LĪHU‘E – National Police Week will be celebrated across the country from May 11 to 17. “Police Week is a time to reflect on the sacrifices our law enforcement officers have made for our communities, those who have died in the line of duty and those who continue to protect our community on a daily basis,” said Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry. During the Police Week celebration, the public will have an opportunity to tour police headquarters and the Incident Command Vehicle, meet police officers and learn first-hand about the Kaua‘i Police Department’s day-to-day operations. An open house is scheduled on Thursday, May 15, from 10 am to 4:30 pm.
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LĪHU‘E – Kaua‘i’s Outstanding Male and Female Older Americans were honored yesterday at the 42nd annual Older American Awards Recognition Ceremony. The event was held at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort as part of the celebration of May being Older Americans Month.
Naoko Ho, of Waimea, and Richard “Soupbone” Kashiwabara, of Lihue, were named Kaua‘i’s 2008 Outstanding Older Americans. The awardees were selected by a judging panel from a field of sixteen nominees including: Elizabeth Kapeka Azeka; Josephine Bandmann; Raymondo Domingo; Basilio B. Fuertes, Jr.; Mel Gabel; Nancy Golden; Nancy Harada; Katherine Martin; Marilyn Matsumoto; Betty Matsumura; Howard M. Nagaoka; Haruko Otsubo; Irene Randall; and Roberta Weil.
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LĪHU‘E – The fifth annual Team Tech Kaua‘i Adopt-a-School Learning Celebration will be held tomorrow at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, 8:30 to 11 am. The public is invited to view student displays and watch demonstrations of the work Kaua‘i’s schools have done in partnership with local high tech companies. Throughout the year, these businesses coordinate classroom activities and special events for students at their adopted schools that augment the school’s math and science curriculum. In some instances, companies have also assisted schools in upgrading their computer systems or provided professional development for teachers.
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LIHUE - In preparation for the 2008 Primary and General elections scheduled for Sept. 20 and Nov. 4, respectively, the Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division announces that Notice of Voter Registration and Address Confirmation postcards, more commonly known as "yellow cards" were mailed to all registered voters on May 5, 2008.

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KAPA‘A – There has been a change in the scheduled closures of the Kapa‘a and Waimea swimming pools. The Kapa‘a pool will be closed from May 11 to 17, and the Waimea pool will be closed, May 10 to 17. The closures will allow the Parks & Recreation aquatic section staff to attend an American Red Cross lifeguard and instructor training course.
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The Department of Water is resuming testing its new water well in Anahola. The second of three tests began this morning at 8 am and will run through 8 am tomorrow. The third test will be conducted from 8 am Friday to 8 am Saturday. All existing wells in the area have been shut down in order to conduct the tests. Although water in the tanks is available, the supply of water is limited. During these periods, residents may experience low water pressure and possibly water outages depending on usage and storage in the tanks.
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WAILUA – A 20-year-old man was airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center this morning in critical condition following an early morning traffic crash in Wailua. His current condition is not known. A 25-year-old man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was taken to Wilcox, treated and released. According to a preliminary report, the motorist was northbound on Kūhi‘ō Highway near the South Leho junction at around 2:47 am. He lost control of the vehicle and went off the highway.
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HANALEI – In an effort to clean up and do the necessary repair work on the park’s septic system, Black Pot Beach Park will be closed for two weeks from May 15 to 31. “The county is working with the state to take care of a public safety issue at Black Pot Beach Park,” said Bernard Carvalho, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “The timing is also perfect for preparing the park for summer activities.” According to Doug Haigh, chief of the Department of Public Works Building Division, the park’s septic system was installed in 1990 and needs to be upgraded. “Basically, we’ll be upgrading the existing wastewater system at the park to increase capacity and improve effluent disposal,” said Haigh, adding that the major portion of the work is expected to be completed by the end of May.
