The Honolulu Board of Water Supply last night completed repairs to a punctured pipe and broken valve that had affected water service to East Honolulu since Tuesday, an agency spokesman said.

Residents from Waikiki to Hawai'i Kai had been asked to conserve water after a contractor accidentally punctured a 24-inch-diameter water main at the Diamond Head booster station. Subsequently, crews discovered a broken valve about 200 feet makai of the booster station.

Repairs to the pipe were completed yesterday, and crews about 9:30 last night completed repairs to the valve. Agency spokesman Devon Nekoba said residents limited their use of water from reservoir tanks and that it was not necessary to send out water wagons.

REPAIRS TO START ON POST OFFICE LOT

The Kane'ohe post office parking lot will undergo repairs beginning Monday.

The $166,000 project includes repaving, adding new curbs, widening parking spaces and installing handicapped-accessible ramps.

Customers will be able to use the parking lot during most of the construction but the lot will be entirely closed during repaving.

The contractor will attempt to minimize disruption to customers, said Postal Service spokesman Duke Gonzales.

The project should take two to three weeks to complete. During the project, the post office will maintain its usual hours of operation.

SNOW CLOSES ROADS TO SUMMITS

Icy roads and light snow on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa prompted the closing of roads to both summits yesterday.

A National Weather Service winter weather advisory for the Big Island's highest peaks was in effect until 4 p.m. yesterday. A kona low-pressure system brought up to 2 inches of snow to the summits, forecasters said.

COPPER THIEF GETS 16 MONTHS

A 29-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 16 months in prison for stealing four coils of copper ship-to-shore cable owned by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency last March 6.

Each coil consisted of 800 feet of rubber-insulated copper cable weighing 6,000 pounds.

Anesi S. Olive used a forklift and flatbed truck owned by his employer to load the coils and transport them to a recycling center. Olive received $7,000 for the copper.

He pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to stealing the coils. Olive was sentenced by federal Judge David Ezra.

2 GIRLS ARRESTED IN AUTO THEFT

Police arrested two girls, ages 13 and 15, early yesterday in Halawa on suspicion of auto theft after pursuing them from Waipahu. They were charged as juveniles with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

The girls were in a car reported stolen Tuesday night in 'Ahuimanu that was speeding on Kamehameha Highway and Waipahu Street. The car fled from patrol units onto the H-1 Freeway and refused an order to stop near the Ka'ahumanu Street overpass. The car got off the freeway at the Halawa exit and went down an embankment, colliding with a police car.

The girls ran from the car but were captured following a foot chase at 1:29 a.m.

HPD OFFICERS PROMOTED

Delbert Tatsuyama has been promoted to assistant chief in charge of the Honolulu Police Department's Administrative Bureau.

Tatsuyama, a graduate of the FBI National Academy, became a Honolulu police officer in 1980. He replaces Donna Andersen, who recently retired. Tatsuyama had been head of HPD's Finance Division since his promotion to major in 2004 and as assistant chief, he will oversee the Finance, Human Resources and Training Divisions, and also the Peer Support Unit and labor relations.

Maj. Mark Nakagawa will succeed Tatsuyama as Finance Division commander, moving over from the East Honolulu patrol district.

Police Chief Boisse Correa also announced the promotions of Gregory Leftcourt to major and Nyle Dolera to captain. Leftcourt is the new East Honolulu commander; Dolera is moving from Internal Affairs to become the Windward O'ahu patrol district's executive officer, succeeding Leftcourt.

HI 5¢ DRIVES SET FOR 'AIEA, KAILUA

Project Graduation committees at two O'ahu high schools will hold HI 5¢ recycling drives Saturday to raise money for postgraduation celebrations.

'Aiea High School's Project Grad will hold its monthly HI 5¢ collection at the school parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bottles and cans with the HI 5¢ designation are welcomed.

Kailua High School's Project Graduation 2008 committee will accept donations of redeemable beverage containers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school parking lot.