HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Body found near seaplane ramp
Advertiser Staff
A badly decomposed body was found floating in Pearl Harbor at about 1 p.m. yesterday near the seaplane ramp at Ford Island, according to the Navy.
The partially clothed body was pulled from the water and taken to Ford Island by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which is trying to determine the cause of death.
The age, race and gender of the body are not known, and it is expected to be turned over to the city Medical Examiner's Office for identification.
HALAWA
KANE'OHE-BOUND H-3 LANES CLOSED
State officials shut down the Kane'ohe-bound lanes of the H-3 Freeway for about 2 1/2 hours yesterday to make emergency repairs to a 6-inch gap in the roadway.
The freeway was closed from about 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. to replace a missing "expansion joint," a metal piece placed between two concrete segments of the elevated roadway, DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.
The expansion joint, a common feature of elevated roadways, apparently popped out of its position about halfway between Halawa and the H-3 tunnels, he said.
The freeway was closed as a precaution while crews replaced the missing piece.
"There was no danger to motorists, but there was a gap in the normal smooth transition between the concrete segments, so we decided to make emergency repairs," Ishikawa said.
Meanwhile, work on the Kane'ohe-bound lanes of the Wilson tunnel will be completed at 4 a.m. tomorrow. The tunnel has been closed from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. this week for roadside barrier work and wall cleaning.
MANOA
ROOTS BLAMED FOR SEWAGE SPILL
Tree roots clogged an 8-inch sewer main in Manoa yesterday and caused about 8,250 gallons of untreated wastewater to spill on Woodlawn Drive and into Manoa Stream.
City crews arrived at the spill site about 8 a.m. and found sewage coming out of a manhole near 3234 Woodlawn Drive. The spill was stopped by 8:35 a.m.
Most of the spilled sewage flowed into the nearby storm drain, which empties into the stream.
Lori Moniz-Kahikina, assistant chief of the Collection System Maintenance Division, said runoff from heavy rains Monday that entered the sewer system may have contributed to the spill.
The area is being disinfected, and the state Department of Health is taking water samples and has posted warning signs along the stream.
MAUI
ARSON SUSPECTED NEAR LAHAINALUNA
Maui fire officials said they suspect arson in two fires set Monday near Lahainaluna High School.
One of the fires burned 200 acres of former sugar cane land and took most of the day to contain. A second fire was ignited near the school's farm pens, burning about 900 square feet of brush.
KAUA'I
MAYOR DECLARES FOR RE-ELECTION
Kaua'i Mayor Bryan Baptiste announced to supporters last night the opening of his campaign for re-election.
Baptiste, 50, who was elected in 2002 after six years on the County Council, said his administration has worked hard to improve the quality of life for residents, but has work left to do.
Former County Councilman Jesse Fukushima, 54, is the only other candidate who has publicly expressed interest in running.
Councilwoman and former mayor JoAnn Yukimura announced in September she will seek re-election to the County Council.
POLICE SEEK ID IN BICYCLE FATALITY
Police were trying to identify a bicyclist who they believe was killed in a collision with a car between 9 and 10 p.m. Saturday along Kuhio Highway in Wailua.
Police responded Sunday evening to a report of a damaged maroon-colored bicycle along the guardrail between mile markers 4 and 5 on the highway. Behind the guardrail they found the body of a man described as 50 to 60 years of age, about 6 feet and weighing about 200 pounds. They found no identification on the body.
Anyone with information about the identity of the victim or about the crash can call traffic safety Sgt. Robert Gausepohl at 241-1611, Officer James Miller at 241-1615 or Crime Stoppers at 241-1887.
TWO LIHU'E MEN FACE DRUG-SALE CHARGES
A joint investigation by Kaua'i police and the Navy resulted in the arrests of two Lihu'e men on charges involving the sale of drugs.
Daniel Curnan, 22, of Lihu'e, was booked for second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, cocaine, after his arrest at a Lihu'e bar. And Kaipo Texeira, 23, of Lihu'e, was charged with second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, marijuana, following his arrest near the Kalapaki seawall.
Police said the investigation was prompted by tips from residents, in conjunction with the presence of a Navy ship docked at Nawiliwili.
ALA MOANA
PIPE BREAK CLOSES PARK FACILITIES
A ruptured 12-inch water main at Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday prompted the city to close the concessions, restrooms and showers for several hours.
The water main break was discovered near the Diamond Head end of the park yesterday morning by parks workers. At first only the facilities on that end of the park were closed. But all water eventually had to be shut off to make repairs.
City crews completed the work about 2 p.m. Park facilities are expected to be operating normally today.
EAST HONOLULU
SEWER-FEE HIKE TOPIC OF HEARING
The state Consumer Advocate is encouraging residents and businesses in Hawai'i Kai to express their views on Hawai'i American Water Co.'s proposed sewer-fee increase at a public hearing at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Kamiloiki Elementary School cafeteria.
The sewer company wants to raise rates enough to see a 16.63-percent boost in revenues. Under the proposal, sewer fees for residential customers would increase $6.25 a month, and multifamily customers would pay $7.26 a month more.
For more information, including a link to the Hawai'i American Co.'s application, go to www.hawaii.gov/dcca/dca.
