Roads to shut for Kauai marathon

Motorists on the Garden Island are being warned about traffic conditions during the inaugural Kauai Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday.

The race starts at 6 a.m. and goes through Koloa, Poipu, Lawai and Kalaheo. The county is asking motorists to limit or defer travel along Kauai's South Shore from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Motorists should drive with caution and allow extra time to get to their destination, according to a county news release.

The road closures include Hoonani Road from Lawai Road to Kapili Road; Poipu Road between Kapili Road and Ala Kinoiki Road; the outbound lane of Ala Kinoiki Road; the southbound lane of Ala Kalanikaumaka Road; the outbound lane of Maluhia Road from Ala Kinoiki Road to Kaumualii Highway; the southbound lane of Kaumualii Highway; the inbound lane of Koloa Road; the makai lane of Papalina Road from Waha Road to Puu Road; Omao Road; Lauoho Road; Waha Road; and Puu Road.

Traffic will be slowed as runners enter the Poipu roundabout.

Dry conditions and winds lead weather service to issue fire watch

The islands will be under a “;fire weather watch”; this morning and afternoon, the National Weather Service says.

That means conditions conducive to brush fires, including low humidity and sustained winds, are forecast.

“;Continued dry weather has produced low fuel moisture levels over Leeward areas,”; a weather service advisory said last night. “;Strengthening tradewinds will increase the fire danger to critical levels. ... Continued windy weather could mean another day of critical fire weather conditions on Thursday.”;

The weather service began issuing fire weather watches and the more serious “;red flag warnings”; in August 2008.

The program is meant to alert land managers, emergency agencies and the public of the increased dangers.

The watch means that conditions are right for a red-flag warning to be issued in the next 12 to 72 hours, while the warning means that weather conditions conducive to brush fires are occurring or will happen in 24 hours or less.

3 UH faculty members to receive awards for scholarly contributions

Three University of Hawaii faculty members are being honored with the Regents Medal for Excellence in Research, the university has announced.

The award recognizes scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of knowledge and enrich the lives of all in the community, nation and the world.

The awardees are Milton Diamond, a professor of anat-omy, biochemistry and physiology at the John A. Burns School of Medicine; Sandip Pakvasa, a professor of physics and astronomy at UH-Manoa; and Jon Van Dyke, a professor at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

They will be recognized for their achievements at a ceremony Sept. 15 at Kennedy Theatre on the Manoa campus. The ceremony is open to the public at no charge, and no reservations are needed. For more information on the awards ceremony, see http://www.hawaii.edu/about/awards.