Iffy air conditioner fills court with smoke
An air-conditioning belt malfunctioned at the Circuit Court building Monday morning, sending black smoke into the air and causing excitement but no delays in court proceedings.
Three fire companies responded to the alarm at about 7:15 a.m. at Punchbowl and Halekauwila streets.
Only one company was needed to handle the matter, which was traced to the air-conditioning belt that sent the smoke into the probation conference room on the first floor, said Marsha Kitagawa, a Judiciary spokeswoman.
The conference room was closed for an hour while firefighters vented the room. Drug tests that were supposed to be conducted in the conference room were moved to another area.
No other rooms were affected, and the courthouse opened on time at 7:45 a.m., Kitagawa said.
Hanauma lifeguard hit by falling coconut
A Honolulu lifeguard was recovering from a head injury after he was struck by a falling coconut Friday afternoon at Hanauma Bay.
KHON-TV reports Harold Teshima had climbed down from his lifeguard tower to start cleaning up when he was hit in the head.
He woke up in a daze, felt his forehead and discovered blood dripping down his nose.
Fellow lifeguards found a 3- to 4-pound coconut the size of a softball nearby. Teshima was taken to a hospital and diagnosed with a concussion, a cut, neck strain and nausea.
Teshima says lifeguards two or three weeks ago reported coconuts the size of golf balls or bigger were falling.
The city closed Hanauma Bay beach access Sunday morning for emergency tree work to repair damage from Hurricane Ana.
3 rescued from damaged sailboat
The Coast Guard says a container ship rescued three people Monday from a disabled 32-foot sailboat adrift nearly 800 miles west of the California-Oregon line.
Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener in Seattle says the crew of the Hale’s Revenge was safely taken aboard the 965-foot Hyundai Grace on Monday morning in 20-foot seas. The ship is continuing to Panama.
The sailboat was on its way from Honolulu to Everett, Wash., when it was damaged in the high seas and 45 mph winds. It activated an emergency beacon Sunday evening.
The cargo ship responded as part of the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue system, or Amver.
Degener says there are no plans to salvage the sailboat at this point. Other mariners have been notified of the hazard to navigation.
