HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Motorcyclist dies after accident
Advertiser Staff
A 36-year-old Honolulu man, who was thrown from his motorcycle Tuesday and taken to an area hospital, died from injuries suffered in the accident, Honolulu police reported.
Police said the incident occurred at 10:25 a.m. on Isenberg Street, about 140 feet from South King Street.
A southbound car driven by a 79-year-old Honolulu man on South King Street made a left turn into a business driveway and into the path of the northbound motorcycle.
The cycle struck the automobile broadside, ejecting the cyclist. The victim was pronounced dead at around 8:50 p.m. Thursday, police said.
Police said neither alcohol nor speed appeared to be factors. The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was the fifth traffic fatality of the year, compared with four by this time last year.
MAYOR TO LOOK AT RAIL SYSTEMS
Mayor Mufi Hannemann was to inspect two rail transit systems during a Mainland trip this week.
Hannemann was to depart yesterday, and meet tomorrow with officials of the SkyTrain light rail system in Vancouver, British Columbia.
City Councilmen Todd Apo and Gary Okino were to join Hannemann for a ride on the SkyTrain.
Following the 74th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., Hannemann was to stop in Las Vegas to tour the city's monorail system. He is to return to Honolulu next Sunday.
Last year, Hannemann signed into law a bill that raises the state's 4 percent general excise tax on O'ahu to 4.5 percent to help pay for a still-to-be-determined mass transit system. It goes into effect next Jan. 1.
WAHIAWA
CHERRY BLOSSOM TOURS FEB. 4
The Wahiawa Nikkei Civic Association is sponsoring a sakura, or cherry blossom, viewing trolley tour for Feb. 4 through Wahiawa.
The cherry trees in Wahiawa were planted from seedlings that came from Okinawa, and the blossoms have a darker color than most, organizers said.
The 90-minute tours will start at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission, 1067 California Ave, and will include a narration on historic sites. Cost is $5 per person. Bento lunches may be purchased for an additional $5.
Reservations are required; call 306-1876.
