.

Of the 4,090 applications submitted this month, 336 were from women.

Qualified applicants will be scheduled for a written and multiple-choice video test to be conducted in September. Candidates who pass both parts of the test will be given a physical test, which includes swimming and diving.

Only 120 of those applying three years ago were hired as Honolulu firefighters.



Water-use study will update plan

The state Commission on Water Resource Management, state Department of Agriculture and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are starting a yearlong study on the amount of water the state's agricultural industry needs.

The study, under the jurisdiction of the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, will update the commission's Hawai'i Water Plan and is expected to help evaluate new requests for irrigation water, said Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The study's goal is to estimate the likely demand for agricultural water in five-year intervals through 2025.



Lingle signs bills giving pets perks

With a group of pets and pet lovers looking on, Gov. Linda Lingle signed two bills at the Capitol Friday that will benefit animals in Hawai'i.

One bill allows pet owners to provide for the future care of their pets by allowing them to establish a trust on behalf of the animals. The second bill authorizes the state Board of Agriculture to lease a portion of the animal quarantine facilities in Halawa and use the money to defray costs of the animal quarantine program.

"I think it is a wonderful day for pets in Hawai'i," said Pam Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society.



March for abuse victim tomorrow

WAILUKU — Women Helping Women will hold a silent march and vigil at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow to remember the life of Olakalani Mollena, the 22-year-old Moloka'i mother of three who died May 29 as a result of domestic violence.

Mollena died from injuries after being punched in the head by her boyfriend and father of two of her three children. Manden Kamai, 24, was charged with murder.

The silent march will start at the Women Helping Women office, 1935 Main St., Suite 202, in Wailuku, and end at the Maui County Building with a vigil. Call (808) 242-6600.