H-1 lanes to close this weekend

Crews are working to finish rebuilding the surface of H-1 freeway in town by sometime in late July. However, to stay on that schedule, they’ll need to fully close an eastbound stretch of the state’s busiest roadway overnight this weekend, state transportation officials say.

The eastbound H-1 from near Likelike Highway to Ward Avenue will be closed from midnight Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, and from midnight Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday, according to the state Department of Transportation. 

DOT officials had hoped to wrap up on Thursday the several weeks of full overnight closures that have forced local drivers to seek alternate routes. However, recent rain has delayed some of the work, which they’ve now opted to complete overnight this weekend, they say.

"These additional closures are necessary during the final phase of construction to keep the project on schedule for substantial completion by the end of July," the DOT said in a statement Wednesday. "Ongoing and continuous rain has delayed the striping of the eastbound lanes. If work is completed early, lanes will be reopened." 

On Sunday a full closure in town in the westbound direction, and partial closure in the eastbound direction, will start at 8 p.m.

Dole Street water main breaks

Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials say Dole Street would likely remain closed in both directions between Kanewai Park and University of Hawaii faculty housing until sometime Friday due to a water main break. 

The Board of Water Supply found the damaged portion of the 20-inch main and pumped water into the transmission line on either side of the break to restore water service to customers initially affected by the break. The break was reported at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

It was unknown how many customers were without water service. The BWS advises motorists to avoid the area.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Ruling removes Maui man from mayor’s race

WAILUKU >> A Maui man who sued the county and then attempted to run for mayor was blocked from the race Wednesday because of how he filed financial disclosure statements.

Neldon Mamuad said on his MAUIWatch Facebook page that a Maui judge disqualified him Wednesday.

The Maui News reported the Maui County clerk had already said that he should be disqualified, but county officials asked a judge to weigh in on the matter.

Mamuad has said he was led to believe by a county elections clerk that because he already submitted paperwork for his role on the Liquor Control Commission, he didn’t have to file more disclosures. But the clerk said she told Mamuad he had to make changes to his paperwork.

Mamuad filed the paperwork half an hour before closing time on the last day to file, county officials said. They said that two days after the filing deadline, a clerk told Mamuad that his nomination papers did not contain the required financial-disclosure statement, and then Mamuad emailed the clerk and included a financial-disclosure statement as an attachment. 

Mamuad said there was a miscommunication and that it was "an honest mistake."

Mamuad is founder of the MAUIWatch Facebook page and sued the county after a complaint was filed against him about his posts. Mamuad said he was pressured to shut down the page. His lawsuit was settled out of court for $25,000 last month.

Associated Press