Major electric repairs in Puna are completed

Hawaii Electric Light Co. on Thursday completed repairs to all the major damage Tropical Storm Iselle caused to the electric system in subdivisions in the Puna District.

Iselle, which made landfall on the island on Aug. 8 with winds of up to 60 mph and torrential rain, left about 25,000 customers without electrical power. Most of the customers affected by the outage were in the Puna area.

Electric line crews are now focused on a number of smaller outages scattered across the following areas: Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Beaches, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hamakua, Kalapana, Leilani Estates, Nanawale Estates, Orchidland Estates and Upper Puna. In total, an estimated 200 customers remain out of power.

Customers who are still without power should report their outage by calling 969-6666.

Ideas sought for Patsy Mink’s former school

HAMAKUAPOKO, Hawaii » Maui officials are looking for ideas on how to repurpose a high school campus that was once home to U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink, the valedictorian for 1944.

The Maui News reported Friday that Maui County is offering to grant a lease of 20 years or more for $1 per year to those who propose using the campus for social services, agriculture or education.

Anyone submitting a proposal will have to prove they can fund and accomplish their goals.

The school was established in 1913 but its campus was abandoned in 1972.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Magnitude-4.2 quakes strikes off Molokai

MAUNALOA, Molokai » The U.S. Geological Survey reports a magnitude-4.2 earthquake has struck off the Hawaiian Islands.

The temblor struck in the ocean about 34 miles southwest of Maunaloa, Molokai, early Friday. It had a depth of about 4 miles.

People on Lanai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island reported to the USGS that they felt weak or light shaking.

USGS initially reported it to be a magnitude-4.1 earthquake with a depth of about 12 miles, about 45 miles southwest of Lanai. But the USGS’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory later reported adjustments after the earthquake was reviewed by a seismic analyst.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.