Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay was closed in both directions last night and about 280 customers in Waimea Valley and along Pupukea Road lost electrical power for about two hours when a utility pole fell.

Police said a utility pole fell on the Hale'iwa side of Waimea Bay, causing lines to fall and come in contact with a car.

There were also reports of a transformer problem due to the accident. Power went out at 6:47 p.m., Hawaiian Electric Co. said. Power was restored to all but 34 customers by 8:33 p.m., HECO spokesman Darren Pai said.

Repair work on the downed pole was to continue overnight but Hawaiian Electric Co. planned to stop work on the road at 5 a.m. so Kamehameha Highway can be reopened to rush-hour traffic, Pai said.

TOT SERIOUSLY HURT IN SALT LAKE FALL

A 2-year-old child was seriously injured yesterday in a fall at a naval housing complex on Catlin Drive in Salt Lake.

Police said the child leaned back and fell about 20 feet from a window about 4:30 p.m. The child was transported in serious condition to an unnamed hospital, police said.

HPD COPTER LANDS AFTER SOME TROUBLE

The Honolulu Police Department helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing yesterday when one of its rotors became entangled with a store's promotional balloon several hundred feet off the ground.

No injuries were reported and the helicopter landed at HPD's Training Academy at 10:44 a.m.

The helicopter was assisting patrol officers looking for a theft suspect when the main rotor came in contact with the line tethering a large red balloon belonging to Savers at 94-300 Farrington Highway. Police caught the theft suspect.

The helicopter went into a spin but the pilot was able to make an emergency landing at the training facility in Waipahu.

CARE OF DISPLACED FAMILY CONTINUES

The Hawai'i Chapter of the American Red Cross continued yesterday to provide temporary shelter, food and clothing to the extended family displaced after Wednesday's fatal fire in Salt Lake.

Maria Lutz, director of disaster services for the local Red Cross chapter, said the family is scheduled to meet with insurance agents in a couple of days and is making funeral plans for John Rex Ceasar, 4, who died in the fire.

About 30 family members are receiving Red Cross assistance, Lutz said.

GRAND REOPENING FOR MUSEUM SHOP

Shop Pacifica at Bishop Museum will hold its grand reopening celebration Saturday, with a day full of free activities for the family, including entertainment, book readings and craft demonstrations.

The event will start at 9 a.m.

The first 100 customers will get a free 2008 Bishop Museum calendar.

Shop Pacifica closed in June for a major remodeling project, which included new flooring, upgraded fixtures and a new product mix.

For more information, call the shop at 847-3511 or go to www.bishopmuseum.org.

JCCH TO DEBUT HOLIDAY EXHIBIT

Whimsical, one-of-a-kind works by more than 40 Hawai'i artists will be displayed and sold for the holidays in the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i's latest exhibition, Tinkered & Toyed 2007.

The exhibit opens Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. reception at the JCCH Community Gallery, and continues until Dec. 21. The center is at 2454 S. Beretania St. in Mo'ili'ili.

The exhibit features paintings, sculptures and collectibles by Hawai'i artists who designed pieces inspired by holidays.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

TWO SCHOOLS NAMED TO HONORS LIST

Two Hawai'i schools are included on the roster of 289 schools nationwide dubbed as No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools.

The schools — both in Honolulu — are Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School and Waikiki Elementary School.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon will honor the Blue Ribbon schools at a ceremony today in Arlington, Va.

The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools program honors schools that have either placed in the top 10 percent of the state in test scores or that have at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged students and have shown dramatic improvement in test scores over three years.

A list of recognized schools is available at www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2007/2007-schools.html.