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LĪHU‘E – In the last few days, there has been a sharp increase in the number of gas thefts reported to the Kaua‘i Police Department. “Unfortunately, as the price of fuel goes up, the likelihood that thieves will target accessible vehicles goes up, too,” said Lt. Daniel Fort. “But there are measures that residents and visitors can implement to prevent this from happening to them.”
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LĪHU‘E – A program aimed at improving the health of Kaua‘i’s kupuna was selected as a 2008 Older Americans Month Program Champion by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA). Kaua‘i’s EnhanceFitness program is being spotlighted on AoA’s website, www.aoa.gov/press/oam/May_2008/program_champions.asp, along with other outstanding senior programs in celebration of May being Older Americans Month. “We are honored to be recognized for our EnhanceFitness program, which aims to empower our older residents to make lifestyle changes that can reduce their risk of disease, disability and injury,” said Kealoha Takahashi, head of the Agency on Elderly Affairs (AEA).
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PUHI – A fire at a residence on Mano St. in Puhi last night resulted in $60,000 in damages to the home and its contents. The fire broke out at around 11:42 pm and was mostly contained to the enclosed garage, although some smoke damage was reported throughout the house.
One of the residents, a 51-year-old man, was found lying on the ground outside the house suffering from smoke inhalation when firefighters and police arrived. He was taken to Wilcox Hospital via ambulance for treatment. As of this writing, the man is in fair condition.
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HANALEI – To meet the growing need for increased public transportation on the north shore on weekdays, county officials are adding three new bus routes effective today. “The first two buses departing Hanalei at 6:20 and 8:20 am on weekdays are at capacity,” said Janine Rapozo, executive on transportation. “So we’ve added another early morning route that leaves Hanalei at 7:20 am. We anticipate that this route will also be filled with commuters.” The afternoon routes heading out to Hanalei have had high ridership, too, noted Rapozo, explaining that the 2:21 and 4:21 pm route 500 buses that leave Kaua‘i Community College (KCC) bound for Hanalei are also at capacity. “To fill this demand, we’re extending the 3:21 pm route 500 bus, which originated at KCC and terminated in Kapa‘a. This bus will now continue on to Hanalei,” Rapozo said. For those wanting to catch The Kaua‘i Bus from Hanalei to Līhu‘e in the late afternoon, a 5:20 pm route 500 bus has been added.
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LĪHU‘E – The annual “Click It or Ticket” statewide campaign begins today and will run throughout the entire month of May. “We want to remind drivers about the importance of our seat belt and child passenger restraint laws and encourage the proper use of seat belts and child safety seats," said Lt. Mark Scribner with the Kaua‘i Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit. He noted that statistics have shown that using seat belts is the most effective measure that motorists can utilize to protect themselves in a traffic accident. “Last year, Kaua‘i had the highest compliance rate, 98.3 percent, for seat belt usage in the state, and nationally, Hawai‘i ranked the highest with 97.6 percent seat belt usage,” said Scribner. “We’re hoping to maintain these rates.”
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The Department of Water will be testing a new water well in Anahola from 8 am tomorrow through 8 am Friday, and will need to shut down all existing wells in the area in order to conduct several tests. During this period, residents may experience low water pressure and possibly water outages depending on usage and storage in the tanks. Although water in the tanks will be available, the supply of water will be limited. Residents are asked to implement water conservation measures including: refraining from washing cars; reducing outdoor irrigation; and using water wisely indoors and outdoors.
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a missing person. According to police, 22-year-old Jesse Glenn Pinegar was reported missing on April 13. Pinegar flew to Hawai‘i from Utah for a vacation three months ago. He is believed to be somewhere on the north shore, possible in Kalalau Valley or working on a farm. Pinegar’s father is currently on Kaua‘i searching for his son. He is hoping that Jesse will call him on his cell phone, 801-427-7183.
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KAPA‘A – County officials announced that parking is no longer allowed along the rockwall in the vicinity of Fujii Beach in Kapa‘a. No Parking signs were recently installed on the makai side of Moanakai Rd. due to the large sink holes that develop in the area during high surf and/or heavy rains.
