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Big Isle mayor backs buying shorefront land

HILO » Big Island Mayor Harry Kim said he will support a Hawaii County Council committee's proposal to fund the purchase of 224 acres of shorefront land in Honuapo in the Kau district to preserve the public's access to the coastline.

Kim said last week he will support the bill, but will only seek taxpayer money for the purchase of the land if no other source of funding is available.

Big Island County Councilman Bob Jacobson, who authored the legislation, said the land is threatened by development, and a private owner could prohibit long-standing public access at any time.

Real estate agent J. David Richardson said the property is being offered for about $2.7 million.

A proposal to put $500,000 toward the possible purchase of the property should appear before the County Council when it meets on April 6.

State recycling sites paying more for bottles

Starting last week, state redemption centers are paying slightly more by the pound for glass and plastic bottles.

The rate paid for glass bottles is now 2.4 bottles per pound, up from two bottles per pound. The rate for plastic bottles is now 16.6 bottles per pound, up from 12 bottles per pound.

These changes mean 10 pounds of HI-5 labeled glass bottles would receive 24 nickels, or $1.20, up from 20 nickels, or $1. Ten pounds of HI-5 labeled plastic bottles will receive 166 nickels, or $8.30, up from 120 nickels, or $6.

Per-pound rates for aluminum cans ($1.50 for 30 cans) and bi-metal cans (40 cents for eight cans) remain the same.

For more information, call the state Department of Health at 586-4226 or visit www.hi5deposit.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

Rain causes crashes involving 20 vehicles

Slick roads contributed to four separate accidents involving a total of 20 vehicles inside the Wilson Tunnel during rush-hour traffic yesterday evening.

Police shut down the Kaneohe-bound lanes of the Wilson Tunnel from 6 to 8 p.m. yesterday.

Police attributed the accidents to the rain.

Police said no one was critically injured in the accidents.

Similarly, on Jan. 17, police shut down the Kaneohe-bound lanes in the tunnel after three accidents occurred within a one-hour period due to wet roads.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Isle suspect sought in string of burglaries

Big Island police are looking for a suspect responsible for several burglaries at Kona resorts.

Most recently, police said a thief stole boogie boards, golf balls and clothing from the Kaupulehu resort between Sunday and Monday.

The suspect is described as a man in his late 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 127 pounds, with a slim build, dark complexion, shaved head and a mustache. He was also described as having a left black eye.

The suspect was seen driving a white four-door Isuzu sport utility vehicle.

Anyone with information on the burglaries or the suspect is asked to call officer Clyde Kawauchi at 326-4646, extension 257, or the nonemergency police number at 935-3311. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo and 329-8181 in Kona.

HONOLULU

Pedestrian injured critically in accident

A 57-year-old woman was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition after she was hit by a mo-ped while crossing Young Street on Monday night.

Police said at 8:45 p.m. a 48-year-old man and his 38-year-old female passenger were on the mo-ped traveling Ewa-bound on Young Street when they struck the pedestrian, near 1448 Young St.

Police closed Young from Kalakaua Avenue to Keeaumoku Street for about three hours while they investigated the collision.

Police determined that the victim had not been in a crosswalk when she was struck.