HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Pedestrian killed crossing highway
Advertiser Staff
A 31-year-old man was fatally injured yesterday when he was hit by a car while he was trying to cross Kamehameha Highway near Neal Blaisdell Park, police said.
The man was in a marked crosswalk and was walking makai near Kaluamoi Place, police said.
A Honolulu-bound 1995 black Buick Riviera driven by a 23-year-old man hit the pedestrian shortly before 3:30 p.m. Police said the pedestrian was taken in critical condition to The Queen's Medical Center, where he later died. Neither the driver of the car nor his adult passenger was injured, police said.
Speed and alcohol were not factors, police said. It was the 60th traffic death on O'ahu this year, compared with 48 at this point last year.
Last year two pedestrians were killed in separate incidents within a 24-hour period along the same mile-long stretch of Kamehameha Highway.
NORTH SHORE
BULKY-REFUSE PICKUP EXPANDED
The city this morning will begin curbside refuse pickup of bulky items such as furniture from Waialua to Sunset Beach. The North Shore becomes the the third area of rural O'ahu to get bulky-item pickup under an expanding city program.
North Shore residents should put their bulky items out on the second Wednesday of each month. Items should be placed curbside by 6 a.m.
"Expanding bulky-item pickup service has been one of my priorities," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. Leeward Coast residents received the service in March and households from Kahuku to Kahalu'u received the service in August.
The city plans to bring the service to Central O'ahu, from Halawa to Wahiawa, early next year, Hannemann said.
MAUI
HAIRPIN TURN TO BE DISCUSSED
WAILUKU — County officials said yesterday they will consider additional safety measures for a treacherous hairpin turn on Kaupakalua Road in Ulumalu, but that the real issue is safe driving.
Milton Arakawa, director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Management, said there are no plans to improve the steep section of roadway at Kaupakalua Road and Lepo Street, where a truck carrying six teenagers went off the road Saturday night, falling 140 feet down a gulch. All six King Kekaulike High School students survived and only one required hospitalization.
Arakawa said that in light of the weekend accident, officials may take another look at the winding, two-lane road to see if additional signs or lighting are necessary.
The sharp turn has been the scene of numerous other accidents, but Arakawa and Maui County Councilman Michael Molina, whose district includes Ulumalu and Ha'iku, said there have been few if any complaints about that section of roadway.
Molina said he'll be visiting the site, but feels cautious driving on the rural area's country roads is the best answer to the problem.
ADVOCATES SOUGHT FOR ABUSED KIDS
WAILUKU — Volunteer guardian ad litems are needed on Maui to represent the interests of children in abuse and neglect cases.
The state Judiciary will begin a 40-hour training program on Nov. 9. Volunteers must be at least 20 years old and must undergo a criminal history check. They also must be able to spend at least four hours a month working on cases. Call (808) 244-2729.
KAUA'I
KILAUEA LAND TO BE PRESERVED
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has awarded the Kaua'i Public Land Trust $1.46 million to buy three acres of land with 400 feet of frontage on the Kilauea River for the preservation of Hawaiian waterbirds and other conservation uses.
U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, said the parcel is adjacent to other land designated for conservation use, and could be added to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge under Case's Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2004, which became law last year.
Kaua'i County will own the land, which would be managed by the county, the land trust and the refuge. Case said the collaboration is a good example of ways different groups can work together to protect important sites.
NU'UANU
MA'EMA'E SELLING CHICKEN, SUSHI
Ma'ema'e Elementary school will hold its Bob's Hawaiian Style Chicken and Akyth sushi fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22 in the school parking lot. Rotisserie whole chicken will sell for $8 and Akyth sushi for $3.50 a roll and will benefit Ma'ema'e students.
WAIKIKI
HMSA OFFERING DRUG PLAN DETAILS
Representatives from HMSA will discuss the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans at 10 a.m. today at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave. They also will provide information about their 65C Plus Program, and the Akamai Living and Senior Odysseys programs. Call 923-1802.
STATEWIDE
HONORS IN THE ARTS TO BE AWARDED
The Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts is accepting applications for the Individual Artist Fellowship in Visual and Performing Arts, nominations for the Hawai'i Award for Literature and nominations for the Governor's Award for Distinguished Achievement in Culture, Arts and Humanities.
The Arts Award Program 2006 recognizes excellence and leadership in Hawai'i for culture, arts and humanities.
For application and nomination forms or more information on the program, visit the foundation Web site at www.hawaii.gov/sfca or call 586-9965.
HONOLULU
'KIDS FEST' TO PROMOTE HEALTH
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children and The Straub Foundation, affiliates of Hawai'i Health Pacific, will host "Kids Fest," a free family event at the Bishop Museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 23.
Activities and booths for children and special guest Bryan Clay, Olympic silver medalist in the decathlon, will promote healthy and active lifestyles for Hawai'i's youth.
The first 1,200 people to arrive will be admitted free. Afterward, a $3 entry fee will be charged.
Reservations are recommended. Call the Straub Foundation at 524-6755.
