Water tankers stay put during refilling
HAIKU - Water tankers remained on standby Monday while Department of Water Supply crews waited for the system to refill following a problem that left residents with little or no water for about a week.
Water tankers were located at Upper Waipalani Road, the intersection of Kalipo Place and Waipalani Road and at the intersection of Kapuai and Koolau roads, said Jacky Takakura, the department's administrative officer.
Around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Takakura said water valves had been reset, and "the system should be slowly filling up."
Water consumption was expected to drop Monday night, allowing a storage tank in the area enough time to refill and return water pressure to normal this morning, she said.
Late last week, about a dozen homes at the highest elevations in Upper Ulumalu continued to have little or no water.
For more information, contact water department officials at 270-7633.
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Kuau beach closed; officials test quality
KUAU - Beach closure signs remained out in Kuau on Monday, three days after a wastewater overflow occurred at Lae Place.
Maui County officials had completed three out of four days of required water quality testing and would take test samples for a fourth day today, said Ryan Piros, assistant spokesman for Maui County. The samples are submitted to the state Department of Health.
The spill of around 5,200 gallons was reported at 9:40 a.m. Friday and stopped 30 minutes later. The incident was blamed on a mechanical failure at Kuau No. 4 pump station.
Wastewater overflowed from a manhole and into a nearby storm drain that goes into the ocean between Holo and Lae places. The malfunction was corrected, and the area was cleaned and disinfected.
The beach area will remain closed until water quality in the area is cleared by the Health Department, Piros said.
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Island plan update meeting discussion
KIHEI - The update of the Maui Island Plan will be discussed during a Kihei Community Association meeting tonight at the Kihei Charter Middle School at 41 E. Lipoa St.
Featured guests include Lucienne de Naie, a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee, and members of the county Department of Planning Long-range Planning Division.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the program starts a half-hour later.
For more information, call 879-5390 or go online to www.gokihei.org.
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Cemeteries for vets to receive upgrades
WASHINGTON - Veterans cemeteries on Molokai and Lanai would receive part of a nearly $1.6 million federal grant for expansion and upgrades for facilities on Neighbor Islands, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka announced Monday.
Other veterans cemeteries to get funds include those on Kauai and in East Hawaii.
"Our veterans dedicated their lives to serve our country in times of need," said Akaka, former chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. "We honor the actions of these brave men and women through the continued upkeep and preservation of these memorial parks."
The money will be used for the expansion, maintenance and appearance of the cemeteries.
