Rain falls on Big Isle, Maui but drought stays
WAILUKU -- Almost 3 inches of rain fell over Kamuela on the Big Island and about a half-inch in Haiku on Maui during a 24-hour period ending 8 a.m. today.But the National Weather Service said the basic pattern of dry weather remains and residents can expect a continuation of drought conditions.
On Maui the rain fell enough to increase water storage from 69 to 71 million gallons at Kahakapao and from 33 to 40 million gallons at Piiholo, water board spokesman Michael Quinn said.
"That's pretty significant," Quinn said.
Quinn said a 10-percent cutback in water usage remains in effect from Kanaio to Haiku.
The Maui water board is meeting on Thursday to continue monitoring the drought.
Roy Matsuda, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service, said the rainfall came from a weak system.
Next Tripler commander selected, now in Texas
Brig. Gen. Nancy R. Adams has been selected for promotion and assignment as the next commander of Tripler Army Medical Center.She will replace outgoing Brig. Gen. Warren Todd at a change-of-command ceremony March 17. Adams is now commander of William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.
U.S. agency gives Hawaii grant for crime victims
Hawaii has received a nearly $1.6 million victim assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for victims of crime for fiscal 1998.These funds are used to provide services for crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, criminal justice advocacy and referral information to victims of crimes, Gov. Ben Cayetano said.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffBoat sinks off Maui; one of four aboard dies
WAILUKU -- A Maui man died yesterday after a boat he was on sank off McGregor Point near Maalaea.The man was among the four men on the 13-foot boat who tried to swim to the cliffs from less than 50 yards off shore, Coast Guard Petty Officer Bradley de Geus said.
De Geus said efforts to revive the man on shore were unsuccessful.
Bust leads to drug, prostitution arrests
KAILUA-KONA -- Big Island police raided a Kawaihae strip club early Saturday morning and arrested 11 people on prostitution and drug counts.All of those arrested, including two of the club's owners, were released pending further investigation for possible indictment at a later date.
Brush fires controlled after all-day battle
Gusting tradewinds yesterday kept firefighters busy in one of the Waianae Coast's usual hillside brush fire spots off Hakimo Road in Nanakuli.Several homes downwind of the brush fires were evacuated as one of four fires in the area came within 50 feet of houses, firefighters said.
There were no reports of property damage.
Fire companies began responding to the area at 9 a.m. and the last of the fires was under control by 4 p.m.
Suspect faces 3 charges of sexual assault
Police charged a 35-year-old man with multiple counts of sexual assault for allegedly attacking a Kalihi woman Saturday morning.Hanishi Vaiika of a North King Street address is charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree sexual assault. He is being held in lieu of $60,000 bail.
The incident was reported to police at 9:12 a.m.
The woman, 36, told police she awoke to find Vaiika holding a knife to her throat. He then forced her to have sex, the woman said.
Motorcyclist who lost control is in guarded condition
A 25-year-old man who lost control of his motorcycle and hit a curb Saturday in Kapolei is in guarded condition today at Queen's Hospital.Police said speed appears to be a factor in the 2:50 p.m. crash on Farrington Highway near Kamokila Boulevard.
Collision claims life of Big Isle man, 64
KAILUA-KONA -- A 64-year-old man became the Big Island's sixth traffic fatality of the year yesterday.Frederick Fry of Kailua-Kona died at 4:59 p.m. at Kona Community Hospital.
The Big Island had five traffic fatalities at this point last year.
The truck in which Fry was riding was traveling east on Kamehameha III Road when it crossed the center line east of Kaluna Street and struck an oncoming van going west, police said.
28-year-old man sought in Kailua sex assault
Police are looking for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Kailua yesterday.A 20-year-old woman reported she had gone drinking with the 28-year-old man and then returned to her apartment, police said.
She fell asleep and then awoke with the man sexually assaulting her, police said.
Police are looking for the 5-foot-9-inch man, who weighs about 160 pounds, has a tan complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue Billabong T-shirt and jeans, according to police.
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