Wai'anae Coast residents last night were urged to use water sparingly as Board of Water Supply crews repaired a 24-inch main on Farrington Highway between La'aloa and Waiomea streets in Honokai Hale.

The pipe break, reported shortly before 3 p.m., did not disrupt water service but the Board of Water Supply asked residents from Honokai Hale to Makaha to use water for essential needs only, said Tracy Burgo, an agency spokesperson.

Repair was expected to last late into the night. Crews planned to close the left town-bound lane of Farrington Highway.

The damaged, aging main will be replaced as part of the Board of Water Supply's Farrington Highway pipeline replacement project, Burgo said.

3-NATION NAVAL EXERCISE COMPLETE

Vessels from the United States, Japan and Republic of Korea completed a joint ocean search-and-rescue exercise Tuesday 80 miles south of Kaua'i.

The exercise, coordinated by the USS Lake Erie, simulated a response by the three nations to a vessel in distress with casualties and injuries.

"The exercise presented an opportunity to evaluate our ability to communicate at an operational level," said Lake Erie operations officer Lt. Christa Almonte.

The Coast Guard's 87-foot cutter Kittiwake played the role of the distressed vessel. Small boats with boarding crews were launched from the Lake Erie, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force vessel Haruna, and Republic of Korea's Munmu the Great.

A Coast Guard C-130 long-range aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point provided a communications platform and helped direct the rescue vessels to the rescue scene.

"Overall, it was a success," Almonte said. "This is good practice, and it helps to foster a sustained cooperative relationship between naval ships and aircraft in the Pacific region."

BIG ISLE HISTORIC SITE HOLDS FESTIVAL

Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island will celebrate the 36th anniversary of its federal designation with the annual Ho'oku'ikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival on Aug. 16-17.

The celebration will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. It will feature cultural demonstrations and workshops, all open to the public.

The site was established as a national historic site on Aug. 17, 1972.

The stone heiau at Kawaihae was built in 1790-1791 by Kamehameha I.

15-ACRE FIRE ON MAUI CONTAINED

A brushfire in Kula, Maui burned an estimated 15 acres Tuesday.

The fire, which started at 2:20 p.m., was in a gulch near the county Agriculture Park and prompted the closure of Pulehu Road between Holopuni and Oma'opio roads, county officials said.

Two fire department helicopters, eight companies and 24 firefighters fought the fire. They were assisted by bulldozers and water tankers from Maui Public Works and Goodfellow Bros.

Firefighters declared the fire contained at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday. There were no reports of injuries or property damage.

MAN SOUGHT IN SHOOTING INCIDENT

Police are seeking a 30-year-old man who allegedly fired shots at his girlfriend's former boyfriend Monday night in Kunia. No one was injured in the 10:30 p.m. incident.

Police said the suspect confronted the victim, a 33-year-old man, and challenged him to a fight. When the victim walked away and got into his car, the suspect allegedly took out a gun and fired numerous shots at the departing vehicle, causing damage to the rear end.