Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Repairs of potholes to close some lanes
State road crews will be repairing potholes on Oahu's freeways and highways tomorrow through the rest of the week.Motorists should expect possible lane closures on H-1 and Moanalua freeways and Pali and Kalanianaole highways.
The potholes were left behind by recent heavy rains, which also caused damage on Likelike Highway and the closure of Round Top Drive over the past week.
The state Department of Transportation closed the right townbound lane of Likelike Highway near Valley View Drive yesterday for most of the day to repair damages from the rains.
Round Top Drive, which was closed near the 2500 block of the roadway after a landslide, was reopened Friday night.
Asphalt berms were installed Friday to divert water and protect the hillside from further erosion from future rains. Earlier, concrete barriers were put in to stop the hillside from slipping.
Meetings seek input on parks management
HILO >> The Big Island public will be asked how it wants to see three state parks managed in three meetings starting tomorrow, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced.The department is preparing to grant concessions or leases to private operators to run various aspects of parks at Mauna Kea, Hapuna and MacKenzie parks.
"This effort will help us expand recreational opportunities for the public without requiring additional expenditures of state funds," said DLNR head Peter Young.
The department is especially interested in proposals regarding camping, he said.
The department will eventually ask private businesses for formal proposals on running the three parks. The present meetings are to hear what details the state should consider in taking the proposals, a DLNR statement said.
The meetings will be tomorrow at the Pahoa Neighborhood Center, Tuesday at the Waimea Community Center, and Wednesday at the conference room at the state office building in Hilo. All meetings are at 6 p.m.
State gets grant for Hawaiian homelands
The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the construction of 440 single-family homes in South Kohala on the Big Island, the federal agency announced last week.The funding comes from the agency's Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, the first such block grant appropriated solely for those eligible to live on Hawaiian homelands.
It's similar to funding that has been available to American Indians and Alaska Natives since 1996, the federal agency said.
The first phase of construction is set to begin on 34 lots. The block grant program allows for additional funding to be made available in the future for related construction activity.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNORTH SHORE
Waialua girl, 17, dies after being hit by car
A 17-year-old girl died Friday night after being struck by a 1991 Nissan pickup truck traveling south on Kaukonahua Road near the Hukilau Loop.The accident occurred 9:25 p.m. when the Waialua girl was crossing the road and was hit by the pickup, driven by a 35-year-old Waialua man.
The girl sustained head and internal injuries and was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the accident. It is not known whether speed was a factor, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Comedian being held on charge of abuse
Comedian Shawn Kau'iolani Hill was behind bars in Lahaina last night after his arrest Friday afternoon on Front Street.Hill, who as Bu La'ia recorded a CD entitled "Hawaii's Most Wanted," was being held on a charge of abuse of a family member after his $15,000 bail bond from another alleged assault was revoked, police said.
Hill allegedly physically abused a household member Thursday at Kaiser Permanent's Waimalu Clinic, police said.
Hill had been in court earlier Thursday on charges he threatened and assaulted two animal control officers at his Kula home Nov. 18. Hill pleaded innocent.
At least 89 arrested in anti-DUI campaign
Big Island police arrested at least 89 people for driving under the influence during a nationwide campaign that ended Jan. 4 to protect motorists from drunken drivers.As part of the "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" campaign from Dec. 19 to Jan. 4, officers set up 23 roadblocks, which resulted in 16 DUI arrests, and concentrated patrol efforts in certain areas, which netted an additional 73 DUI arrests.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
