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Big Island electricity rates going up again
HILO -- The Hawaii Electric Light Co. received a 1.34 percent rate increase from the state Public Utilities Commission. The increase goes into effect Feb. 15.The increase, announced yesterday, was in addition to 3.52 percent in interim increases announced earlier, bringing the total to 4.86 percent. Beginning in October 1999, the company had sought increases of 9 percent.
The increases raise a typical monthly residential bill for 500 kilowatt hours by $5.87 to $119.
The purpose of the increases is to pay for power Helco buys from independent producers, including Hamakua Energy Partners and Hilo Coast Power Co., as well as for system improvements such as an upgrade of a transmission line from Honokaa to Waimea, the company said.
Protesters against construction
project at Hanauma Bay
Health Dept. to address Waimanalo Stream water quality
An information meeting on Waimanalo Stream water quality takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Waimanalo Public Library at 41-1320 Kalanianaole Highway.The Department of Health will explain findings in its draft report on stream pollution limits and solicit ideas to improve water quality.
Total maximum daily loads are the maximum amount of pollutants that can enter surface waters without violating state Water Quality Standards.
For Waimanalo Stream to meet state standards and be removed from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved list of impaired water bodies, the amount of nutrients and sediments entering the stream must be reduced to an amount allowed by these limits.
For a copy of the report, "Total Maximum Daily Loads Estimated From Waimanalo Stream, Island of Oahu, Hawaii," call the Environmental Planning Office at 586-4337, email bmatsunaga@eha health.state.hi.us, visit the Web site at www.hawaii.gov/doh/eh/epo/ or mail a request to the Environmental Planning Office, Dept. of Health, 919 Ala Moana, Room 312, Honolulu 96814. Comments must be transmitted in writing to the EPO manager at the above address and postmarked by March 7.
Hina Mauka Recovery Center expands hours of operation
The Hina Mauka Recovery Center in Kaneohe is now open seven days to help people with assessments or drug treatment.Services are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Sunday on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis, officials said.
Hina Mauka has received certification and approval from Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (TRICARE) to provide alcohol and other drug treatment for military members, dependents and retirees.
In addition to residential services in Kaneohe, Hina Mauka has day-treatment programs at Kaneohe and Waipahu, and in Lihue, Kauai and Wailuku, Maui.
Other services also are offered that aren't part of the TRICARE agreement, including outpatient programs at Kaneohe and Waipahu, and at the Institute for Human Services on Oahu and on Maui, Kauai and Lanai.
School-based services are provided to adolescents at 10 high schools and two middle schools on Oahu, Kauai and Lanai.
For more information about Hina Mauka's services, call 236-2600, extension. 227.
Akebono fair after motorcycle accident
Recently retired sumo wrestler Akebono is in fair condition at Queen's Medical Center after a motorcycle accident about 10:15 a.m. yesterday.Akebono, or Chad Rowan of Waimanalo, was traveling westbound on the H-1 freeway when he lost control of the motorcycle near the Middle Street offramp and it hit a guardrail, police said. He suffered abrasions and lacerations to his right leg and arm.
Income tax cuts not likely, senator says
Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brian Taniguchi said yesterday that he doubts there will be additional state income tax rate cuts like those proposed by Gov. Ben Cayetano.In fact, he told the committee that tax rates may need "to go in a different direction" to accommodate public employee pay raises, the soaring cost of the Felix consent decree and other state programs.
Committee action on Cayetano's proposals for additional income tax rate cuts and an increase in the standard deduction was deferred following yesterday's hearing.
Some Senate members have suggested looking at raising the state's 4 percent general excise tax or repealing the continuing phase-in of cuts in the income tax rates initiated in 1998, Taniguchi said.
"I'm still open to that," he said. However, while further tax rate reduction is unlikely, there is support to increase the standard deduction to help lower- and middle-income families, he said.
Kauai flash flood closes Hanalei Bridge
LIHUE -- Most of Kauai's north shore was cut off from the rest of the island this morning by the closure of Hanalei Bridge due to flooding from heavy rain.The roads reopened as of 3:30 p.m. today.
The National Weather Service said at 10:10 a.m. that 7.25 inches of rain fell at Hanalei in the preceding 24 hours, 5.5 inches of it since 4 a.m.
Hanalei Elementary School and Kula School, a small private school near Kilauea were closed today.
