HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Family festival schedule changes
Advertiser Staff
With more rain forecast this week, the Honolulu Centennial Family Festival — which was to open a four-day run today at Magic Island — will cancel today's and tomorrow's events. The festival is still scheduled to operate Saturday and Sunday.
"With the rainy weather expected to continue and for safety reasons, we're canceling the first two days, but operating this weekend," said event chair Frannie Kirk.
Plans are still on to continue the festival, including rides, food and entertainment, from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
To make up for the canceled days, the festival will be extended to the following week on April 7 from 5 p.m. to midnight, April 8 from noon to midnight and April 9 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
General information about the Honolulu Centennial Family Festival is on the Web at www.honolulupride.com.
O'AHU
LIGHTNING STRIKE SILENCES STATION
Hawai'i Public Radio, KHPR 88.1 on the FM dial, is attempting to repair weather-related damage to its transmitter.
The station went off the air early yesterday but was able to resume transmission at approximately 4:40 p.m. when its backup transmitter on Wiliwilinui Ridge went back on the air at low power.
Lightning last week damaged the station's switchover transmission equipment, said Michael Titterton, HPR president and general manager. A new set of switchgear had been under construction since the lightning struck March 23, but a helicopter is required for installation.
"Nothing can be done to diagnose the problem until engineers are able to access the site by helicopter, an operation made difficult just now because of the bad weather conditions on Wiliwilinui Ridge, where the transmitter is located," Titterton said in an e-mail message to HPR listeners.
A staff member hiked to the site yesterday to examine the damage.
MILILANI
PUBLIC LIBRARY ACCESS IMPROVED
Mililani Public Library, which closed earlier this month for the first of two phases of an Americans with Disabilities Act renovation project, is scheduled to reopen Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Renovation work for the first phase included the installation of energy-efficient light fixtures and ballasts, a new fire alarm and ADA improvements for the women's restroom and handicapped parking stall.
An announcement will be made when the second phase is scheduled. The library is at 95-450 Makaimoimo St.
BIG ISLAND
KONA DISTRICT FIRES SUSPICIOUS
Big Island police are asking for the public's help in the investigation of two suspicious fires that occurred in the Kona District.
On March 28, 2006, at about 11:47 p.m., firefighters responded to the Pacific Waste base yard off Alapa Street in the Old Industrial area after receiving an anonymous report of smoke in the area. Upon arrival, the cab area of a 1986 White brand roll-off type truck was found to be engulfed in flames. Hawai'i County Fire Department personnel extinguished the fire, which caused about $50,000 in damage.
On March 16, 2003, at about 2 a.m., police and fire personnel responded to Nalani Street to find two Pacific Waste compactor bins on fire. The fires were extinguished without incident.
Police are unable to determine if both fires are related. However, both incidents appear suspicious in nature.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Reynold Kahalewai of the Community Policing Division in Kona at 326-4646, ext. 257. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
FUGITIVE CAUGHT AT STATE PARK
Big Island police arrested a Hawai'i Community Correctional Center inmate who escaped March 6 from the Hilo Medical Center emergency room.
Arthur Clayton Jr., 44, was arrested Tuesday along a beach trail at the Kona Coast State Park, North Kona, after police received a tip.
Police believe Clayton was driving a stolen car involved in a chase in the district of South Kohala early Tuesday morning. The chase ended when the stolen vehicle broke down. South Kohala patrol officers apprehended a 27-year-old woman. The man in the car fled.
Throughout most of the day Tuesday, Kona patrol officers pursued several leads of a suspicious man on foot in the resort area of Ka'upulehu, North Kona. After a short foot chase late Tuesday afternoon, Clayton was arrested and was being held at the Kona police cellblock.
