Raw-sewage spill closes Maui beaches
Lahaina beaches from Mala Wharf to Canoe Beach were closed as a precaution Tuesday afternoon because of a major spill of raw sewage, Maui County officials said.
The sewage system serving thousands of people in the residential and business district of Lahaina was shut down after a contractor broke a 20-inch force main at about 2 p.m.
The amount of sewage spilled was not available.
County officials said the sewage was contained on land, and the main was fixed about five hours after the break occurred at a Wahikuli construction site, forcing a sewage pump station in Lahaina to shut down for repairs.
Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said the sewage break affected people in areas from Puamana to the Lahaina Civic Center.
The county was involved Tuesday night in the cleanup of the spill and was attempting to determine the extent of it.
Pot advocate’s defense bogus, judge says
A federal judge explained Tuesday that Hawaii island cannabis advocate Roger Christie could not show that the federal government’s inclusion of marijuana in the most restrictive drug classification is irrational.
U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi denied on March 29 the 63-year-old man’s request to dismiss his marijuana charges.
In her order Tuesday she explained Christie was not able to show the classification is irrational to support his contention that the marijuana laws are unconstitutional.
Kobayashi cited a 1978 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that held the Scheduled I classification to be constitutional and a 2005 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding Congress’ authority to regulate the growing of medical marijuana.
Christie, who operated the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, has been held without bail for more than 2 1⁄2 years awaiting trial. His trial is scheduled for July.
Dog is euthanized after attacking boy
A Rottweiler that attacked an 8-year-old boy on Kauai was euthanized at the Kauai Humane Society.
Executive Director Penny Cistaro said the owner brought the male Rottweiler named Sampson to the Humane Society on Monday where the 5-year-old animal was euthanized.
Jeremiah DelaCruz of Wailua Homestead in Kapaa was riding his bicycle with two friends Thursday when Sampson got loose and jumped over a wire fence.
The Rottweiler bit DelaCruz’s left leg, pulled him off his bike and continued to attack the child, said his grandfather Roger Walraven, adding that the boy had multiple bite wounds.
A neighbor, Waldo Contrades, ran outside after he heard DelaCruz’s screams and used the child’s bike to block the 95-pound dog from DelaCruz.
DelaCruz underwent surgery at Wilcox Memorial Hospital where he received approximately 60 stitches to his left arm and leg, Walraven said. DelaCruz was released from the hospital Monday.
Walraven said he is grateful to Contrades for saving his grandson.
Copter gets lots of air time with hikers’ rescues
The Kauai County Fire Department’s helicopter was kept busy Sunday and Monday with rescues of four hikers in three incidents, the county said.
At about 8:30 a.m. Monday, rescue crews airlifted a 48-year-old Colorado woman who had broken an arm and injured her leg in a 30-foot fall from the Nounou trail. She was taken to a nearby park, where awaiting medics took her to Wilcox Hospital.
On Sunday the copter was used in two rescue missions. In the first incident, at about 10 a.m., personnel picked up two injured hikers near Hanakoa Valley along the Na Pali Coast. A 34-year-old Canadian woman and a Maui woman, age 29, had suffered leg injuries near the Hanakoa camping area.
At about 12:40 p.m. rescuers helped a 64-year-old woman who injured her leg while hiking on the Iliili Trail above Wailua. She was flown to medics at Lihue Airport.
Tourist, 56, dies while hiking through field
A Hawaii County Fire Department helicopter crew found a 56-year-old tourist Tuesday afternoon who died while hiking on a lava field near Kalapana Gardens subdivision.
A fire battalion chief said the man had been unable to walk after hiking the whole day, so his companion went to get help. The friend met a county medic who accompanied him, but he could not find the man. The report was made at 3:02 p.m.
The medic called for additional help. The helicopter crew found the man and took him to an ambulance unit, which determined he had died.
