Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Meetings to discuss ferry system

Public meetings on the upcoming interisland ferry system will start this week on the Big Island, Maui, Kauai and Oahu.

The state Department of Transportation's Harbors Division and Hawaii Superferry representatives will provide updates on the project.

BIG ISLAND

» Konawaena High School, Monday, 7 p.m., 81-1043 Konawaena Road.

» Thelma Parker Memorial Public & School Library, Tuesday, 10 a.m., 67-1209 Mamalahoa Highway.

» Hilo State Office Building Conference Room A, B & C, Tuesday, 7 p.m., 75 Aupuni St., first floor.

MAUI

» Lahaina Civic Center, Wednesday, 7 p.m., 1840 Honoapiilani Highway.

» Old Kalama Park Pavilion, Thursday, 10 a.m., South Kihei Road.

» Lihikai Elementary School cafeteria, Thursday, 7 p.m., 3355 Papa Ave.

KAUAI

» Kapaa Middle School cafeteria, June 26, 7 p.m., 4867 Olohena Road.

» Eleele Elementary School cafeteria, June 27, 10 a.m., 4750 Uliuli Road.

» Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria, June 27, 7 p.m., 4319 Hardy St.

OAHU

» Puuhale Elementary School, June 29, 7 p.m., 345 Puuhale Road.

» Aliiolani Elementary School cafeteria, July 5, 7 p.m., 1240 7th Ave.

» Kaneohe Elementary School cafeteria, July 6, 7 p.m., 45-259 Waikalua Road.

For more information, call Marshall Ando, harbors design engineer, at 587-1961.

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June is 'Love-a-cat' month

The Hawaiian Humane Society is offering a two-for-one adoption special for cats during June, "Love-a-Cat" month.

Two adults cats can be adopted for the single $55 fee, which covers sterilization, cat food, a toy, microchip identification and vaccination, according to a society release. The society, at 2700 Waialae Ave., is open weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, see www.hawaiianhumane.org.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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LEEWARD OAHU

2 fires displace 11 people from homes

Several Leeward Oahu families were displaced when two separate building fires struck about the same time yesterday evening, fire officials said.

About 35 firefighters arrived a two-story Ewa Beach apartment at 91-627 Kilaha St. around 6:30 p.m. and had the blaze under control by 6:45 p.m., Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenui Spencer said.

"The fire was contained to one unit, but it did almost jump over to the adjacent unit," said Spencer, who noted that no one was seriously injured.

Chris Steber of the Red Cross said the unit next door suffered smoke and water damage.

A total of four adults and one child from two families were displaced. Red Cross volunteers found shelter for one family and clothing for the other family who found their own shelter.

A few miles away at the Kauiokalani Housing Complex in Waianae, a townhouse fire displaced one adult and five children yesterday evening. The blaze at 85-658 Farrington Highway was reported at 6:23 p.m.

The 18 firefighters who responded had the fire under control by 6:27 p.m. and extinguished by 7 p.m., Spencer said.

Police said the blaze was confined to the bedroom of the upstairs unit, however the unit below suffered water damage.

Red Cross volunteers provided the family with food, clothing and shelter for the night.

Spencer said the cause of both fires is under investigation.

ATV rider is injured after collision with car

Police said a 30-year-old man was ejected from his all-terrain vehicle late Friday night after it collided with a car making a left turn into the Waianae Boat Harbor.

The victim, who was traveling eastbound on Farrington Highway around 10:20 p.m., suffered "severe traumatic injuries," said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department.

He was taken to Waianae Coast Comprehensive and later medivaced to Queen's Medical Center in extremely critical condition.

The 27-year-old male driver of the car and his female passenger were not injured.

HONOLULU

Burning hearse snarls Wilson Tunnel traffic

Police said a burning hearse on Likelike Highway town-bound in the Wilson Tunnel snarled traffic for about an hour shortly after noon yesterday while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Police said the male driver of the car was alone and on his way to work when he started losing power.Police said he stopped the vehicle, opened his hood and saw flames coming from the engine compartment. Police said he closed the hood and notified authorities.

No one was injured and the driver of the hearse was not transporting a corpse.

Accident ejects rider from pickup truck bed

Police said a pickup truck carrying seven passengers allegedly ran a red light, collided with another vehicle and seriously injured a 21-year-old man who was ejected from the bed of the truck in Honolulu early yesterday morning.

Police said the collision that happened at 12:35 a.m. at the intersection of McCully and King streets.

Bryan Cheplic, of the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Department, said the victim was transported to the Queen's Medical Center in extremely critical condition.

Cheplic said the truck's driver, an 18-year-old Ewa Beach man and his passengers were treated on the scene for minor injuries. He said the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

Police said alcohol and drugs were not involved, but they do not know if speed was a factor.

Driver critically hurt in garbage truck crash

A 36-year-old male driver of a van was in critical condition yesterday morning after his vehicle rear-ended a garbage truck in Honolulu yesterday.

Police said the collision happened at 5:06 a.m. near North School Street and Kapalama Street. Rescue crews transported the victim to Queens Medical Center where his condition was later upgraded to serious.