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LĪHU‘E – Despite his disappointment with the initial failure of the agricultural subdivision moratorium bill, Mayor Bryan Baptiste remains committed to dealing with the problem of the loss of agricultural lands on Kaua‘i. With input from concerned citizens over the last few months, the mayor has decided to take a new approach to dealing with the problem. First, he is re-introducing a bill for a moratorium on agricultural subdivisions. “Like the original bill we submitted, the basic premise of this bill is to take a time-out while dealing with facets of the issue that have to be discussed and decided upon,” said the mayor. Noting that the proposed legislation was reviewed by the County Attorney’s office, the mayor said he believes that the bill is legally defensible.
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ELE‘ELE – A 19-year-old Hanapēpē woman died this morning in a single-car crash near Ele’ele Shopping Center. Monique Place was westbound at around 3:54 am on Kaumuali‘i Highway just east of the Waialo Rd. junction when she lost control of the vehicle she was driving. She crossed the centerline onto the eastbound shoulder, struck a fire hydrant and came to a stop after hitting a metal utility pole. Place died at the scene. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
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KAPA‘A – The Kapa‘a and Waimea swimming pools will be closed for a week, from May 12 to 16, to allow the Parks & Recreation aquatic section staff to attend an American Red Cross lifeguard and instructor training course. The normal hours of operation at the Kapa‘a swimming pool are: Tuesday to Friday – 11 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday – 10 am to 4:30 pm; and Sunday – noon to 4:30 pm. The normal hours of operation at the Waimea swimming pool are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4:30 pm, and Sunday, noon to 4:30 pm. Both swimming pools are closed on Mondays and holidays.
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HANALEI – As of this writing, an unoccupied 30-ft. sailboat is stuck in the sand at Hanalei Bay.
Efforts are being coordinated by the state Department of Transportation Harbors Division to move the boat to shore. Earlier, firefighters from the Hanalei station and rescue specialists from the Līhu‘e fire station responded to a 1 pm call from lifeguards stationed at the Hanalei tower who informed them that a boat was adrift. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the boat was stuck in the sand about 300 to 400 yards to the left of Hanalei pier.
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LĪHU‘E – Advocates of beach safety awareness have come up with another tool designed to reduce the number of drownings on Kaua‘i. The idea of inserting a bookmark with ocean safety tips in visitor guidebooks was raised by Kaua‘i Fire Chief Robert Westerman several months ago and recently the Kaua‘i Water Safety Task Force (KWSTF) coordinated the printing of the bookmarks. “It’s another way to get the word out especially to visitors about the need to be careful when enjoying our beautiful beaches,” said Westerman.
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a teen runaway. According to police, 16-year-old Ashton Perez was reported missing on April 15 after leaving home with a duffle bag packed with clothes. He was later seen at a south shore beach.
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LĪHU‘E – County officials announced that the registration period for the 2008 Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard Program has begun. The program is free and is designed to teach ocean safety and lifesaving skills to young people, ages 13 to 17. In addition, it covers physical conditioning and competition skills. To sign up for the program, stop by the Kaua‘i Fire Department headquarters located on the second floor of the Līhu‘e Civic Center or any county lifeguard tower.
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LĪHU‘E – The benefits of marketing a business through a well-developed website and other eCommerce vehicles will be the focus of an upcoming workshop. Financial assistance to businesses for website development will also be covered. Sponsored by the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, County of Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development (OED), and the High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), the workshop is scheduled on Wednesday, May 7, 8 am to 2 pm, at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
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KALAPAKĪ – A 30-year-old male visitor from Santa Ana, Calif. was pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital this afternoon. The man, a United Airlines flight attendant, had been swimming with two co-workers at Kalapakī Beach. His co-workers lost sight of him and began searching for him.
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WAIMEA – The autopsy report on the man found Wednesday morning in a burned vehicle at the Russian Fort revealed that the victim sustained no injuries that would substantiate foul play was involved in the incident. Police are hoping that a final determination on the cause of his death will be made upon the completion of a toxicology report, which is expected in a few weeks.
