State looking into rebuilding Waiaka Bridge

WAIMEA, Hawaii » State officials are considering plans to replace the 79-year-old Waiaka Bridge in South Kohala.

West Hawaii Today reports a federal inspection rated the bridge as having a sufficiency rating of 26 on a scale of 100.

The rating considers the bridge, in Waimea, as structurally deficient, with need of repair or replacement. It does not mean the bridge is unsafe to use, according to the assessment.

State officials want to build a new bridge as well as realign approaches to the bridge.

Destroyed stolen cars turn up in Puna

Remote areas of Puna have become dumping grounds for the remains of stolen vehicles, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports.

"We’ve had an increase in the number of stolen cars that we’re finding in isolated areas," police Lt. Glenn Uehana said Saturday. "They’re turning up wherever there aren’t many homes."

The spike started in January, he said.

Taken mostly in Hilo and Puna, the vehicles have been stripped of valuable parts and typically torched, Uehana said.

State opens goat-hunting season on Kauai

The state is making goat-hunting permits available on Kauai.

The state says it will allow archery and muzzle-loaded guns to be used in the hunting of the goats on weekends and state holidays between July 23 and Oct. 30.

Permits will be available at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Lihue.

The limit is two goats per day.