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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 27, 2007

HAWAII BRIEFS
Churning ocean cancels ferry trips

Advertiser Staff

Rough seas prompted Hawaii Superferry to cancel its O'ahu-to-Maui sailing yesterday and today, a company spokeswoman said.

Passengers for today's trips were being notified, company spokeswoman Lori Abe said.

The approximate number of passengers and vehicles each way for yesterday's trips was 250 passengers and 57 vehicles for the O'ahu-to-Maui trip, and 200 passengers and 50 vehicles for the Maui-to-O'ahu trip.

Passengers were contacted by telephone, e-mail and text messages and were given the option of rebooking or getting a refund, Abe said.

Airline reservations were made for the few passengers who needed to get to their intended island.

For today's voyages and in the future, a travel advisory will be posted on www.HawaiiSu perferry.com.

Passengers also will be notified when voyages are canceled, Abe said.

The Superferry resumed service to Maui Dec. 13 after the Legislature passed a bill allowing the ferry to resume operations while an environmental review is conducted.



MOTORCYCLIST HURT IN FREEWAY CRASH

A motorcyclist was in critical condition after falling 50 to 60 feet from the H-1 Freeway's airport viaduct yesterday, a city emergency services official said.

The 22-year-old rider was traveling west on the H-1 about 3:21 p.m. when he lost control of the motorcycle and fell from the elevated roadway, landing on Pai'ea Street near North Nimitz Highway, emergency services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said.



DRIVER IN FATAL CRASH INDICTED

The driver of a car that veered off a road and hit a utility pole on the North Shore last year, killing an 18-year-old passenger, was indicted yesterday on charges of manslaughter and second-degree assault.

Keanan Tantog, who prosecutors allege was drunk at the time of the crash, was indicted by a grand jury in connection with the Oct. 22, 2006, crash.

Bobby Gouveia of Waialua was killed and two others were injured in the single-car crash on Farrington Highway, a fifth of a mile west of Ho'omana Place in Mokule'ia.

Gouveia was the front-seat passenger in a westbound 1991 Acura Integra that police said veered across the center line on Farrington Highway and struck a utility pole and fence.

Tantog and a rear-seat passenger, 18-year-old Alexander Kinney, suffered serious injuries.

All three graduated from Waialua High School in 2006.



FIRE DAMAGES MAUI RESTAURANT

A fire early Christmas morning caused an estimated $200,000 in structure damage and $150,000 in damages to the contents of Charley's Restaurant and Bar in Pa'ia, Maui County reported.

The business was not open at the time of the 12:56 a.m. fire. Five fire companies responded and the fire was extinguished at 2:42 a.m.



WORK TO BEGIN ON WATER METERS

A contractor will upgrade water meters in parts of Kahului beginning Dec. 31, Maui County announced.

Pacific Meter Services will work on meters around Kahului Airport, the commercial and shopping districts, and the older areas of Kahului locally known as "Dream City."

Work is expected to last two to three weeks.

The contractor will be going to each meter box and replacing the old transponder with a new one. Workers also will record the locations of each meter via GPS technology. It should take 10 to 15 minutes per meter.

County Department of Water Supply customers are asked to clear any overgrowth or other obstacles around the water meter.

Customers can call Michael Howard or Jack Robb of Pacific Meter Services at 877-857-1516 for information.

Customers with questions about their water service can call Department of Water Supply Assistant Waterworks Fiscal Officer George Andrade at 270-7302.

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