Remains of baby whale attract sharks
The carcass of a baby whale found near Kanaha Beach Park on Maui was towed offshore, but the waters will remain closed for recreation because several large sharks were spotted in the area.
Maui ocean safety officials closed the beach and warned beachgoers about the decomposing whale after a 10-foot-long tiger shark was seen feeding on the carcass Tuesday morning. The 10-foot-long whale had been about 100 yards offshore of Kaa Point, also known as Kite Beach, near Kahului Airport.
At midday, state Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officers and County Ocean Safety lifeguards patrolled the shoreline while the Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter conducted an aerial survey for sharks in the area.
According to county officials, several large sharks were spotted in the area. Ocean Safety officials then decided to keep shoreline waters stretching 1 mile on either side of Kaa Point closed until the area is re-evaluated Wednesday morning.
Researcher pursues geothermal study
HILO » A researcher at the University of Hawaii is seeking to conduct a geothermal energy study of the dormant Hualalai volcano on Hawaii island.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Tuesday that researcher Nicole Lautze with the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology is asking the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for a geothermal exploration permit.
The application seeks to conduct the study at the west rift zone of the volcano, which is situated just north of Kailua-Kona.
The project is being funded by the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The board is expected to consider the application Friday during a meeting in Honolulu.
Researchers have obtained permission from the owners of nine parcels of land where researchers would conduct surveys.
Kokee brush fire burns 200 acres off canyon road
Crews from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife on Tuesday continued to extinguish hot spots from a large brush fire in Kokee.
Roughly 200 acres on the west side of Waimea Canyon Drive were scorched before Kauai County and state firefighters contained the blaze at about 7 p.m. Monday, according to a news release by the Kauai Fire Department. No damage or threat to structures was reported.
Crews responded shortly before 2 p.m. Monday to the fire that broke out on state property about three miles from Waimea Canyon Drive. The Kauai Fire Department initially reported that three separate brush fires had occurred in the same area.
Police closed a portion of the road-way from 2 to about 9:30 p.m. Monday as crews worked to contain the fire. The cause has yet to be determined.
2 restaurants in Volcano close following blaze
Restaurants at Volcano House in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are closed following a kitchen fire.
One hotel worker sustained burns in the small blaze, which occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Both The Rim restaurant and Uncle George’s Lounge were closed as National Park Service investigators tried to determine the cause, Hawaii Volcanoes Lodge Co. general manager David Macilwraith said in a news release.
The hotel remains open; both restaurants are expected to reopen Thursday.
A 42-year-old hotel employee suffered burns to his upper arms and was transported to a hospital.
