Fatal car crashes on Hawaii island have risen this year even as the number of major accidents has declined, Hawaii County police reported Monday.

Through Sunday there have been 13 fatal crashes on the island, resulting in 15 deaths. That compares with 11 fatal crashes resulting in 14 deaths during the same period last year.

There have been 879 major accidents so far this year, compared with 948 during the same period last year.

So far this year there have been 657 DUI arrests, compared with 637 during the same period last year.

Hui will try again to fix up homes, despite high cost

HILO >> A nonprofit organization says it’s moving forward with plans to renovate housing units for low-income elderly residents, despite higher-than-expected cost projections.

HOPE Services Hawaii is looking to renovate 11 units in Pahoa. Brandee Menino, CEO of the group, said cost estimates were as high as $950,000 earlier this year, nearly double the project’s original budget, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.

HOPE Services has raised about $400,000 for the effort so far, and will put the project back out to bid this month.

“We’re just going to put it back out and try again,” Menino said.

Menino said the units have been gutted and are in need of costly underground work, but the group still prefers to renovate them rather than build new ones, which contractors said would be less expensive. She said the group is exploring all options.