Construction to shut lanes around Oahu

Weather permitting, Oahu motorists can expect another week of construction-related delays on roadways around the island.

In Pearl City, two eastbound lanes will be closed on the H-1 freeway between the Kamehameha Highway overpass and the Waiawa Road overpass, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly through Friday. In Waipahu, one eastbound lane from the Farrington Highway onramp to the H-1 freeway will close as well as the Waipahu offramp from the H-1 freeway westbound, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., through Friday.

In Kaaawa, there will be around-the-clock closure of one northbound lane on Kamehameha Highway between Keo Place and Trout Farm Road for emergency shoreline improvements. Traffic will be contraflowed. No completion date is specified.

In Kunia, storm drain cleaning will require lane closures in both directions of Kunia Road between Hauula Street and Plantation Road from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Transportation has canceled scheduled construction on the Pearl City viaduct this weekend due to rainy conditions. The scheduled work was to have involved westbound lanes of the freeway. The DOT said all lanes will remain open.

Woman dies during Maui snorkeling tour

A 73-year-old Texas woman died Friday after being found facedown in the water during a snorkeling tour off Maui with a vessel called the Ocean Odyssey — possibly the same vessel involved in a snorkeling-related death five days earlier.

Maui police identified the woman as Jung Aee Kim, of Grand Prairie, Texas.

Police said a vessel called the Odyssey had taken Kim and a group snorkeling at an area called Turtle Town, a snorkeling spot populated by green sea turtles near Maluaka Beach in south Maui, on Friday morning. Kim was found facedown in the water and taken back on board.

A bystander began CPR as the vessel traveled back to Maalaea Harbor to meet with paramedics and the Coast Guard about 11 a.m. Friday. Kim died despite lifesaving efforts.

Her cause of death was pending test results, police said.

The Coast Guard identified the vessel as the Ocean Odyssey, which is the name of a Pacific Whale Foundation catamaran.

On Aug. 16, Jonathan Owens, 58, of Louisville, Ky., died after he was found facedown in the water about 9 a.m. while snorkeling at Molokini Crater. He was taken back on board and brought to Maalaea Harbor, where paramedics and the Coast Guard tried to revive him, police said.

His cause of death has not been released.

The Coast Guard did not immediately provide the name of that boat, but police said in both incidents a vessel called "the Odyssey" had taken the victims out for a day of snorkeling.

The Pacific Whale Foundation is a nonprofit that offers ocean eco-adventure cruises to support its mission of protecting the world’s oceans.

Its website says the Ocean Odyssey is a 65-foot, double-deck catamaran. The Odyssey has showers, a bar, a waterslide and a snorkel platform and can accommodate 130 snorkelers or 147 whale watchers.

It is one of five foundation vessels operating out of Maalaea Harbor, according to the organization’s website.

A Pacific Whale Foundation spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email Saturday for comment.