Body of man found on Kauai

Kauai authorities are trying to identify a man whose decomposed body was found yesterday in remote Kalalau Valley.

A tour helicopter called police at about 2:30 p.m. after seeing “;SOS”; written in the sand on Kalalau Beach, Kauai County officials said.

A private helicopter flew firefighters to a landing pad in Kalalau, and firefighters spoke to people in the area who were able to lead them to the body, said Battalion Chief Jason Ornellas. He said the valley has poor or no cell phone reception.

Firefighters retrieved the body in some bedding at the back of the valley and carried it to the landing pad, then flew the body to Princeville Airport.

The remains were turned over to Kauai police at 6 p.m.

Ornellas said the remains were “;very decomposed.”; There were no obvious signs of foul play.

It was unclear who wrote the “;SOS.”;

Oily sheen at Kailua Beach prompts lifeguards to warn away swimmers

Lifeguards warned beachgoers not to swim at Kailua Beach yesterday after an oily substance was found in the water.

At about 12:20 p.m. more than 25 people complained to lifeguards of a slippery substance that tasted like oil in the water, said Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

Lifeguards saw a brown and green oily sheen about 150 yards long and 50 years wide in front of the Kailua Beach Park boat ramp area, he said.

The city notified the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Coast Guard about the substance.

Brig. Gen. O'Shaughnessy to take new post at Nevada Air Force base

Brig. Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, vice commander of 13th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, at Hickam Air Force Base, will be the next commander of 57th Wing of the Air Combat Command at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

He commanded the 613th Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam from September 2008 to August.

In other military news, Capt. Katherine L. Gregory has been selected for promotion to rear admiral and will be the next commander at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command at Pearl Harbor. Gregory is serving as chief of staff of the First Naval Construction Division/Naval Construction Forces Command at Norfolk, Va.

Weather service upgrades system to handle multiple phone callers

Four previously listed National Weather Service numbers for weather information have been replaced with just one: 973-4380.

Only one caller could be served at a time in the previous system, but the new number can accommodate multiple callers.

The new automated system gives callers a single access point to Oahu island and surf forecasts, hourly buoy reports and coastal wind observations, a coastal water forecast, tides and sunrise and sunset information.

Tropical storm forecasts also will be available during hurricane season.

Information specific to Maui County, including the sunrise forecast for Haleakala, is available toll-free at (866) 944-5025.

MADD seminar aims to help victims and families hurt by drunken drivers

MADD will hold its first Grief and Bereavement Seminar Saturday to provide help to people injured and to families of those killed in crashes because of drunken drivers or violent crimes.

The free seminar will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Queen's Conference Center, 510 S. Beretania St.

Speakers will be Mary Essig-Morrow on “;Coping with Tragedy,”; Dr. Anne Sage, “;Giving Yourself Permission to Grieve,”; and Brother Jack Isbell with the Order of the Franciscans of the Holy Cross and Hawaii Pacific University professor, “;Stages of Grief.”;

Community partners will have display booths. To attend, call MADD Hawaii at 532-6232.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Boats to need permits at Kealakekua

KAILUA-KONA » The state plans to protect corals and historical sites at Kealakekua Bay State Historic Park by requiring park visitors to obtain permits.

Starting Feb. 23, permits will be required for those seeking to land kayaks and other vessels along the Kaawaloa shoreline or moor at the wharf next to the Captain Cook Monument.

People commonly land vessels at Kaawaloa to get to the monument and to go snorkeling at Kaawaloa Cove.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said it is informing kayak rental businesses about the new permit requirement. It is also asking them to tell their customers.

Department spokeswoman Deborah Ward says the agency is encouraging visitors to enjoy the park responsibly.