Number of dengue fever cases is now 181

The total number of confirmed locally acquired dengue fever cases on Hawaii island is at 181 as of Monday, up by one since Thursday.

Milolii Beach Park remains closed after it was shut down last week. The state Health Department said a swarm of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes was spotted there, and some residents have fallen ill to the mosquito-borne ailment.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has also closed state lands in the area of Milolii and Honomalino to everyone except essential personnel and area residents.

Hawaii County Civil Defense and Health Department teams canvassed Milolii last week with prevention information and repellent. A multidisciplinary team also was present to screen anyone with symptoms and to connect them with health care services, Hawaii County said.

The Health Department’s Vector Control Branch has conducted 367 rounds of mosquito abatement spraying in spots identified by disease investigators as potential areas of interest.

The Department of Health says the latest onset of the illness occurred on Dec. 20, and two recent cases could be currently infectious. The first known case in the ongoing outbreak had a Sept. 11 onset of symptoms.

So far, 163 residents and 18 visitors have contracted the disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Of the 181 tally, 145 are adults and 36 are children.

Bird season starts this week in game area

The opening of bird hunting in the Kahua/Ponoholo Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area on Hawaii island is set for Saturday, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

Game bird hunting in this area will be allowed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays through Jan. 31.

Hunters must check in at the Von Holt Memorial Hunter check station. All hunters must check out of the hunting area by 6 p.m.

Hunting areas may change based upon landowners’ operational needs. All gates are to be kept closed.

Maps of the hunting area will be made available at Division of Forestry and Wildlife offices in Hilo and Waimea and at the hunter check station on hunting days.

The game management area had been closed due to continuing drought conditions and a concern about wildfires.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Forestry and Wildlife office in Waimea, 808-887-6063.

Expect long lines at Haleakala entrance

Sunrise viewing at Maui’s Haleakala summit is especially busy during holidays. Visitors should expect the possibility of long lines at Haleakala National Park entrance station, and there is limited parking at the summit itself.

The park’s three-day entrance pass is $15. Visitors are urged to use credit cards, which are the quickest to process, according to a park advisory.

Estimated driving times to the entrance from the following locations are: Wailea, 2-1/2 hours; Lahaina, three hours; and Kahului, two hours. The summit is an additional 40-minute drive past the park entrance. The driving times take into account the heavy sunrise traffic and steep, winding road.