HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Five rescued from big waves
Advertiser Staff
At least five people were rescued from the ocean yesterday as a massive swell sent huge waves crashing on O'ahu's North Shore.
Of the five people rescued, three were brought to shore by lifeguards on personal water craft after being dragged out to sea on an air mattress.
Bodo Van Der Leeden, North Shore lifeguard captain, said strong currents and the high waves washed the mattress toward Goat Island off Hukilau Beach.
"It's pretty hazardous to be crossing over there," he said.
Spectators clogged Kamehameha Highway to watch 25-foot waves pound the 18-mile coastline from Hale'iwa Beach to Hukilau Beach.
But organizers of the Eddie Aikau contest at Waimea Bay decided not to run the event and wait for bigger waves. They have until February to decide whether to hold the contest.
The swell, which began building Sunday afternoon and peaked yesterday, was on its way down. However, a new storm brewing in the West Pacific is expected to create another big swell that should hit Hawai'i by Thursday or Friday.
STATEWIDE
136 HAVE DIED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
Traffic fatalities have increased this year on O'ahu and Kaua'i and dipped slightly on Maui and the Big Island.
A total of 136 people have been killed on Hawai'i's roadways this year, six short of last year's total, according to state Department of Transportation statistics.
There have been 75 deaths on O'ahu, 35 on the Big Island, 15 on Maui and 11 on Kaua'i, according to police statistics.
O'ahu and Kaua'i have surpassed their totals for 2004. O'ahu had 71 last year while Kaua'i had 10.
Maui is down six deaths compared to 2004. The Big Island had 39 at this time last year.
Thirty-four of this year's fatalities statewide were pedestrian deaths. Twelve were pedestrians in crosswalks.
Gov. Linda Lingle on Friday said her administration will introduce legislation to increase penalties for motorists who violate Hawai'i's crosswalk law, which was enacted in May.
Under the new law, drivers must stop and yield the right of waywhen pedestrians are on the same half of the roadway or are approaching and in danger of being hit.
GAS PRICES STILL COUNTRY'S HIGHEST
The state's average price of gasoline yesterday continued to top prices across the nation.
According to AAA's Fuel Gauge Report, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Islands stood at $2.72 yesterday, with the second highest average at $2.40 in New York and Alaska.
The average of $2.95 in Wailuku topped Hawai'i prices, with Hilo reporting $2.76 and Honolulu at $2.63.
The lowest national average of $2 was reported in six states, including Missouri, Idaho, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.
MAUI
MAN DIES IN POLICE CUSTODY
A 48-year-old Wailuku man who had been arrested after a report of a domestic disturbance died Sunday while in police custody after experiencing difficulty breathing, police said.
Medical personnel were called to the Wailuku cellblock shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday and transported the man about 25 minutes later to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he died, police said.
The man, who was not identified, had been arrested about 7 p.m. Sunday after police were summoned to his residence because of call about a domestic disturbance, police said.
COUNTY BUYING WAIHE'E PARK
Maui County announced it was buying Waihe'e Ball Park but passing up an opportunity to purchase Waiehu Beach Park for $750,000.
The $449,000 deal with Wailuku Agribusiness Co. Inc. for Waihe'e is scheduled to close next week. The 1.8-acre park is used for softball leagues, pickup basketball games and physical education classes for Waihe'e Elementary School.
"We want it to remain in the community, because it's the only park in the community for actual ball play," Mayor Alan Arakawa said.
Officials said they aren't buying Waiehu because they thought the 1.6-acre beach park is not worth the $750,000 asking price.
Correction: Hawai'i's new crosswalk law requires drivers to stop and yield the right of way when a pedestrian is in the same half of the roadway or is approaching and in danger of being hit. The law was incorrectly described in a previous version of this story.
