Wailuku gas prices on rise, follow trend
The average price for unleaded regular gasoline in Wailuku rose 2 cents over last week to $4.36 a gallon, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch on Thursday.
That price is 19 cents more than last month and a penny higher than last year.
The Maui gas price was part of a statewide trend of rising gas prices. The Hawaii state average price jumped to $4.35 a gallon, an increase of 4 cents from last week, 22 cents higher than last month and 24 cents higher than a year ago.
By island, Honolulu's average price climbed to $4.31 a gallon for regular unleaded, a nickel more than last week. In Hilo, the average gas price is $4.32 a gallon, up 3 cents from last week.
"Fuel economy may be increased by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure," said AAA Hawaii Regional Manager Diane Peterson. "Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer."
AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch is a weekly snapshot of gas prices. Prices are derived from fleet vehicle credit card transactions at more than 100,000 stations around the country and are the combined averages of last card swipe of previous day.
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Consultant to speak at Waikapu meeting
Development consultant Vince Bagoyo will be the guest speaker at Waikapu Community Association's quarterly general membership meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Waikapu Community Center.
Bagoyo will present information on three projects in Waikapu that are proposed or approved, including the new home of the Valley Isle Fellowship; the new commercial subdivision at the east end of Waiko Road; and a proposed affordable housing project at the corner of Waiko and Waiale roads. Bagoyo will also be available to answer questions.
For more information, send email to waikapuca@hawaii.rr.com.
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Social media workshop set for Sept. 22
A "Social Media Boot Camp for Beginners" workshop will be offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 by High Tech Maui, a Maui Economic Development Board program.
The program costs $65, which includes lunch.
Seating is limited to 30 people. The event will be at the Malcolm Center, 1305 Holopono St., Suite 5.
Peter Liu, who has more than 30 years of experience in the computer industry, will discuss social media strategies for businesses and give an introduction to popular social networks.
For more information or to register, call 875-2300, or go online to www.hightechmaui.com.
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Probation violation in manslaughter case
WAILUKU - A Kihei man, placed on probation for manslaughter in the killing of another man 12 years ago at Cove Park, is back in jail for allegedly violating requirements of his probation.
During a 2nd Circuit Court hearing last week, bail was kept at $50,000 for Kamuela Sanchez, 35.
In June 2005, he was sentenced to a one-year jail term and 10 years' probation for manslaughter in the Jan. 28, 2000, killing of 32-year-old Nathan Ilar of Kahului. Ilar was punched and knocked unconscious when he intervened in a confrontation between a group of men at the Kihei park, according to witnesses. He died two days later in the hospital.
According to court documents, Sanchez was arrested for failing to comply with requirements of his probation by failing to provide verification of his employment, failing to make court-ordered payments and testing positive for marijuana use on numerous occasions. Sanchez most recently used drugs while in treatment, according to a court document.
He is being held at the Maui Community Correctional Center, pending a Sept. 14 court hearing before Judge Rhonda Loo.
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Grants topic of county economic session
The county Office of Economic Development is offering a grants training and workshop from 4 to 5 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Hana Community Center cafeteria.
The workshop is aimed at helping those interested in what kinds of grants are available from the Office of Economic Development and how the grants process works.
The session will examine the purpose and availability of economic development grant funds, grant proposals and method of submission, funding compliance, developing goals and objectives, developing an effective budget, and proper spending, accounting and reporting requirements.
For more details or to RSVP, contact grants manager Tina Silva via email at tina.silva@mauicounty.gov or call 270-7992.
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Closed switch cause of blackout incident
An inadvertently closed switch at a substation led to a power outage that left 13,000 customers in Kihei and Wailea without power for less than an hour Wednesday afternoon, Maui Electric Co. spokeswoman Kau'i Awai-Dickson said Thursday.
An investigation of the power blackout determined that, during testing of substation equipment at MECO's Kealahou substation, a switch was left closed that resulted in an "automatic relay scheme" that opened all circuits that provide power to Kihei and Wailea, she said. And that brought about the power outage.
Protection relay equipment is essential to the safe operation of the power transmission and distribution system, she said.
The power went out at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday, Awai-Dickson said, with about half of the customers getting power returned by 3 p.m. and the remainder having electricity restored at 3:28 p.m.
Awai-Dickson said MECO is re-evaluating its procedures to prevent a repeat of such an incident.
