Road open after Waikiki main fixed

All lanes were reopened last night in Waikiki after crews finished repairing a water main break near Kuhio and Royal Hawaiian avenues.

Four Waikiki businesses lost water after a 12-inch water main broke Monday.

Crews restored water early yesterday and had laid down concrete and asphalt by 7 p.m., said Board of Water Supply spokesman Keoni Mattos. They had to remove debris before reopening all lanes.

Royal Hawaiian Avenue between Kuhio Avenue and Waikolu Way was closed for most of the day because of the break. It was reopened last night. One lane of Kuhio Avenue was also closed, but reopened before 7 p.m.

Because of the size of the break, the work took longer than expected, Mattos said.

He said it will likely be several weeks before the cause of the break can be determined. The main was relatively new, replaced in 2003.

A claims specialist from the Board of Water Supply was out yesterday gathering information on damage from businesses, which were flooded. Mattos said other affected businesses can call the board at 748-5000.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

New Kilauea fissure named Kamoamoa

The latest eruption at Kilauea Volcano has a new working name.

Volcanologists said yesterday they are calling it the Kamoamoa Fissure Eruption after the area it is located at Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

Kamoamoa, which cracked open Saturday, is continuing to spew out loads of lava and gases. Meanwhile, visitors flock to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hoping to catch a glimpse of the 2,000-degree glowing, red-orange lava that is shooting 65 feet high. But visitors are being kept far away from the isolated, remote east zone rift where the eruption is taking place.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said "vigorous spattering" is occurring from at least two locations along the new vent located between Puu Oo and Napau craters.

Park ranger Mardie Lane said 2.5 million cubic meters of lava is gushing out of Kamoamoa daily. So far, the lava has blanketed about 120 acres.

Hilo probation program starts next week

The state Judiciary is expanding a probation program to Hilo after it helped reduce recidivism rates on Oahu and produced similar results in Maui County.

The program promises swift and certain jail time for probation violators. Those in the program are warned that testing positive for drugs or missing an appointment with their probation officer will automatically result in jail time. The police track down no-shows. Drug test rules are also stricter.

Positive drug tests declined by 83 percent on Oahu, where the program was first tried. Participants were 55 percent less likely to be arrested for a new crime.

The program begins in Hilo on Wednesday. Kailua-Kona’s distance from the Big Island’s only jail in Hilo is preventing the program from being used in courts there.