HAWAI'I BRIEFS
It's safe to get back in the water
Advertiser Staff
Officials have reopened the beach at Kualoa Regional Park after bacteria counts dropped to acceptable levels.
The state Health Department posted warning signs there in December after high bacteria counts were found. The park's wastewater disposal system, consisting of holding tanks and leach fields, were the suspected cause. Meanwhile, the city continues to use tanker trucks to remove wastewater from the park's restrooms.
The state removed the warning signs Monday.
MAUI
MAN, 35, KILLED IN 3-VEHICLE CRASH
KIHEI — A Wailuku man was killed Monday when his northbound Chevy flatbed truck was rear-ended by a Hawaiian Cement truck on Pi'ilani Highway and knocked into the oncoming lane, where it was hit by a third vehicle.
The collision occurred at about 4:20 p.m. about a half-mile south of Welakahao Road. Police identified the victim as Reid Watanabe, 35, an employee of Tri-Isle Inc.
Maui Police Department traffic investigator Lawrence Becraft said the flatbed was coming to a stop when it was rammed from behind, and then collided with a southbound Mitsubishi multipurpose vehicle. The 32-year-old Pa'ia man who was driving the cement truck suffered minor injuries, as did the 24-year-old Kihei man driving the Mitsubishi.
BLOOD DRIVES IN JUNE IN WAILUKU
WAILUKU — The Blood Bank of Hawai'i will be visiting Maui in June for a three-day blood drive at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.
Blood will be collected from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 19; 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 20; and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 21. Donors must be 18 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and provide a photo ID. To make an appointment, call (800) 372-9966 or visit www.bbh.org.
CHINATOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD DECLARED HISTORIC
Mayor Mufi Hannemann and John Nau, chairman of the White House Advisory Council on Historical Preservation, announced yesterday that Chinatown has been designated as a Preserve America Community Neighborhood.
The announcement was made at a reception hosted by the Historic Hawai'i Foundation at the 'Iolani Palace Barracks to honor Nau.
"This designation will help us protect and promote Chinatown's historic resources and make Chinatown eligible for federal historic preservation funds," Hannemann said.
Nau is visiting Honolulu and Waimea on the Big Island to discuss historic preservation and burials issues with Native Hawaiians.
"Chinatown is the first place in Hawai'i to receive a Preserve America designation of any kind," Nau said. "And it's only the seventh neighborhood in the nation."
STATEWIDE
FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR EX-LAWMAKER
Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered flags at all state and county buildings to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, from sunup to sundown, in honor of former state Rep. Wing Kong Chong, who died April 25 at age 89.
Chong served in the state House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974, representing the Hilo Second House District.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at United Community Church in Hilo. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. A committal service and burial will follow at Homelani Memorial Park.