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KŌLOA – The Kōloa bottle redemption center located next to the Kōloa fire station on Po‘ipū Road is closed today due to inclement weather. Weather permitting, the redemption center will reopen on Sunday. Normal operating hours at the Kōloa facility are Thursdays and Sundays, 8 am to 4 pm, with no break for lunch. The nearest bottle redemption centers to Kōloa that are open today are the Nawiliwili bottle redemption center and the Kaua‘i Resource Center located on Ahukini Rd. near Līhu‘e Airport.
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WAIMEA – Preliminary autopsy results revealed that the remains found yesterday in a burned van at the Russian Fort were that of an adult male. A complete autopsy report is expected tomorrow. Police said that a toxicology report, which could take several weeks, may be required to make a final determination on the cause of death.
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WAIMEA – Firefighters and police from the Waimea station responded to a 6 am call today about a brushfire at the Russian Fort. Upon arrival, they discovered that along with a small brushfire, a van in the area was totally engulfed by flames. After the fire was fully extinguished at 7:10 am, firefighters and police checked the van and saw the remains of a person. Due to the burn severity, police were not immediately able to determine the victim’s gender.
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LĪHU‘E – This year marks the 25th year that Hawai‘i is hosting the Hershey’s Track & Field Games. “We are pleased to offer our youngsters the opportunity to participate in this great program,” said Bernard Carvalho, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. He noted that the program provides beginners a chance to check out this sport and at the same time, experienced track and field athletes can compete and prepare for Hershey’s national competition. This year’s Hershey’s Track & Field Games is scheduled on Saturday, May 3, 2:30 pm, at Vidinha Stadium. The deadline to register for this event is Wednesday, April 30, 4 pm.
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a missing person. According to police, 18-year-old Jose Gerrera Marcos was reported missing on Feb. 11. Marcos is five feet eight inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. Marcos is of Hispanic American descent and has a light complexion and a medium build.
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WAIMEA – A rented van was destroyed by fire in Waimea last night. No one was injured by the fire. According to a police report, a 51-year-old female visitor from Georgia was driving the van heading east on Kaumuali‘i Highway at around 11:10 pm in the vicinity of Sacred Heart Church in Waimea. Linda Ka‘aumoana began having mechanical problems with the van so she pulled off to the side of road. She reported to police that she could smell gas and saw smoke and flames coming from engine.
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KALĀHEO – County officials announced that computer kiosks were recently set up at the Kalāheo and Kapa‘a neighborhood centers. The kiosks are available for public use during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, 7:45 am to 4:30 pm. Residents who don’t have home computers can now go to the Kalāheo or Kapa‘a neighborhood center and access the county’s website for information, apply for a job, check their building permit status, or make credit card payments toward their sewer bill or real property taxes. In addition, other government websites can also be accessed to search for a job or for information on career development.
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HANAMĀ'ULU – About 30 people recently attended a meeting to discuss the future of Hanamā'ulu Beach Park. The meeting took place a few days after a blessing was held to celebrate the reopening of the park, which had been closed for a month. During the park closure, a major effort led by Hanamā'ulu Neighborhood Community Association in collaboration with the county, Waele A Ola Hou program, and numerous community groups and individuals resulted in an extensive clean-up of the park. Among the participants in the Hanamā'ulu Park clean-up were the following groups: Boy Scout Troop 168; Department of Parks & Recreation; Kaua‘i Filipino Community Council; Kaua‘i Fire Department; Koa Puna Motorcycle Club; Northshore Custom Flooring; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; and Wal-Mart.
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KEKAHA – Complaints of a chemical odor at around 12:50 this afternoon resulted in school officials at Kekaha Elementary and St. Theresa schools initiating an evacuation of their students and faculty. Police and firefighters from the Waimea station along with medics responded to the scene.
