Hawaiian Electric Co. today will try to determine why a 12-kilovolt transmission line fell yesterday in Waipahu, causing a power outage that affected 2,900 customers, some for nearly five hours.

HECO spokesman Jose Dizon said a section of the transmission line from the Waipahu substation near Waipahu District Park fell about 5 p.m., knocking out power to customers in Waipahu, Waikele and Pearl City. Power was restorned in Pearl City and Waikele at 5:44 p.m. and in Waipahu at 9:55 p.m.

The outage forced postponement of last night's Hawaii Winter League baseball game between the Honolulu Sharks and North Shore Honu at Hans L'Orange Field. The teams will play two seven-inning games today at L'Orange Field starting at 4 p.m.

"We don't know why it happened and will check for the cause (today)," Dizon said. The problem was not weather-related, he said.

BEACH RESTORATION PROJECT DELAYED

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will temporarily delay the start of its Kuhio Beach Replenishment Project until south swells and kona winds forecast for the rest of this week have abated.

"Because of the potential for wind-driven waves from up to 20-plus-knot (23 mph) kona winds, on top of south swells this weekend, we have decided to wait a bit longer for improved conditions," DLNR chairman Peter Young said.

On-site preparation began yesterday with closing off part of Kuhio Beach for a staging area, and positioning of the barge in water offshore Waikiki.

During this process the chain for the barge's anchor broke, and the barge was returned to its home dock to replace the chain.

The beach nourishment project is intended to stabilize and increase the size of Kuhio Beach, improve water quality and public safety, and demonstrate state-of-the-art offshore sand pumping technologies for future beach restoration efforts, DLNR said.

H-1 WORK NEAR LIKELIKE OFFRAMP

Single-lane closures of the westbound H-1 Freeway are scheduled for tonight near the Likelike Highway offramp, the state Department of Transportation advises.

The closures will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight for the repair of damaged crash attenuators, weather permitting, the DOT said.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area.

MAN, 46, SQUIRTS 2 WITH GASOLINE

A 46-year-old Makiki man was charged yesterday for allegedly squirting gasoline onto two men and threatening to set them on fire.

James Graffis was being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, accused of two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening. He was arrested at his Spreckles Street apartment yesterday at 6:30 a.m. and charged about five hours later.

According to a police report filed at District Court, Graffis allegedly confronted a man on Oct. 19 about collecting $400 in outstanding parking tickets Graffis had to pay because the man had not changed the registration on a car Graffis had purchased from him. The argument fronting a residence on the 2600 block of Date Street escalated, and Graffis allegedly squirted two men, ages 33 and 30, with gasoline from a plastic bottle and held up a lighter.

HIGH SCHOOL HI 5¢ DRIVE SATURDAY

Mililani High School's Project Graduation 2007 committee is holding a HI 5¢ can and bottle drive Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school's parking lot. The group will accept donations of redeemable aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles.

Project Graduation is a post-commencement celebration that is alcohol- and substance-free.

Future recycling drives will be held on the first Saturday of each month through May 2007. For information, call 625-9876.