Maui County firefighters yesterday were monitoring a fire that burned 4 to 5 acres in Kihei yesterday.

Pi'ilani Highway in South Maui was closed for about two hours yesterday afternoon between Ka'ono'ulu and Kulanihako'i streets because of the fire, which was first reported at 2:27 p.m. The fire was deemed 90 percent contained late yesterday afternoon.

The fire came within about 150 yards of homes, but none was damaged and no evacuations of residents were ordered, a Maui County news release said. Because of heavy smoke, some residents in the area left voluntarily.

As a precaution, Maui police instructed construction workers at a nearby site to evacuate.

Fire officials said this fire was not related to a fire in Wailea over the weekend.

MISSING MAN WAS STAYING IN WAIKIKI

A man who had been reported missing saw himself in the newspaper and contacted CrimeStoppers to say he was OK, Crimestoppers reported yesterday morning.

Police and CrimeStoppers had asked on Saturday for help in locating Jerry Cooper. But when he saw himself in the newspaper while at a Waikiki hotel, he had the front desk clerk call CrimeStoppers and relay that he was OK.

All calls to CrimeStoppers are confidential and anonymous. Call the CrimeStoppers hot line at 955-8300 or *Crime on your cellular phone. Access the CrimeStoppers Web site at www.crimestoppers-honolulu .org.

KAUA'I PARKS HEAD BEGINS HIS LEAVE

Bernard Carvalho, director of Parks and Recreation for Kaua'i County, yesterday began a leave of absence from his job pending the outcome of the upcoming election.

Carvalho asked to step aside to focus on his mayoral campaign.

Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Kylan Dela Cruz will assume his responsibilities while Carvalho is on leave.

ISLE ALCOHOLISM TOPIC OF BRIEFING

The state House Health Committee has scheduled an informational briefing for this morning on alcoholism in Hawai'i and the possible reasons why the state has one of the highest rates of drunken driving in the United States.

The focus will be on options to reduce alcoholism in the areas of prevention, treatment and recovery.

The committee will also review the efficacy of Vivitrol, a new medication taken by injection once a month that can be used in conjunction with a treatment program.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the state Capitol conference room 309.