Strong winds lead to Sand Island blackout

A short circuit due to swinging power lines in windy conditions appears to have been the cause of a power failure in the Sand Island-Iwilei area, Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Darren Pai said.

The blackout, affecting 2,500 customers, lasted for about 45 minutes, with power restored at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, Pai said.

Pai said he has received no report of any damage due to the outage.

Kapolei Court Complex will open in phases

The Hawaii State Judiciary says the Kapolei Court Complex in West Oahu is opening in phases.

The judiciary said Monday that hearings involving detained juveniles are now being held at the Kapolei juvenile detention facility — not at the old Adler Street location in lower Makiki.

From March 29 such hearings will be held both at the new detention facility and at the new Kapolei court building at Kapolei Parkway and Kamokila Boulevard.

Also moving to Kapolei will be Waianae District Court, currently in Nanakuli.

Family Court — excluding three adult criminal divisions — will move from Honolulu to Kapolei at the end of the month.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

New station to improve police action

PAHOA, Hawaii » Hawaii County administrators are promising a new $4.5 million Pahoa police substation being built will lower response times and improve police services in the area.

The new facility is being built on state-owned land on Highway 130 that also houses a $5.3 million fire station the county opened late last year.

Police Capt. Steven Guillermo, who is in charge of the Puna District, says the new station will help officers respond faster to Pahoa and other areas near lower Puna that generate most of the district's calls for service.

As part of the expected improvements in police services for the area, the new station will also house video equipment linked to surveillance cameras in Pahoa.