HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Teen's death now a homicide case
Advertiser Staff
Maui police have opened a homicide investigation in the case of an 18-year-old man who was found at the Pa'uwela Lighthouse with a fractured skull.
The man was found Thursday morning at the lighthouse in Ha'iku and died Friday at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was identified as Yesuah Boerstler of Kihei.
Police said Boerstler was found unconscious with a fractured skull and other injuries. He had apparently attended a party at the lighthouse on Wednesday night with other teenagers.
Police are asking for the public's help in the case, and have asked witnesses to call 244-6400 or 242-6966. An autopsy is scheduled.
HALEAKALA PARK CONSERVING WATER
Haleakala National Park has initiated water conservation measures in response to low rainfall.
Park facilities, the administration building, employee housing and backcountry cabins are on a rain-catchment system and water reserves are low, said chief of maintenance Frank Baublits.
Hand sanitizer has been made available to visitors and employees instead of soap and water, restroom users are being asked to limit flushing, and workers who live at the park are limiting the amount of water needed for showers, dish washing and other uses.
Even under normal conditions, the national park practices water conservation, with waterless urinals, an innovative water-recycling system at the summit and low-flow toilets and showers, Baublits said.
PU'UNENE CRASH VICTIM IDENTIFIED
A 54-year-old visitor who was killed in a car crash Wednesday has been identified as Mark Durham of Richardson, Texas.
Durham, a self-employed contractor, apparently ran a stop sign at the intersection of Pulehu and Hansen roads in Pu'unene, police said.
Durham was pronounced dead at Maui Memorial Medical Center shortly after the collision, which occurred just before noon. He was headed down Pulehu Road in a 2004 Ford Focus with two 12-year-old girls as passengers when the car entered the intersection and was broadsided by a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe headed north on Hansen Road, police said. One of the girls in Durham's car was critically hurt and was flown to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu. The other girl was treated at the Maui hospital and released.
The 40-year-old Kihei woman who was driving the Hyundai suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
NORTH SHORE
MAN CRITICALLY INJURED IN CRASH
A man who was operating a motorcycle on Kaukonahua Road in Hale'iwa was in critical condition yesterday after slamming into a sport utility vehicle, police and an Emergency Medical Services spokesman said.
The man, who was in his 50s, was airlifted to The Queen's Medical Center after the 2:30 p.m. accident, EMS spokesman Bryan Cheplic said. The driver of the SUV was not injured.
Police closed Kaukonahua Road in both directions and detoured traffic to Kamehameha Highway.
BIG ISLAND
ISLE CREW TO FIGHT CALIFORNIA FIRE
A 20-person wildland fire crew from Hawai'i has left for California to help battle the Hunter Fire in Mendocino National Forest in Covelo.
The crew, which left Friday, includes firefighters from Hawai'i Volcanoes and Haleakala national parks, Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and the USS Arizona Memorial, and personnel who completed wildland fire training at Hawai'i Community College, according to the National Park Service.
At least three wildland fires started last week in the Mendocino Forest when a lightning storm passed through northern California. The fires range in size from five to 200 acres.
With numerous wildfires all over the Mainland, the Hawai'i firefighters were asked to lend a hand for at least three weeks, said Greg Herbst, acting fire management officer at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, which is in a very high fire-danger status because of dry, windy weather. Herbst said the park has kept enough staff on hand to respond to local fires.
KALIHI
PACIFIC GATEWAY GETS $100K GRANT
The Pacific Gateway Center has received a $100,000 grant to produce a media campaign aimed at ending domestic violence in immigrant communities.
The money, from the McInerny Foundation, will help pay for the production of a video in five different languages to be presented at public meetings and other events.
Teenagers from participating high schools will make the video and help in other aspects of the campaign, which include distribution of the videos to community groups.
The Pacific Gateway Center assists immigrants, refugees and low-income residents in the Islands. For more information, call the center at 845-3918.
