Necropsy planned on stranded humpback
A necropsy will be performed on a baby humpback whale that died Monday night off an East Honolulu beach.
The whale, believed to be a few days old, died at about 8:40 p.m. off Kawaikui Beach Park near Aina Haina and was removed from the area by city workers at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and transported to Hawaii Pacific University for the necropsy.
David Schofield, manager of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s regional marine mammal health and response program, described the calf as a male, about 13 feet long and weighing 2,550 pounds.
The baby whale got stuck in shallow waters off the beach park Monday and struggled to escape the reef. It was discovered partially tangled in a fishing net in the late afternoon. Officials said the net did not cause the grounding and that the whale was likely already in trouble before it became entangled.
Hanauma Bay deemed safe, reopens today
Hanauma Bay will be reopened to the public this morning, after officials closed it beginning Saturday because of high surf and rip currents inside the reef, the city said.
The Department of Parks and Recreation said Tuesday that surf and currents had subsided enough for conditions to be safe. The park was closed Tuesday, as it is every Tuesday, for maintenance.
Park hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during winter months.
Officials closed the park Saturday through Monday because waves of up to 6 feet made conditions dangerous for swimmers and snorkelers, and underwater visibility was poor, officials said.
Man arrested after woman dies in crash
Hawaii County police opened a manslaughter investigation after a 27-year-old Kailua-Kona woman was fatally injured Tuesday in a one-vehicle crash on Mamalahoa Highway in Kailua-Kona.
Police identified the victim as Hannah Fergerstrom.
She was a passenger in a Volkswagen sedan driven by a 34-year-old Waimea man, police said. Police said officers believe excessive speed and drug use may have been factors.
Police said car was traveling north on Mamalahoa Highway when it crossed the centerline at the 27-mile marker and hit a utility pole on the makai side of the road at about 1:15 a.m.
Fergerstrom was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she died at 5:45 a.m. The driver was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital.
He was arrested for investigation of manslaughter, negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, promoting dangerous drugs, drug paraphernalia and lack of insurance. He was released pending the investigation.
Anahola road narrowed after wave damage
A Kauai County public works crew converted ‘Aliomanu Road in Anahola from two lanes to one Tuesday because of extensive high-surf damage to the revetment along the road.
The crew moved the barricades from the edge of the roadway to the center of the makai lane as part of the emergency work.
County officials advised motorists to use caution while driving through the area and to observe the posted signs.
