The Coast Guard yesterday eased its restrictions on Kahului Harbor during Superferry visits.

The Coast Guard captain of the port announced his intention to enforce only the 100-yard security zone around the Alakai, and for now would not enforce the temporary security zone.

Thus, surfers, paddlers, fishermen, boaters and other recreational users may once again use Kahului Harbor at any time, the Coast Guard said, as long they do not approach within 100 yards of the Alakai or any other large passenger vessels when they are in the harbor.

Recreational users do not need to get prior permission from the Coast Guard to use the waters of the harbor for legitimate recreational purposes.

The Coast Guard adopted a temporary security zone that included almost the entire port on Dec. 13 as a means of promoting public safety during the transit of the Alakai in and around the harbor. The temporary security zone expires Jan. 31, 2008, but, in the interim, remains a tool the Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies can use to ensure public safety.

MAN CHARGED IN ATTACK ON WOMAN

Prosecutors yesterday charged a 40-year-old Kalihi man with beating his girlfriend with a metal pipe.

Manea Maneafaiga Jr., of a Linapuni Street address, is accused of second-degree assault and is being held in lieu of $11,000 bail pending his District Court appearance today.

The woman, 25, told police that she was struck in the back of the head and forearm with a 10-inch metal pipe Monday morning during an argument with her boyfriend.

SEWAGE SPILL FOULS KAPALAMA CANAL

Warning signs were posted yesterday advising the public to stay out of Kapalama Canal and the area where the canal empties into Honolulu Harbor, due to a sewage spill.

Watson T. Okubo, chief of the state Clean Water Branch's monitoring and analysis section, said the city Environmental Services Department notified the state of a 207-gallon overflow from a sewer manhole at 1874 North King St. City officials attributed the overflow to heavy grit and debris in the line.

PARENT RETURNS SCHOOL COMPUTER

A parent cooperating with school officials in Wai'anae yesterday returned a stolen laptop computer found in her son's room.

The woman's 17-year-old son was arrested by police for second-degree theft (detaining stolen property) and released pending further investigation.

The computer assigned to a school vice principal was stolen Dec. 7 sometime between 2 and 5 p.m., police said.

School officials asked the mother for help after suspecting that her son, who does cleanup work on campus, took the computer.

SMOKE IN COCKPIT ABORTS ISLE FLIGHT

A faulty oven filled a jetliner cockpit with smoke yesterday, forcing the Honolulu-bound plane to circle back and return safely to Los Angeles International Airport, officials said.

The 244 passengers and eight crew members aboard ATA Airlines Flight 4755 were not injured, airline spokeswoman Maya Wagle said.

The Boeing 757 took off at 9:05 a.m. and was a half-hour into the flight when the pilot declared an emergency because of smoke in the cockpit, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

A malfunctioning oven situated next to the cockpit sent "a little bit of smoke" into the cockpit, Wagle said.

"We always put the safety of the passengers first," Wagle said.

The plane circled back to the airport and flew around to burn up fuel, then landed at 10:05 a.m., Gregor said. After repairs, it resumed its trip and arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon.

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