The beach portion of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will reopen to the public today, the city announced Thursday.

The lower level of the popular tourist attraction was closed Wednesday after pumping equipment that supports the comfort station and other areas malfunctioned, the city Department of Parks and Recreation said.

Several attempts to repair the equipment were unsuccessful, and two pumps had to be replaced, city officials said.

The visitors center, parking lot and upper-level lookouts remained opened during the week.

The closure was the second at Hanauma’s lower level this month caused by electrical or mechanical malfunctions. The city closed the beach for six days, Feb. 4-9, after a transformer blew out.

The park is open six days a week, closing only on Tuesdays.

Maui settles wrongful conviction lawsuit

WAILUKU >> Maui County has agreed to pay $7,500 to settle a lawsuit brought by a man who served more than 20 years in prison for a sexual assault conviction that was later dismissed.

The Maui News reported Wednesday that the suit filed by 46-year-old Alvin Jardine III alleges he was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in 1990. He was sentenced to 35 years.

In 2011 a Maui circuit judge invalidated Jardine’s conviction and ordered a new trial. The charges against him were dropped after prosecutors said they didn’t want to put the victim through another trial.

Jardine’s lawsuit had initially sought more than $1 million in damages. He eventually settled with the county after a judge agreed to seal his deposition transcripts.