HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Lahaina man dies near Twin Falls
Advertiser Staff
WAILUKU, Maui — A 24-year-old Lahaina man died Sunday after falling down an embankment on Hana Highway near Twin Falls.
Police said Jerry Portabes was drinking with friends at a nearby house when he left the gathering around 3 a.m. Sunday to take a walk. He apparently slipped and tumbled about 40 to 50 feet to the side of the highway, where his body was discovered by a passerby at around 4:30 a.m. An autopsy determined he died of a skull fracture and a ruptured aorta, police said.
WINDWARD
KAWAI NUI MARSH BEGINS FALL SERIES
The Kawai Nui Marsh Educational Series will begin its fall program Saturday with an introductory natural and cultural history tour of Kawai Nui Marsh.
Naturalist Chuck "Doc" Burrows and state parks interpretive planner Martha Yent will lead participants on a driving/walking tour from Ulupo Heiau to Na Pohaku o Hauwahine and the Kawai Nui Estuary at Kaha Park. They will explain how these sites were used in ancient and historic periods and discuss plans to restore the natural and cultural ecosystems of the marsh and the Kailua ahupua'a.
The series is presented by 'Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi, the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and The Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation.
The tour will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon. A donation of $5 is requested. For information and to register, call Burrows at (808) 595-3922 or e-mail chuckb@hawaii.rr.com.
BIG ISLAND
ARREST LEADS TO 4 STOLEN VEHICLES
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police recovered four stolen vehicles after chasing and capturing a group of youths in a stolen van Saturday morning in Puna.
The 1997 Ford van had been reported as stolen overnight from a Kea'au business. Police located the van and pursued it briefly before five people from the van fled on foot. Puna patrol officers caught four of them.
Two Hilo youths, a 17-year-old boy who had been reported as a runaway and a 15-year-old boy, were charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
A 15-year-old Hilo boy and an 18-year-old Mountain View man were released without charges pending further investigation, police said.
After the arrests, police recovered three other vehicles that were recently reported stolen.
Detectives from the Juvenile Aid Section are pursuing other charges in connection with a series of auto thefts and burglaries at business establishments in East Hawai'i.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call Det. John Ancheta at 961-2277 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
