Haleakala building evacuated
The Haleakala Observatory's telescope towers building was evacuated Wednesday evening after a report of smoke from overheating generators in the basement, a fire official said.
Kula, Makawao and Kahului firefighters, including a hazardous materials team, responded to the 6:14 p.m. call reporting the smoke, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga. While fire crews were responding, the observatory supervisor reported a generator was smoking and had been shut off, Mainaga said.
Fire units met with the supervisor, who reported that air compressor generators used to cool the telescope were overheating, he said.
No damage or injuries were reported.
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VFW rummage sale fundraiser
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary 3850 will be holding a rummage and chicken hekka plate sale Saturday at the VFW Hall, 1136 Uluniu Road.
The rummage sale runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with furniture, household appliances, dishes, clothes, electronics, baby items, baked goods and more.
The plate lunch consists of chicken hekka, rice, corn and bottled water, and the pickup is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Plates are $7.
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Fire crews snuff blaze in Kihei
Maui firefighters extinguished a brush fire Thursday in an empty lot in Kihei, a fire official said.
The fire was at the end of Waiono Place and about 2 acres in size when firefighters arrived after receiving the alarm call at 3:35 p.m., Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said. Six fire units responded to the call, which got as close as 50 feet to one home, Mainaga said.
No injuries or property damage were reported and a cause was not determined, he said. The vacant lot is located between Namauu Place and Waiopo Street.
Firefighters were able to control the blaze by 4:30 p.m. and it was extinguished at 5:30 p.m., Mainaga said in a news release.
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Oct. 18 candidate forum set
The West Maui Taxpayers Association will host a candidates forum beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Lahaina Civic Center.
The event will feature candidates appearing on the Nov. 6 ballot in West Maui. Candidates will have an opportunity to make an introductory statement and then answer pre-selected questions in a debate format from an association moderator.
If only one candidate is present or the office is not contested, the candidate will have an opportunity to provide a short statement about his or her mission and goals.
The event will be televised live on Akaku: Maui Community Television and taped for rebroadcasting.
The forum is free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided by Arturo Ortiz and Dave Mello of Kaanapali Maui Paradise Grill.
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Crews escort troubled vessel
Firefighters escorted a boat with engine trouble back to Kahului Harbor on Thursday.
At about 5:45 p.m., Wailuku firefighters, the Air One chopper and a rescue crew out of Kahului with a 22-foot boat and personal watercraft responded to a vessel in distress, according to Maui Fire Department Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga on Thursday evening. The boat was reported to be anchored 30 feet from shore in the Kahakuloa cliffs area.
Air One spotted the 15-foot boat at about 6:20 p.m. about six miles northwest of Kahului Harbor and about 200 yards offshore.
There were two Kahului men on board, 51 and 29 years old. They were in no immediate distress but were having engine trouble, Mainaga said.
The rescue boat and personal watercraft assisted the vessel back to Kahului Harbor, he said.
