High-surf advisory issued for 4 islands
A swell has prompted a high-surf advisory for the north shores of Oahu, Kauai, Molokai and Niihau.
The advisory continues through 6 p.m. Friday.
Wave faces of 10 to 15 feet are expected. The advisory also covers the west shores of Kauai and Niihau.
The surf is expected to reach advisory levels by early today and continue through the afternoon. The swell will drop slightly this evening before building quickly again.
Forecasters warn beachgoers can expect strong, breaking waves and shore break. Strong currents can also make swimming difficult and dangerous. Beachgoers should heed advice from lifeguards and exercise caution.
The swell was generated by a low-pressure system.
DUI checkpoints aim to reduce holiday toll
Police will begin manning impaired driver checkpoints Friday at unannounced times and locations in an attempt to reduce traffic injuries and deaths during the holidays.
The DUI checkpoints will be operated through Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.
As of Monday, 49 people have been killed in traffic accidents on Oahu this year. Speed, alcohol and/or drugs were factors in 15 of those crashes. Fifty-one people were killed in traffic accidents during the same period in 2012.
The legal drinking age is 21. Promoting intoxicating liquor to a person under the age of 21 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Injured hiker lifted from trail
A Seattle visitor was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition Wednesday after firefighters airlifted him from a trail in the Bamboo Forest near Haiku because of a fractured lower left leg.
The 34-year-old man was hiking with his brother and another male when he slipped on some rocks, injuring his leg at 10:07 a.m.
The Maui fire helicopter took him to a secured landing zone on Hana Highway after rescue personnel put a splint on his leg. The man was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to the hospital.
Pair charged in burglary
A Hawaii island man and woman were charged Tuesday with breaking into a Puna home last week, taking jewelry and drugs.
The two suspects, Michael Anderson, 40, of Keaau and Celeste Geraghty, 24, of Pahoa, were arrested Monday for allegedly breaking into a home on 21st Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision.
Geraghty was charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree theft, two counts of promoting a dangerous drug and two counts of drug paraphernalia. She was also charged with failure to appear in an unrelated case. Her bail was set at $15,050. Anderson was charged with second-degree theft, promoting a detrimental drug, two counts of promoting a dangerous drug and two counts of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $60,000.
Hawaii County detectives recovered two stolen rings taken in the burglary as well as four packets of a white crystalline substance and drug paraphernalia after searching Geraghty’s home in the Ainaloa subdivision and Anderson’s personal property.
