HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi is asking President-elect Barack Obama for nearly half a billion dollars to improve Hawai'i County's infrastructure.

Kenoi's plans would build fire stations, a bridge, a hurricane shelter, and roads among other infrastructure.

Kenoi says the projects would cost $487 million would employ 3,000 people.

Obama's transition team is working with congressional Democrats on an economic aid bill that could total as much as $500 billion.

They hope to have it ready for the new president to sign when he takes office Jan. 20.

The stimulus package would bankroll public works projects to create jobs, provide aid to states to help with Medicaid costs, and fund renewable energy development.

LAHAINA CAR-CRASH FATALITY IDENTIFIED

LAHAINA, Maui — Maui police have identified a motorist killed in a one-car crash Sunday in Ka'anapali as Steven McErlane, 46, of Lahaina.

McErlane was headed north on Honoapi'ilani Highway at about 12:30 a.m. when his 2003 BMW sedan veered onto the right shoulder and slammed into a concrete pillar supporting a Ka'anapali golf cart crossing bridge over the highway.

SURFER WHO DIED WAS KAPA'A MAN

LIHU'E — Kaua'i officials have identified Lloyd Albinio, 30, of Kapa'a, as the surfer who died after being pulled from ocean waters Thursday afternoon in Kealia.

Police said Albinio was given CPR by county lifeguards and firefighters before being transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he died Thursday afternoon.

POLICE ASK HELP AFTER BODY FOUND

Big Island police are asking for the public's help in providing any information about a body found along the Puna coast Friday afternoon.

A citizen reported finding the body along the shoreline area of Mackenzie State Park. A responding police officer discovered that the body of a male Caucasian had multiple gunshot wounds.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Detective Rio Amon-Wilkins at 808-961-2386 or the police department's nonemergency line at 808-935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 808-961-8300 in Hilo or 808-329-8181 in Kona. All CrimeStoppers information is kept confidential.

CALIFORNIA MAN IS DROWNING VICTIM

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — An East Bay Parks supervisor has died while kayaking in Hawai'i.

Officials say Roger Epperson drowned Monday when the kayak he was paddling flipped off the coast of the Big Island.

The 54-year-old Epperson had worked for the East Bay Regional Park District since 1979.

He was supervisor of the Black Diamond Mines, Round Valley and Morgan Territory regional park sites.

Epperson is survived by his wife, Carol Alderdice.