2 whales appear in distress off Kailua

Two adult false killer whales appeared to be in distress Thursday, swimming in circles between Flat Island and the shore in waters off Kailua and Lanikai beaches.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the whales have created a potential safety hazard. The department asked the public not to swim in the area through Friday.

False killer whales weigh between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds each, and the two in distress might attract predators such as sharks, said officials with DLNR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the city Ocean Safety Division. The whales might beach themselves or go back out to open ocean.

"We urge swimmers, fishers, divers, kayakers … and other ocean users to stay out of these Windward waters through Friday evening, as we continue to closely monitor the whales’ condition," said DLNR Director William Aila. "We will update the public when there is new information."

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

4 Kauai schools closed on Friday

Four schools on Kauai will be closed Friday, the first day of the 2014-2015 school year, due to recent problems with the water system in Lihue and Hanamaulu.

The affected schools are Kauai High School, Chiefess Kamakahele Middle School, King Kaumualii Elementary School and Wilcox Elementary School. 

The state Department of Education said soil entered the water system during a construction project in Hanamaulu.

The county Department of Water and contractors were working on waterline improvements to Hoomana Road on Wednesday. "As the line was being turned back on, soil entered the line and was released into neighboring service areas," the department said. 

The department advised residents in Lihue and Hanamaulu to flush their faucets until the water was clear. Residents were told to continue the flushing for 30 more minutes after the water runs clear, and then boil it up to three minutes when using it for drinking and cooking.

The Water Department is expected to have test results on the water Friday. 

Speed cited in fatal crash

A 29-year-old Haiku man may have been speeding when the motorcycle he was driving hit the rear end of a truck, killing him, Maui police said.

Jordan Costa died at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday on Kuihelani Highway in Kahului, police said

Costa was driving a 2007 Honda motorcycle north on Kuihelani Highway when the motorcycle struck the rear of a 2005 Chevrolet pickup, also traveling northbound on the highway.

The motorcycle skidded off the roadway into the brush on the eastern shoulder of Kuihelani Highway and caught fire, police said.