Big Island police yesterday charged a Hawaiian Ocean View Estates man with trying to kill another man Sunday in Ka'u.

Anthony David Hartz, 34, was charged shortly after 2 p.m. with one count of second-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree terroristic threatening. He was being held in lieu of $55,000 bail at the Kona police cellblock.

A 28-year-old Kealakekua woman arrested Monday with Hartz was released yesterday pending further investigation.

Hartz is accused of attacking a 33-year-old Hawaiian Ocean View Estates resident. The victim was on a motorcycle, which police said was intentionally struck by a gold sport utility vehicle driven by Hartz.

While the victim was on the ground, Hartz allegedly hit him on the head with a football-sized rock, police said.

The victim suffered a compound fracture of his right leg and other injuries. Police said he is in stable condition at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

BRUSHFIRE BURNS 2 ACRES ON KAUA'I

Kaua'i firefighters battled a brushfire yesterday that burned about two acres near mile-marker 4 on Koke'e Road.

The fire was declared under control at 4 p.m.

There were no injuries or structure damage.

Thirteen county firefighters and rescue specialists from Lihu'e, Kalaheo, Hanapepe and Waimea and three firefighters from federal Pacific Missile Range Facility were involved in the operation, which began at 2:27 p.m.

Police closed Koke'e Road at 3:30 p.m. and traffic was diverted to Waimea Canyon Road. The road was reopened at 5:30 p.m.

SEARCHERS LOCATE 4 PUPUKEA HIKERS

Firefighters last night located and assisted four stranded hikers in Kahuku.

Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig said the group of four women began their hike at 10:15 a.m. on a trail above the Aloha Council Boys Scouts of America camp in Pupukea. They were found at 8:30 p.m. on a new military road being developed in the mountains above the shrimp farm in Kahuku.

Fire rescue personnel and the department helicopter were dispatched at 7:03 p.m. to Pupukea.

The women were brought out by rescue specialists and the department helicopter at 9 p.m., Seelig said. One of the women had a minor ankle injury.

LAHAINA PERMIT HEARING ON NOV. 6

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing next week on a requested permit renewal for the Lahaina underground injection control wastewater permit.

The hearing has been scheduled for 6:15 to 9 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall Meeting Area, 1840 Honoapi'ilani Highway.

Written and verbal comments on the proposed permit will be accepted at the meeting as the comment period has been extended through Nov. 6.

The proposed permit renewal is for the Maui County to operate four injection wells at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

The facility recycles about 1 million gallons per day of treated wastewater and sends it for reuse by a nearby golf course, pineapple company and construction contractors. The facility disposes of most of the treated wastewater on-site in four gravity fed injection wells.

FRONT STREET TO BE OPEN FRIDAY NIGHT

For the first time in years, Front Street in Lahaina will be open to traffic in the evening on Halloween, The Maui News reported.

Lahaina's annual Halloween bash has been known to attract crowds of up to 30,000 revelers. However, in July, the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission denied permits for the LahainaTown Action Committee to conduct a formal Halloween program, including its popular costume contest, within the Lahaina Historic District.

Maui police said Front Street in Lahaina will be closed Friday from Baker to Prison streets at 3 p.m. for the annual keiki parade. Front Street will reopen to vehicles following the children's costume parade about 6 p.m., according to a Maui County statement.

The Keiki Halloween Parade is sponsored by Soroptimist International of West Maui and will start at 4:30 p.m. at the end of Banyan Tree Park. For more information on the keiki parade, call Soroptimist Director Ruth McKay at 808-283-5193.