A Maui man was killed yesterday in a collision with a moose in Anchorage, Alaska, police said.

Kevin Kopra, 53, was driving a rental car when he hit the moose shortly after 1 a.m., police said.

Kopra was the only occupant in the car when the accident occurred on Birch Road in the city's hillside area.

The collision threw the moose over the top of the vehicle and into the interior, where it struck Kopra. The car went a short distance before it crashed into a guardrail.

A nearby resident called authorities after hearing a loud crash.

The moose meat was donated to charity.

BRUSHFIRE CLOSES FOREST RESERVE

KULA, Maui — Two weeks after the Kula Forest Reserve was reopened following a five-month closure caused by hazardous conditions from a 2,300-acre brush fire in January, the area has been closed again because of fire.

An eight-acre blaze that started Thursday afternoon a half-mile before the Polipoli Springs state park entrance was smoldering in fallen pine needles from trees that burned in the earlier fire, said Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward. The fire was reported contained and forestry crews were expected to have it under control last night.

"Current upper leeward Haleakala weather conditions are resulting in rapid drying of forest materials, which may be contributing to fire starts," said John Cumming, DLNR's Maui forestry branch chief in a statement. "This is why the Kula Forest Reserve will remain closed for a month, in the interest of public safety."

The Waipoli/Kula Forest Reserve access road is closed until further notice and permits for the Polipoli Springs state recreation area and cabin will be canceled through August.

THREE FINALISTS PICKED FOR POLICE CHIEF

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i Police Commission has identified two of its three finalists for the job of Kaua'i police chief.

They are Gerald Mines, a former police commissioner from Mt. Vernon, N.Y., and Darryl Perry, a former major with the Honolulu Police Department who is originally from Kaua'i and now lives in Mililani. The name of the third candidate could not be disclosed, the commission said, because he is assigned to a sensitive federal government job.

The commission employed the consulting services of CPS Human Resource Services to make an initial review of several dozen applications for the job. The three finalists are scheduled to be interviewed by the commission following an assessment process in August.

FREEWAY RAMP, LANES TO BE CLOSED

H-1 Freeway's School Street on-ramp will be closed this weekend from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for work on a retaining wall project.

During the work, crews will also close the right westbound lane of H-1 Freeway from the Pali Highway off-ramp to the School Street on-ramp, along with the left lane on School Street between A'ala Street and Kapua Lane.

The delays won't let up during the week, as crews will be forced to close the left and middle lanes on School Street from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday as part of the project. Parking will also be restricted in the area to allow room for construction vehicles.

JAPAN APPROVES ANTHURIUM IMPORT

The Japanese government has approved the importation of potted anthuriums from Hawai'i under certain conditions, the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture announced yesterday.

"This is great news for Hawai'i anthurium growers," Gov. Linda Lingle said in a written statement. The state had worked for 13 years to open the Japanese market to local anthuriums.

"It has been an extraordinarily dedicated effort by our state agriculture officials, their colleagues at (the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the Japan government to establish this important agreement that will allow our premier potted anthuriums to be sold in Japan," Lingle said.

Under the agreement, nurseries exporting anthuriums to Japan must be certified by the state as being free from the burrowing nematode, a pest that affects many agricultural products. Potted anthuriums must also be shipped to Japan in a soil-free medium, such as peat, sphagnum, vermiculite or volcanic cinder.

DAVEY PROMOTED AT HILO MUSEUM

Steve Davey has been promoted to associate director at the Hilo Art Museum.

Davey formerly served as the museum's public relations coordinator.

"Hawai'i has needed something like this museum for a long time now," Davey said in a news release. "To have a permanent collection of art from around the world, covering multiple time periods and styles, gives the people here a chance to see some wonderful works that they may not have ever had the chance to see otherwise."

The museum's collection includes works by such artists as Picasso, de Kooning, Máro, DuBois and Dix.

To learn more about the museum, its art or its classes, visit www.hiloartmuseum.org or call (808) 961-1426.

KAPAHULU HEALTH CENTER TO OPEN

A new comprehensive health center will open this weekend on the site formerly occupied by KC Drive Inn on Kapahulu Avenue.

Family Health and Wellness will offer various medical services including pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, urology, dermatology, dentistry, optometry, geriatric medicine, psychology, radiology, physical therapy and chiropractic care.

The public is invited to its open house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow.

There will be food, entertainment and tours of the building.

This one-stop facility will serve the Kaimuki, Kapahulu and Palolo areas.

FIREFIGHTERS HALT KUNIA BRUSHFIRE

A brushfire burned about an acre near the Hawai'i Country Club in Kunia about noon yesterday.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire, just north of the golf course and just off of Kunia Road, in about 10 minutes, Capt. Frank Johnson said.

INPUT SOUGHT ON STATE ARTS PLAN

The state Foundation on Culture and the Arts is developing its five-year strategic plan for 2009 to 2013, and wants input from residents.

An online survey is available to share comments and ideas.

To get to the survey, go to www.hawaii.gov/sfca. The link for the survey is under "HSFCA News."

The foundation is located at 250 S. Hotel St. For more information or events listings, call 586-0300.

'POETRY SLAM' AT KAIMUKI LIBRARY

The Kaimuki Public Library will host a "poetry slam" event tomorrow, with freestyle, expressive poetry readings.

The free event runs from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Following a slam poetry presentation, members of Youth Speaks Hawai'i will conduct a poetry writing workshop for youth ages 12 to 18.

The library is at 1041 Koko Head Ave. For more information, call the library at 733-8422.