Maui lifeguards removed shark warning signs and reopened beaches on the south shore Tuesday after the Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter did not see any signs of sharks.
Lifeguards and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials closed beaches and posted warning signs from Kalama Park to the Kihei Boat Ramp on Monday after a 58-year-old woman was bitten on her right leg by a large shark.
At about 10 a.m. Monday the woman was floating on the water’s surface and hanging on to a foam flotation device about 30 yards from Kamaole Beach Park I when she was bitten, Maui fire officials said. She told officials she saw what looked like a large shark. They said injuries to her right calf and thigh were consistent with those of a shark bite.
The woman swam to shore on her own where lifeguards treated her injuries before paramedics took her to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious condition. A hospital spokeswoman listed her in stable condition.
Crews mop up after brush fire in Kalaeloa
Honolulu firefighters worked Tuesday to extinguish hot spots and flare-ups in Kalaeloa from a Monday afternoon brush fire.
The blaze was contained a few hours after it was reported around 12:30 p.m. Monday near Saratoga Avenue and Boxer Road, but about 10 firefighters remained on the scene Tuesday.
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said there was some damage to at least one business in the area, but the extent has not yet been determined.
Jenkins said businesses in the area were open Tuesday and that there were no injuries reported. The cause is unknown at this time, he said.
The state Department of Transportation said there was no damage to nearby Kalaeloa Airport, although flames came close to the facility’s western perimeter. State Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting crews also helped in securing the airport’s perimeter and extinguishing the fire.
Justin Huffman, supervisor at nearby iTrampoline Hawaii, said there was no damage to the company’s facility, but the staff was cleaning up ash and debris from the blaze. He said they evacuated staff and customers after the fire started Monday afternoon.
“Everyone is fine,” Huffman said. “Luckily, it wasn’t too busy yesterday. We’re kind of just cleaning up our warehouse.”
Trial set for 2 suspects in shooting death
A trial date has been set for two men charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a 34-year-old Kekaha man.
The trial for Koma Texeira and Clayton Kona is set for March 20 at Fifth Circuit Court before Judge Randal Valenciano. Both men were indicted by a grand jury Nov. 9 for murder involving Jon Togioka’s death.
Kona is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail on charges of being an accomplice to second-degree murder as well as on firearm-related charges.
Texeira is being held in lieu of $1 million bail on charges of second-degree murder and firearm-related charges.
Police said a man walking along the shoreline near Port Allen Airport on Nov. 1 found Togioka’s body.