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KEĀLIA – Three restroom facilities along the bike and pedestrian path were opened yesterday. While the Lihi to Keālia portion of the bike path was blessed and officially opened on Feb. 15, the restrooms were not open due to drainage issues. “This issue has been resolved and now the restrooms are ready for public-use,” said Bernard Carvalho, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “I want to thank the public for their patience on this matter.”
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LĪHU‘E – Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is set to begin tomorrow and Wednesday in Kīlauea and Kekaha respectively. Space is available at both locations and anyone interested is encouraged to sign up for the free training. These sessions are part of the county’s efforts to establish a CERT in every community on the island. Earlier this year, a number of residents in the central and east districts completed the training.
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LĪHU‘E – High school and college students 16 years and older are reminded that this Friday is the deadline for turning in applications for the county’s Summer Employment Program. Applications can be accessed and submitted online at www.kauai.gov. Applications can also be picked up at the Mō‘ikeha Building, Department of Personnel Services, suite 140, or Mayor’s office, suite 235, or at any neighborhood center.
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding teen runaways. According to police, 14-year-old Napuanani Hilario was reported missing on March 13. She was last seen wearing a Kaua‘i High School T-shirt and blue jeans. Hilario is four feet eleven inches tall and weighs about 115 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Hilario is of Filipino descent and has a tan complexion and a small build. Alan Wayne Jeffries, Jr., age 15, was reported missing on March 23.
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KALIHIWAI – Ocean Safety officials are advising beachgoers not to go in the water at Kalihiwai Beach and adjacent areas due to shark sightings. Reportedly, sharks and other sea creatures are pursuing the carcass of a dead whale seen floating in the area.
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‘ANINI – A crew from the Department of Public Works Hanalei baseyard buried the remains of a whale approximately six-ft. by six-ft. at 'Anini Beach this afternoon. According to fire officials, a white object thought to be a capsized kayak or canoe was first spotted at Kalihiwai Beach yesterday evening and reported to the Hanalei fire station. Firefighters from the Hanalei station drove to the area and determined that it was the carcass of a whale or the remains of a large sea creature.
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ANAHOLA – An 18-year-old Kapa‘a woman and 32-year-old Puhi woman were taken to Wilcox Hospital following a one-car crash yesterday morning in Anahola. Their current condition is not known. According to a preliminary report, 18-year-old Bridget Sorensen was driving a Plymouth sedan heading west on South 'Aliomanu Rd. at around 1:58 yesterday morning. Tiphany Boissiere, 32, was a passenger. Sorensen crossed the centerline, ran off the roadway, and crashed into a tree. She was found unconscious and had to be extricated from the vehicle along with Boissiere by the Kaua‘i Fire Department.
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HANALEI – A 40-year-old Anahola man was airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center Saturday in guarded condition following an early morning traffic crash in Hanalei. His current condition is not known. According to a preliminary report, the man was eastbound on Kūhi‘ō Highway near the Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant at around 1:17 am. He crossed the centerline, ran off the roadway and collided into a state Department of Transportation road closure gate and a guy wire supporting a utility pole.
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WAIMEA – About 30 volunteers turned out for a community workday last week at the Waimea War Memorial Swimming Pool. Waimea High School’s Leo Club worked side by side with other community groups including the West Kaua‘i Lions Club, Kikiaola Land Company and other area residents to paint the locker rooms at the newly renovated pool. “I’m really proud of all the volunteers,” said Eric Nordmeier, president of the West Kaua‘i Lions Club, who organized the community workday. “They spent part of a holiday giving back to the community they live and/or work in.”
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KŌLOA – A 40-year-old Puhi woman was taken to Wilcox Hospital this morning following a four-car crash on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Knudsen Gap. As of this writing, the extent of her injuries is not known. According to police, the multi-vehicle accident involved three consecutive eastbound vehicles and one westbound vehicle traveling on the road during rush hour.
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a teen runaway. According to police, 14-year-old Christine Toguchi was reported missing on March 19. She is believed to be in Hanamā'ulu, Kapa‘a, or Līhu‘e. Toguchi is five feet five inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds. She has brown eyes and brown hair. Toguchi is of Hawaiian-Japanese descent and has a tan complexion and a thin build.
