Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Boil water, Upper Kula folks told

After six days of stormy weather, Maui county crews labored yesterday to clear roadways, restore water service to hundreds and open parks, a county news release said.

Water department personnel worked through the weekend, repairing numerous water line breaks caused by heavy rainfall, falling debris and flooding.

Several hundred residents still were without water in the Polipoli and Keokea areas of Kula, and the county supplied water tankers for those affected.

The county is advising Upper Kula residents from Copp Road to Kanaio to boil their water because water breaks might have compromised the quality of the water system. Other affected areas include Alae, Naalae Road, Waipoli, Polipoli, Waiohuli, Keokea and Ulupalakua.

Water should be boiled before it is used to drink, cook, brush teeth or wash dishes, the release said.

The rest of the island has had water service restored.

Several parks remained closed yesterday because of unstable conditions from erosion and debris. Those parks include Baldwin Beach Park in Paia, 4th Marine Park in Haiku and, in south Maui, Kalama Beach Park, Kalepolepo Park and Kamaole 1, 2, and 3 beach parks.

Almost all Oahuans get juice back

Fewer than a dozen customers remained without power yesterday from last week's rainstorms on Oahu, Hawaiian Electric Co. reported.

As of late yesterday afternoon, the utility had restored electricity to nearly all residential customers.

"We know it's been an ordeal for everyone and we sincerely thank our customers for their considerable patience," said Lynne Unemori, vice president for corporate relations.

Hoku chief will speak at UH-Hilo

The co-founder of the Hawaii-based alternative energy company Hoku Scientific will deliver the keynote address Saturday at the University of Hilo's fall commencement.

Dustin Shindo, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Hoku Scientific will speak at the ceremonies which begin at 9 a.m. at the UH-Hilo new gym.

Up to 233 students will participate in the ceremonies.

Shindo, a Waiakea High School graduate, earned an MBA from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia and a B.A. in accounting from the University of Washington.

At 34, Shindo is one of the youngest CEOs of a publicly traded company in the country.

Prior to Hoku Scientific, Shindo founded Hilo-based Mehana Brewing Co. in 1995. He also established Activitymax Inc., a company that develops reservation software for the travel industry. Shindo also served as a business consultant.

Jeffrey Byrne, a communications major, is the student speaker. The event will also include the presentation of the Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching to Raina Ivanova, an associate professor of mathematics.

UH-West Oahu rite set for Friday

Fall graduation ceremonies for the University of Hawaii at West Oahu will be held Friday at Leeward Community College's theater.

The ceremonies start at 6:30 p.m. and doors open at 6. Seating is limited and tickets are required to get into the theater, but there will be a television set up outside for friends and relatives who do not have a ticket.

No strollers or balloons will be allowed inside the theater.

There will also be an area outside the theater for friends and relatives to greet graduates.

About 60 students are eligible to participate in the ceremonies.

UH President David McClain and regent Ronald Migita will address the graduates.

Both city ferries will sail today

The city announced last night that both the Rachel Marie and Melissa Ann are scheduled to make their regularly scheduled sails today, weather permitting.

A city spokesman cited forecasts for better sea conditions today.

The ferries link Kalaeloa with downtown Honolulu. For more information, visit TheBoat's Web site at www.trytheboat.com.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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HONOLULU

Visitor injured hiking on Tantalus

Firefighters carried out a visitor who twisted her ankle while hiking on a Tantalus trail.

At about 3:30 p.m., the woman was hiking with three people on Makina Trail off Round Top Drive when she was hurt, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Robert Main. Her partners walked out and flagged police for help.

Firefighters carried the hiker about 1/4 mile to the trail head and transferred her to paramedics about 4:15 p.m.

She was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in stable condition, said Bryan Cheplic, Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Island fire burns home, SUV

A structure fire gutted a single family home in Big Island forest yesterday, causing about $120,000 in damage.

The fire at 113213 Pa Alii St. in the Royal Hawaiian Subdivision started about noon and was extinguished by 18 firefighters within 40 minutes.

An Isuzu Trooper in the driveway was also ruined and included in the damage estimate. The cause of the fire was under investigation. No one was injured.

Police use Tasers twice in 1st month

KAILUA-KONA » Hawaii County police have used their Tasers twice while making arrests since they started training officers to use the electronic stun guns last month.

In one case, police used a Taser while responding to a domestic dispute in Kona. In the other incident, officers used the device in East Hawaii but police didn't release details.

Sgt. Sam Kawamoto, one of six Taser trainers on the Big Island, said at least 90 percent of West Hawaii officers have completed the mandatory eight hours of training to use the device and now carry a Taser X26.

Tasers use compressed nitrogen to fire two darts that can penetrate clothing to deliver a 50,000-volt shock to immobilize people.