Kauai County Civil Defense also said that Kuhio Highway had been closed at two other places between Hanalei and the end of the highway at Kee Beach. High water has forced the closure of Wainiha Bridge and a landslide was blocking the highway at Lumahai. There were no reports of property damage or injuries.
A flash flood warning was in effect for Kauai.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Beretania Park on Aala Street: "Project Weed and Seed." Community celebration with free food, entertainment, free health screenings, door prizes and demonstrations.
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Maui police board to review probe of officer
WAILUKU -- An internal investigation has been completed into the conduct of a police detective charged with shoplifting a pair of $179 sunglasses at a Lahaina store on Nov. 22.Police Capt. Sydney Kikuchi said an administrative review board will review details of the investigation involving detective James Fletcher, who has been reassigned to desk work. Fletcher, 48, pleaded guilty to third-degree theft, a misdemeanor, on Jan. 10 in Lahaina District Court.
Judge Ruby Hamili granted Fletcher's request for a deferred acceptance of his plea, allowing his record to be cleared if he commits no further crime for a year.
Fletcher, a police officer for 15 years, was fined $1,000 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.
Kikuchi said the administrative review board, usually consisting of the deputy police chief and three assistant chiefs or captains, makes recommendations to the police chief.
Woman suffers head injuries after cliff fall
WAILUKU -- A Colorado woman was lin guarded condition this morning at Maui Memorial Medical Center after a fall off a cliff in east Maui.Maui Assistant Fire Chief Donald Moniz said the woman was hiking with her husband along East Wailua Iki Stream about 3/4 mile mauka of Hana Highway when she fell 30 to 40 feet.
The woman, who suffered head injuries, was airlifted at 3:13 p.m. yesterday to a road and then taken by ambulance to the hospital.
Flames shoot from Chevron smokestack
A malfunction in a smokestack at the Chevron oil refinery at Campbell Industrial Park yesterday caused flames to shoot about a hundred feet into the air.Chevron officials were alerted at 12:35 p.m. and immediately called the Fire Department, police and the Department of Health, said Albert Chee, Chevron public relations manager.
At no time did the plant have to shut down or people have to evacuate, and no one was injured, Chee said. He also stressed that the community was never in danger of toxic chemicals.
The large flame, which could be seen miles away, was caused by a pressure build-up triggering a series of safety devices, Chee said.
It is not known if the excess emissions violated standards set by the Health Department, and there will be a follow-up investigation, Chee said.
Man arrested for breaking Borders window
A homeless man was arrested late last night for breaking a 9-by-8-foot display window at Borders Books Music & Cafe in Ward Centre, police said.A witness reported he saw the man walk up to the window and break it at about 11 p.m., police said. The suspect walked away but was located by police and identified by the witness.
Search suspended for missing Kansas woman
The Coast Guard suspended the search this morning for a 68-year-old woman missing since Tuesday off Kauai's north shore.Ione Benden of Peck, Kan., was last seen on Kauai's Anini Beach carrying her snorkel gear.
Injured Maui woman airlifted off Diamond Head
A 46-year-old Maui woman, who planned to eat breakfast atop Diamond Head at sunrise this morning with a group of conventioneers, had to be airlifted off the trail, a fire official said.The woman severely sprained or broke her ankle near the first lookout at about 6 a.m., said fire Capt. Richard Soo.
Fire rescuers put a splint on the woman's ankle before airlifting her to the crater bottom. She was taken to Queen's Medical Center by ambulance in good condition.
Posing as gas worker, woman nabs credit cards
Police and CrimeStoppers are asking for the public's help in finding a woman who posed as an employee of The Gas Company and allegedly stole credit cards.The woman knocked on a Pauoa home at 11 a.m. Feb. 1 and told the 79-year-old resident she was investigating a gas line leak and needed to go through the woman's house with a special device, police said. The suspect then told the victim the charges for the service were $600 in cash. When the resident said she had no cash, the suspect drove her to her credit union. But a suspicious employee checked the woman's story and called police but the suspect fled before police arrived.
Several credit cards were stolen during the incident. The suspect is described as a woman in her 30s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, with a heavy build, tan complexion and noticeable freckles on her face. She had straight, shoulder-length hair pulled back in a ponytail and a slightly masculine appearance.
