Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
The National Weather Service issued a small-craft advisory for parts of Maui and Hawaii counties until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The advisory is for Maalaea Bay, Pailolo and Alenuihaha channels, and water off Hawaii island’s west and southern coasts.
Winds will be from the east at up to 25 knots, with seas of up to 11 feet, the weather service said.
Isle Navy commander to head strike group
Rear Adm. Fernandez L. Ponds, commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group MidPac, has been assigned to be the next commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Three in San Diego, the Navy announced.
No change-of-command date was announced. Rear Adm. Gerard Heuber is the current commander of Strike Group Three.
Ponds, a native of Alabama, earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Alabama in 1982. He commanded Amphibious Squadron Eight from November 2007 to May 2009, supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Ponds commanded the destroyer USS Fife from October 2001 to February 2003.
Also at Pearl Harbor, Capt. Bret J. Muilenburg was promoted to rear admiral and became commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific last month.
Muilenburg, a native of Titusville, Fla., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1984 and was commissioned into the Civil Engineer Corps.
Repairs to close Halemauu Trail parking area
The trail head parking lot for the Halemauu Trail at Haleakala National Park will be closed to vehicles from Tuesday through June 25 while workers make accessibility improvements to help people with disabilities.
During the parking lot closure, hikers, cabin users and campers can be dropped off or picked up at the hiker pullout near Halemauu. There is an existing trail from this hiker pullout to the Halemauu parking lot. A designated walkway will lead hikers through the closed parking lot to the Halemauu trailhead.
Backpackers can park at the Supply Trail trailhead near Hosmer’s Grove. The Supply Trail is a 2.2-mile long trail that connects to the Halemauu Trail. Another option is to park at the Haleakala Visitor Center and use the Sliding Sands Trail to hike into the crater. For updates, go to www.nps.gov/hale.
Civil defense applications being accepted
Hawaii County will begin accepting applications for the position of Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator at midnight today. People may apply at the county jobs website at jobs.co.hawaii.hi.us.
The previous administrator, Quince Mento, retired Dec. 1 after nearly four years on the job.
Retired county Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira has been serving as acting administrator since Jan. 9, and will remain in that role until a permanent administrator is selected.
The civil defense administrator develops and helps execute plans in times of emergencies, and coordinates programs with federal and state agencies.
72