LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Two brothers were in police custody yesterday following a series of brushfires in Puhi and Lihu'e that began at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Joshua Wong, 24, and his brother, Michael Wong Jr., 25, of Hanama'ulu were arrested at 3:04 a.m. yesterday after calls from witnesses led police to the Niumalu area, where the Wong brothers were located. They were charged with second-degree arson, police said.

Firefighters from the Hana-pepe, Kalaheo, Kapa'a and Lihu'e fire stations responded to eight brushfires that broke out between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 2:45 a.m. yesterday.

Anyone with information regarding the fires is asked to call Detective Todd Tanaka at 808-241-1694, police dispatch at 808-241-1711 or CrimeStoppers at 808-241-1887.

DREDGING TO START AT MAUI BOAT RAMP

KIHEI, Maui — The state will begin a $543,000 maintenance dredging project at the Kihei boat launch ramp on Monday.

American Marine Corp. has been hired to remove about 4,500 cubic yards of sand from the boat ramp basin and entrance channel.

The sand will be transferred to the north end of Kama'ole Sands III Beach Park and will be used by the County of Maui to restore the sand dunes along the park.

Work is expected to be completed in 90 days, the state said.

Here is the schedule for public use of the boat ramp and entrance channel during the work period:

Monday to Thursday: Closed to public use 7-11 a.m. and noon-5 p.m. Open 11 a.m.-noon and 5 p.m.-7 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays.

For emergency access to the harbor, boaters should contact the contractor, American Marine, on VHF Channel 16. Other inquiries can be directed to Nicholas Giaconi, Ma'alaea harbormaster, at 808-243-5073.

POWER OUTAGES HIT BIG ISLAND

HILO, Hawai'i — Two unrelated power outages affected a total of 11,600 customers on the Big Island yesterday, Hawaii Electric Light Co. said.

About 300 customers in the Kapoho area lost power at 3:28 a.m. when a tree fell onto power lines on Kapoho Road. Power was restored at 8:20 a.m.

About 11,300 customers in various parts of the island lost power when a generator at HELCO's Keahole Power Plant tripped off-line. Reserve generating units started, and all affected customers had power back by 7:12 a.m.