High-surf advisory extended for all isles

A high-surf advisory for the north shores of all islands, with waves up to 16 feet, has been extended until 6 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

The advisory was set to expire at 6 a.m. Thursday.

Officials warned beachgoers that the large surf could make entering the water dangerous.

"Anyone entering the water could face significant injury or death," officials said.

Warmer weather forecast to develop

The spell of chilly nights and record-breaking low temperatures in Hawaii appears to be over.

National Weather Service forecasters expect temperatures to gradually warm over the next several days to near-normal winter levels for the state.

Overnight lows Wednesday morning remained in the low 60s but didn’t drop into the 50s, slightly warmer than the record-setting cool weather Sunday and Monday.

Forecasters expect the rest of the state to be breezy Wednesday with northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph. Low temperatures should be between 62 and 67 degrees.

Winds will become light and shift to the southeast starting Thursday, which could allow vog from the Big Island to drift over Oahu, bringing hazy conditions through early next week. Temperatures will gradually warm, reaching a high of about 80 degrees by Saturday.

A slight increase in humidity may bring some light showers to the islands. With the light winds, leeward and mauka slopes could see afternoon clouds and showers through early next week.

Power restored to Hawaii isle residents

Hawaii Electric Light Co. on Wednesday finished restoring power to the last of its customers left in the dark after the weekend storm.

Power was back on at about 2 p.m. to the remaining 10 customers on Cane Haul Road in Honokaa and in a remote area of Waipio Valley, the utility said.

"We would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding as we worked to safely restore electric service," said Rhea Lee, Hawaii Electric Light spokesperson. "We realize how frustrating and difficult it is to be without electricity for an extended period of time, and our dedicated employees worked very long hours to assist customers and restore service as quickly as possible."

HELCO also warned that trees could have been weakened by the storm. Wind can topple weakened trees after a storm has passed, and that could cause new power interruptions, HELCO said.

Flags lowered for former state lawmaker

State flags flew at half-staff Wednesday in honor of late state Rep. Alvin T. Amaral.

Gov. David Ige issued the order for Wednesday, when Amaral’s memorial service was held. Amaral died Nov. 18.

Ige says Amaral was a pillar in the Maui community. He says Amaral’s dedication to the people of Hawaii will be missed, and he sent condolences to his family and friends.

Amaral served in the state House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. He was on the Maui County Council the next two years.

The Maui-born Amaral was a delegate to the 1968 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention and the 1976 Republican National Convention.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Deal allows man lesser charge in wife’s killing

A Hawaii island man accused of murdering his wife and burying her body in their backyard more than six years ago pleaded no contest Wednesday to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Prosecutors made a plea deal with Alexander Malani Gambsky, of Kurtistown, who had initially been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the 2008 death of 34-year-old Dawn Gambsky, also known as Dawn Mancilla.

Manslaughter carries a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment. Second-degree murder has a maximum life sentence with the possibility of parole.

Judge Greg Nakamura accepted the plea. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4.

Gambsky’s lawyer, Brian De Lima, said his client suffered from “extreme emotional disturbance, for which there was a reasonable explanation,” but wanted the families to have closure.

Driver who hit bicyclist gets 6-month term

A 35-year-old Koloa, Kauai, man was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail and ordered to pay more than $7,000 in restitution for hitting a bicyclist with his car.

Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe also sentenced Robert G. Dela Cruz to four years of probation.

On Feb, 14, 2013, Dela Cruz was driving a pickup truck on Kaumualii Highway in Kekaha when he hit Danny Smith, then 69, who was riding his bicycle on the shoulder of the road.

Smith, of Kekaha, a retired battalion chief with 34 years of experience on the Kauai Fire Department, suffered serious injuries that required lengthy rehabilitation.

In October, Dela Cruz pleaded no contest to a felony charge of first-degree negligent injury.