$12M grant will help fund 33 new buses

Nearly three dozen new buses will be added to Oahu’s public transportation system thanks to a $12 million federal grant.

The money, administered by the Federal Transit Administration, will help purchase 33 clean-diesel buses.

The yellow, orange and rainbow-striped buses provide more than 75 million rides to residents and visitors each year.

The City and County of Honolulu will match the grant with about $3 million. The new buses are expected to arrive in about 18 months.

Hawaii’s congressional delegation in Washington announced the grant Wednesday. Maui will receive $1.8 million, and Hawaii County will get $1.2 million.

Hannemann is endorsed by police union

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers said Thursday it is endorsing former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District seat.

City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard and Office of Hawaiian Affairs official Esther Kiaaina, both Democrats, are among others vying for the 2nd District seat now occupied by Mazie Hirono, who is running for U.S. Senate. The 2nd Congressional District covers Central, Leeward and Windward Oahu and the neighbor islands.

SHOPO represents 2,900 police officers statewide. "Mufi has been a true champion for police officers and public safety throughout his career," SHOPO President Tenari Ma‘afala said in a news release.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Crash witnesses sought for kokua

Hawaii County police are seeking witnesses to a Sept. 14 traffic accident that killed a pedestrian.

Greg Rosario Gregorio, 84, of Kealakekua died from injuries he sustained in the crash on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) south of the 112-mile marker in Kealakekua.

Officers determined Gregorio was crossing Route 11 in the mauka direction when he was hit by a southbound GMC van driven by a 24-year-old Ocean View man. Police were notified of the accident at 6:40 p.m.

Gregorio was not in a crosswalk. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he died Sept. 21. The driver of the van was uninjured.

Police ask that anyone who might have seen this crash to call officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, ext. 229, or the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.

Robbers on loose after Sept. 23 heist

Hawaii County police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two young men who robbed a man at Kehena Beach Park on Sept. 23.

A 52-year-old Pahoa man reported that two males in their late teens or early 20s approached him at about 3 p.m. and grabbed his backpack. One robber took the victim’s prescription medicine, and the second man kicked him, causing him to suffer two fractured ribs.

One attacker is described as 5 feet 6 or 7 inches tall, muscular and with short hair. The other was described as thin and 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.