Civil Defense to test Oahu warning sirens

Some Oahu residents may hear a familiar wailing sound over the next week as state Civil Defense continues testing the statewide outdoor siren warning system starting this morning.

Technicians are scheduled to test sirens at Kuliouou Park, Moanalua Valley, Ewa Beach Elementary School and Ewa Beach Shopping Center between 9 and 11:30 a.m. today and at Ala Wai Boat Harbor between 1 and 3 p.m.

Residents in the testing areas may hear sirens sound for 30 seconds.

Other areas scheduled for testing on weekdays between Friday and Wednesday include Kapolei, Campbell Industrial Park, Honokai Hale, Haleiwa, North Shore, Polynesian Cultural Center, the Windward Coast, Wahiawa, Hahaione Valley, Kaimuki, Palolo and Makiki.

Residents can call state Civil Defense at 733-4300 with any questions or concerns regarding the tests.

Teachers, state resume contract talks

The state Department of Education says a state negotiating team and the teachers union are resuming contract talks.

The department said negotiations with the Hawaii State Teachers Association started again on Wednesday.

Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Board of Education representatives joined the initial discussion on state proposals for a two-year contract starting next year.

Alleged killer’s bond lowered

LIHUE » A judge has reduced a $1 million bond for a Kauai man charged with murdering his estranged wife in 2006.

The Garden Island newspaper reported that Judge Kathleen Watanabe set bail for 40-year-old Darren Galas at $300,000 on Tuesday. Galas’ trial is set for April 1.

The Kalaheo man is accused of killing 27-year-old Sandra Galas. The two were in the midst of divorcing and reportedly embroiled in a custody battle over their two young children at the time.

Darren Galas has since remarried and the children have remained in his legal custody. He was charged in late October with second-degree murder.

Traffic deaths increase 100%

Hawaii County’s traffic fatalities have doubled so far this year over last year, the police department reported Wednesday as it pledged to continue drunken-driving roadblocks islandwide.

There have 36 traffic fatalities on Hawaii island, double the 18 in the same period last year. So far this year, 23 were linked to drugs (nine), alcohol (four) or both (10), the department said.

There have been 1,260 major accidents this year, compared with 1,199 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.1 percent, the department said.

Police arrested 37 motorists for drunken driving in the week ending Sunday, six of them involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

The department reported Wednesday that there have been 1,272 DUI arrests so far this year, compared with 1,273 during the same period last year. Kona saw the highest number of arrests, 14, making 510 so far this year. South Hilo had 10, for 488 so far this year.