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LĪHU‘E – High school and college students 16 years and older are encouraged to apply for the county’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The deadline for turning in applications is Friday, April 18. Applications can be downloaded from the county’s website, www.kauai.gov in the What’s New section on the home page. Applications can also be picked up at the Mō‘ikeha Building, Department of Personnel Services, suite 140, or Mayor’s office, suite 235, or at any neighborhood center.
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A temporary bypass waterline will be installed in Kīlauea next week as part of the Kīlauea bridge replacement project. The work will begin at 10 pm on April 8 and is expected to be completed by 4 am the following day. While the work is being done, water service in the entire east Kīlauea area up to Waipake will be affected.
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LĪHU‘E – The annual celebration of county volunteer teams and the Ka Leo O Kaua‘i community meeting program will be held at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall on April 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This marks the fifth year of the Ka Leo O Kaua‘i, the "Voice of Kauai", program. The goal of the program is to build and strengthen the island's communities and serves to inspire residents to become engaged in building a better future for Kauai. “We want to invite everyone to join us for the celebration,” said Mayor Bryan Baptiste. “This is a great opportunity for residents to meet their neighbors and celebrate all that has been accomplished on Kaua‘i through community collaboration.” read more ...

LĪHU‘E – A bill recently passed by the County Council requires owners of single-family transient vacation rentals to register their TVRs or apply for a Non-Conforming Use Certificate. The registration form/certificate application is now available at the Real Property Assessment office located next to the Motor Vehicle Registration office at the Līhu‘e Civic Center. This form is also downloadable from the What’s New section on the home page of the county website, www.kauai.gov or www.kauaipropertytax.com on the forms and handouts page. All existing TVRs in Visitor Destination Areas (VDAs) must be registered by Sept. 3. All others must apply for a Non-Conforming Use Certificate by Oct. 15 and receive approval by March 30, 2009.
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LĪHU‘E – In recognition of April being Fair Housing Month, the Housing Agency is offering a free training session for housing providers. Landlords, tenants, resident and property managers, association board members, housing agents, as well as the general public are invited to attend. The workshop is scheduled on Monday, April 21, 9 am to 12:30 pm, in the Līhu‘e Civic Center, Pi‘ikoi Building, Housing Agency conference room. Registration will begin at 8:30 am.
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LĪHU‘E – The Agency on Elderly Affairs (AEA) will be having Fire Safety for Seniors and Senior ID mini-fairs throughout the month of April. The mini-fairs are an expansion of AEA’s Senior ID Program which is offered to seniors 60 and older on the first Tuesday of each month at the Līhu‘e Civic Center, Pi‘ikoi Building, 1 to 4 pm. “Since many seniors have not been able to come to the Līhu‘e Civic Center, we decided to take our Senior ID Program on the road,” said Kealoha Takahashi, head of the Agency on Elderly Affairs. “Other organizations who offer services to seniors will also be joining us.” One of the highlights of the mini-fairs will be a fire safety workshop given by the Kaua‘i Fire Department Prevention Bureau.
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LĪHU‘E – Seven people were recently selected for the Kaua‘i Police Department’s 79th recruit class. The recruits are undergoing 23 weeks of rigorous training, which includes classroom instruction and hands-on training. A newly hired public safety worker is completing several modules of the police recruit’s training before being assigned to police cellblock. Among the topics covered in the training sessions are the following: federal, state and local laws; U.S. and State Constitutional Law; civil rights; search and seizure; arrest procedures; physical fitness, firearms; criminal investigations; defensive driving; public corruption; and ethics. Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry noted that recruitment efforts is KPD’s No. 1 priority.

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LĪHU‘E – Sixteen outstanding seniors will be honored at the 42nd annual Older American Awards Recognition Ceremony. The event will be held on Thursday, May 8, 9 am, at the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort, and is part of the celebration of May being Older Americans Month. The theme of the event is “Working Together for a Strong, Healthy Kaua‘i.”
