HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Blackout threat reported over
Advertiser Staff
Hawaiian Electric Co. has repaired and powered up a large generator that was among several that went off line earlier this week.
Customers are no longer being asked to impose emergency conservation measures in order to prevent blackouts, HECO said yesterday.
For two days, HECO asked for voluntary conservation by all customers, including large businesses.
HECO executives expressed their thanks yesterday for customer compliance, and asked residents and business managers to remember that although the emergency is over, day-to-day conservation is always important.
Two HECO generators were out of service yesterday, but one of them was expected to be up and running last night, a HECO statement said.
A generating unit run by Kalaeloa Partners, which sells power to HECO, was still running at reduced capacity yesterday.
CENTRAL
H-1 WIDENING TO CLOSE FREEWAY
H-1 Freeway between Halawa and Pearl City interchanges will be closed in both directions from 9:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and on Jan. 23.
The H-1 widening project requires the closures, officials said.
The work involves the existing and new portion of the freeway.
Motorists can use alternative routes such as Kamehameha Highway or Moanalua Road.
For up-to-date information on the construction schedule and lane closures of the H-1 widening work, call 587-6316 or see www.h1widening.com.
KALAELOA
VICTIM OF JAN. 7 CRASH IDENTIFIED
A 21-year-old man killed in an early-morning car crash Saturday on H-1 Freeway near Campbell Industrial Park has been identified by the medical examiner's office as Preston Kamanawa of Wai'anae.
An autopsy determined that he died of head and neck injuries.
BIG ISLAND
DITCH PROJECT TO GET $3 MILLION
The federal government will give the state Department of Agriculture about $3 million for a flood-protection project on the Lower Hamakua Ditch.
The state is contributing $1 million to the project.
"These federal funds are crucial for reinvigorating the infrastructure of the former sugarcane irrigation system, and for protecting the papaya, taro, asparagus and coffee crops raised by Big Island farmers from flooding," Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said in a written statement.
The project will include a pipeline that can provide drinking water in times of drought and help fight fires, Inouye said.
ALA MOANA
ARMED ROBBER HITS COMPUSA
A man armed with a handgun robbed the CompUSA on Ala Moana yesterday afternoon.
The man approached a cashier about 4:30 p.m., lifted his shirt and exposed a handgun that was tucked into his waistband, said police Detective Gary Lahens. The 19-year-old male cashier gave an undisclosed amount of cash to the robber, who ran away, Lahens said.
The robber was described as being in his 30s, 5 feet 10 with a slim build. Lahens said the robber wore a black T-shirt and jeans.
WAIKANE
HEAD-ON CRASH INJURES 3 PEOPLE
Three people were injured in a head-on vehicle collision about 1:40 p.m. yesterday on Kamehameha Highway near the Waikane Store.
Two people were flown by helicopter to The Queen's Medical Center.
A third person was taken by ambulance to Castle Medical Center.
SALT LAKE
MOANALUA HIGH TO HONOR ITS OWN
Four Moanalua High School graduates, including former Miss America Angela Baraquio, who graduated in the class of 1994, will be honored at the second annual Menehune Kina'ole Awards banquet on Thursday, February 16 at the Honolulu Country Club.
Honorees also include educator and athletics director Edwin Maruyama, class of 1979; businessman Dean Yamashi-roya, class of 1979 and president and CEO of Service Printers; and the school's first principal, James Kim, who led the school from 1972 to 1987.
The event is being called "Moonlit Night in Moanalua," and tickets are $75.
Sponsorship tables for 12 are also available. To purchase tickets or make a donation, call Jeff or Tami Brock at 837-0159.
Ticket sales will raise money for such things as faculty travel for professional development.
MAUI
AIRPORT FACILITY CEREMONY TODAY
State officials will break ground this morning for a new cargo building and agricultural air-freight inspection facility at Kahului Airport.
The $23.3 million project involves construction of a 7,400-square-foot building for the inspection of incoming air cargo to prevent entry of alien or invasive species.
Correction: The Menehune Kina'ole Awards banquet will be held Feb. 16 at the Honolulu Country Club. The date of the event was incorrect in a news brief on Page B3 yesterday. Edwin Maruyama is one of the honorees. His name was incorrect in the brief. Ticket sales will fund various school expenses and professional development needs identified by faculty, staff and students. The news brief misstated the purpose of the fundraising in a previous version of this story.
