HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Lingle pushes for pedestrian safety
Advertiser Staff
Gov. Linda Lingle urged state lawmakers yesterday to strengthen a law that protects people in crosswalks, after four recent fatalities.
A new state law that took effect this year requires drivers to stop, rather than just yield, when a person is in a marked crosswalk on their side of the road or is approaching their side of the road.
"One pedestrian death or injury is one too many," Lingle said in a written statement. "We would like to see these laws tightened up so that this kind of tragic situation never happens again.
"The ultimate goal is to make Hawai'i a safe place for our citizens and visitors to cross the street."
The governor did not specify what changes she wants in the law.
Late last month, three pedestrians on O'ahu and one on the Big Island were killed after being hit by vehicles.
AID SOUGHT TO WATCH FOR BIRD FLU
Hawai'i and Guam would be designated "border states" receiving extra federal resources for the detection of avian flu, under a resolution adopted yesterday at the American Medical Association convention in Dallas.
Dr. Thomas Shieh of Guam said the resolution calls on the AMA to lobby the federal government and World Health Organization to provide testing kits and other help for avian flu surveillance.
"Guam is much closer to the areas of Southeast Asia where the human deaths have recently occurred, so for them to serve as an 'early warning' to Hawai'i is very important," Hawai'i AMA delegate Dr. Morris Mitsunaga was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Shieh.
BIG ISLAND
BLAZE CONTAINED IN SOUTH KOHALA
Firefighters contained a brushfire that burned about five acres of state land in South Kohala late Sunday, but have not determined what caused the blaze.
The fire was reported makai of Old Puako Road between Wailea Bay and Hapuna Beach Park at about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, and firefighters were deployed to build fire breaks and protect homes in the Wailea Bay area.
The fire was contained around midnight, and declared extinguished at 7:30 a.m. yesterday, fire officials said. The blaze consumed only grass and kiawe trees, and there were no injuries or property damage.
MAUI
KIHEI BRUSHFIRE BURNS FIVE ACRES
A brushfire yesterday burned five acres in Kihei.
The fire was reported at 12:15 p.m. at Pi'ilani Highway and Uwapo Road. Winds blew the flames toward the Kihei Villages housing area, but firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control by 2 p.m., before any homes were threatened.
MORE COURTS SET FOR NAPILI PARK
Work is starting on a new phase of the county's Napili Park improvement project.
The $321,518 project by includes installation of surfaces for two tennis courts and a basketball court, court equipment, striping and fencing. The work is expected to be completed in February.