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LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department Patrol Services Bureau has designated April as Bicycle Safety Awareness Month. “For some people, bicycling is a great alternate mode of transportation, while others enjoy bicycling as a form of recreation,” said Captain Ale Quibilan. “In either case, we’re focusing on bicycle safety this month to remind people about the importance of riding safely to prevent accidents.” Noting the rise in bicycle licenses issued on Kaua‘i last year, he said that it’s timely for KPD to call attention to bicycle safety. In 2007, there were 405 bicycle licenses issued here compared to 278 the previous year. Quibilan said there are some basic rules that every bicyclist should follow including:
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LĪHU‘E – In observance of Prince Kūhi‘ō Day, County of Kaua‘i offices will be closed Wednesday, along with all refuse transfer stations and the Kaua‘i Resource Center. Residential refuse pick-up will continue as scheduled. Normal hours of operation will also be maintained at the Kekaha Landfill and Puhi Metals Recycling Center. The Kaua‘i Bus will be operating on a modified schedule on Prince Kūhi‘ō Day as well as on all other county holidays, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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PRINCEVILLE – A 23-year-old Kīlauea man sustained serious injuries early yesterday morning near Princeville after skidding across the highway on his moped. The man was riding a moped northbound on Kūhi‘ō Highway 560 at around 1 am. As he approached Princeville in the vicinity of mile marker 0, he lost control of his moped and skid face first across the roadway. The man sustained substantial facial injuries and was taken to Wilcox Hospital for treatment. He was later airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center.
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LĪHU‘E – Four new buses were recently added to the county fleet bringing the total number of buses to 45. The new buses were placed on the westside and north mainline routes where ridership is high. “These routes are usually very full and often are standing room only,” said Janine Rapozo, executive on transportation. The new buses can accommodate 25 passengers and are equipped with bike racks as well as lighted destination signs.
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LĪHU‘E – In observance of Good Friday, County of Kaua‘i offices will be closed tomorrow, along with all refuse transfer stations and the Kaua‘i Resource Center. Residential refuse pick-up will continue as scheduled. Normal hours of operation will also be maintained at the Kekaha Landfill and Puhi Metals Recycling Center. The Kaua‘i Bus will be operating on a modified schedule on Good Friday as well as on all other county holidays, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Normal business hours for county offices and services will resume Monday, March 24.
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LĪHU‘E – In the coming weeks, communities across the country will be having town hall meetings to raise awareness about new research that point to the harmful effects of underage drinking and to emphasize the importance of prevention. The theme of these meetings is “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking.” As part of this national effort, Kaua‘i will be holding a town hall meeting on Thursday, April 3, 6 to 8:30 pm, at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. Statistics show that underage drinking is a widespread problem, noted Mayor Bryan Baptiste.
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LĪHU‘E – Eight members of the Kaua‘i Fire Department were officially promoted in a pinning-on ceremony held Monday in the rotunda of the Moikeha Building at the Līhu‘e Civic Center. Sueo Higa, Dean Lake and Reid Tanita were promoted to fire captain. Kalani Abreu, Mark Texeira and Jeffrey Weiss were promoted to fire apparatus operators. In the Ocean Safety Bureau (OSB), Kalani Vierra was promoted to water safety supervising officer and Randall Ortiz was promoted to water safety officer III. Following the ceremony, six new hires in OSB were recognized including: water safety officers Cadin Crane, Chad Listman, Chad Medeiros and Eric Pereza, along with lifeguards Kalama Lingaton and Anthony Parraga, Jr.
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LĪHU‘E – A 22-year-old man with no permanent address was apprehended in Līhu‘e this afternoon after attempting to flee from police. Stephen Makanani was a passenger in a southbound vehicle on Kapule Highway at around 4:32 pm when the vehicle was stopped by several patrol cars in front of the Judiciary Building. Makanani then exited the vehicle and fled to a nearby cane field.
