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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 5, 2006

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
NAACP holding voter drives

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold a two-day voter registration drive outside all the state's Wal-Mart stores from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The NAACP's theme for this year is "Voting our values — Valuing our vote," said Hawai'i NAACP president Alphonso Braggs.

Monday is the deadline for eligible adults to register to vote in Hawai'i's Nov. 7 general election. Voter registration forms are available at satellite city halls, public libraries, U.S. post offices or the state Office of Elections Web site: www.hawaii .gov/elections/voters.




WAIMANALO

DRIVER ALLEGEDLY RAMS ANOTHER CAR

A 37-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Waimanalo after he allegedly used his car to ram a vehicle driven by another man.

The incident caused damage to the second car and injuries to its driver, also 37. Police did not say what kind of injuries the man suffered.

The driver of the first car was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage.




MOLOKA'I

21 YEARS GIVEN FOR GIRLFRIEND'S DEATH

A Moloka'i man was sentenced Tuesday to 21 years in prison for delivering a fatal punch to his girlfriend following an argument at a concert.

Manden Kamai, 25, of Kaunakakai, earlier pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of Olakalani Mollena, 22, and second-degree terroristic threatening of a police officer. He assaulted the mother of three May 28, 2005, outside the Hotel Moloka'i. Witnesses said Kamai punched Mollena in the back of the head and dragged her across Kamehameha V Highway. She died later at The Queen's Medical Center in Ho-nolulu.

Because he is a repeat felon, Kamai must serve at least six years and eight months of the sentence issued by Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza.




MAUI

FISHING RULES TO BE DISCUSSED

Rules on the use of nets and other fishing issues at Kahului Harbor will be discussed at a Department of Land and Natural Resources meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.

Some of the issues include restrictions on bait nets and throw nets, a ban on snagging fish, and the establishment of a check-in requirement for all fishers. DLNR officials said they would like to get public recommendations for the Kahului Harbor Fisheries Management Area administrative rules.

Two new laws passed by the Legislature prohibit net fishing at the harbor, but will not take effect until July 2007, or until the department creates rules.



CRIME FORCES PARK TO SHUT AT NIGHT

Vandalism, late-night assaults and other trouble have prompted the county Department of Parks and Recreation to close Hanaka'o'o Beach Park near Ka'anapali from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, effective this week.

Parks Director Glenn Correa asked for the public's help in reporting illegal activity to police. For more information on the park closing, call the Lahaina parks office at (808) 661-4685.



BALDWIN PARK COMPLETELY OPEN

PA'IA, Maui — Baldwin Beach Park was fully reopened yesterday after suffering from summer erosion that threatened a restroom and pavilion and toppled ironwood trees.

The park was first closed in July because of safety concerns. The county hired a contractor to remove trees with exposed roots at the east end of the beach, and some of the sand has been restored naturally.



TOUR PROMOTES SOLAR ENERGY

Maui's first "House of the Sun Solar Tour" will take place Saturday, with visits to homes and businesses that save money by using solar energy.

The free event, sponsored by the Hawaii PV Coalition, is part of a National Solar Tour that kicks off October as National Energy Awareness Month. Tour hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will learn energy-efficiency strategies and methods, speak with property owners and experts, and learn how the technology works, what it costs, and why it makes sense financially and environmentally.

To join the tour, call (808) 579-8288 or e-mail info@hawaiipvcoalition.org. For more information on the tour, visit www.hawaiipvcoalition.org.



'IAO VALLEY PARK CLOSED FOR REPAIRS

'Iao Valley State Monument Park is closed through Tuesday for construction of a retaining wall to stabilize an eroded hillside adjacent to the garden pathway.

Kealoha Construction is the contractor for the $24,500 project. Other recent improvement at 'Iao include repair and maintenance on the stream bridge, pressure-washing of the comfort station and the replacement of the lookout shelter's roof.




BIG ISLAND

ROAD CLOSURES TOPIC OF MEETING

Representatives from companies working on the Pakini Nui South Point Windmill Project will hold a traffic advisory meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Na'alehu Community Center.

Temporary road closures will occur as large components for 14 windmills are transported from Hilo to South Point over the next two months.