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KŌLOA – In an effort to find a new “home” for two mature monkeypods that were at the future site of The Shops at Kōloa Town, county officials approached Kukui‘ula Development Inc. and company officials agreed to “adopt” the trees. Yesterday, Kaua‘i Nursery & Landscaping Inc. was contracted to relocate the trees to their new home at the site of a planned 20-acre community park along Po‘ipū Road in Kōloa.
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KAPA‘A – The Kapa‘a transfer station is not accepting mixed waste until further notice due to a mechanical breakdown in the packing system. The facility is still accepting household waste in garbage bags, green waste, white goods, propane tanks and motor oil.
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LĪHU‘E – In conjunction with the annual national celebration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Mayor Bryan Baptiste has proclaimed March 24 to 30 to be Community Development Week on Kaua‘i. The theme for the 2008 celebration is “CDBG: On the Right Road". “This year marks the 33rd year that the county has administered the CDBG program,” said the mayor. “We are pleased that the program has provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with a number of community groups on projects that benefit low- to moderate-income communities on Kaua‘i.”
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ANAHOLA – A blessing was held yesterday to mark the re-opening of the Anahola lifeguard tower located at Anahola Beach Park. This brings the total number of county beaches now staffed by lifeguards to eight, including: Anahola, Hā'ena, Hanalei, Keālia, Kekaha, Lydgate, Po‘ipū, and Salt Pond. In the near future, a lifeguard tower will also be added to Kē'ē Beach.
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LĪHU‘E – A 37-year-old Līhu‘e woman is in good condition at Wilcox Hospital today after being attacked by four American Pit Bulls last night. Reportedly, the woman was playing in her front yard with her boyfriend’s five Pit Bulls at around 8:30 pm when four of them became agitated and began to attack her. Upon hearing the noise, the woman’s 45-year-old boyfriend rushed outside to help her, but the dogs turned on him and started attacking him. The Pit Bulls were finally brought under control by the man with the assistance of their next door neighbor Darren Yoshioka, who shot the dogs with a garden hose to distract them.
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PO‘IPŪ – The search for the man who went missing after a kayak mishap yesterday afternoon on the south shore resumed this morning. Corey and Tina German, both 36, launched their kayak at Kōloa Landing yesterday afternoon. The seas were choppy and they ran into trouble. Tina was discovered about 400 yards from The Beach House Restaurant and was brought to shore by two lifeguards at around 3:15 pm. She was taken to Wilcox Hospital. Her condition is not known at this time. A full-scale search was conducted for Corey yesterday, including efforts by the Coast Guard who searched into the night.
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PO‘IPŪ – A 69-year-old female visitor from Hugo, Minnesota is in critical condition at Wilcox Hospital following a diving incident this morning at Kōloa Landing. According to a preliminary report, the woman was scuba diving with a group organized by Aquatic Adventures Inc. at Kōloa Landing. A caller notified police dispatch at around 9:45 am that the woman was in distress and that she had been brought to shore by her diving instructor.
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PO‘IPŪ – A 50-year-old Kalāheo man was pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital tonight after nearly drowning at Gillins Beach, located just east of Punahoa Pt. near Mahaulepu Beach in Po‘ipū. read more ...

PO‘IPŪ – The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to search in waters off Po‘ipū for a 36-year-old Kalāheo man who went missing after a kayak mishap this afternoon. The man and his 36-year-old wife were kayaking in the area when they ran into difficulty after the wind picked up. Police dispatch received a call at around 2:38 pm about a kayaker in distress near Whaler’s Cove.
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WAILUA – A 19-year-old Kapa‘a woman sustained serious injuries yesterday evening after slipping off the edge of Loop Road in Wailua and falling into the stream. The current condition of the woman is not known. According to police, the woman was attempting to walk over the first stream crossing with several friends on Loop Road at around 6 pm when she slipped and fell into the river, impaling her lower right leg on a piece of rebar that was hidden beneath the surface of the water.
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