Foul odor leads to morgue evacuation
About 10 people were evacuated from the Maui County morgue in Wailuku and two women were transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center after a report of an obnoxious odor in a second-floor classroom Wednesday morning, officials said Thursday.
The Maui Fire Department's hazardous-materials crew was called to assist Wailuku firefighters who responded to the 8:23 a.m. alarm at 1831 Wili Pa Loop in the Wailuku Millyard area, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
A class of newly hired police dispatchers began feeling ill from odors in the classroom, said Ryan Joslin, Maui County Paramedics Association spokesman. He said two women, ages 26 and 27, were transported to the hospital for treatment of their symptoms. They were in stable condition.
The cause of the odor was undetermined, Mainaga said.
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Strong winds expected for Haleakala
Sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts of 50 mph are expected today until 6 p.m. from 6,000 feet to the 10,000-foot summit of Haleakala, said the National Weather Service, which posted a wind advisory for the popular site for visitors.
The strong winds were generated by a strengthening high-pressure weather system to the north, forecasters said.
The winds can make driving, especially in high-profile vehicles, difficult, the weather service warned.
For more weather information, call (866) 944-5025 or go online to www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl.
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Wailuku gas prices up, highest in state
Unleaded gas prices in Wailuku rose 2 cents from last week to $4.53 a gallon Thursday, the highest average reported statewide, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. That price is 10 cents more than last month and 9 cents higher than last year.
For the ninth week, Hawaii gas prices have increased slightly in most areas, Gas Watch reported. Nevertheless, the state average price for regular unleaded remained at $4.41, the same as last week, 4 cents higher than last month and 20 cents more than a year ago.
Honolulu's average price went up to $4.35 a gallon for regular unleaded. That's a penny more than last week, 3 cents more than last month and 26 cents higher than a year ago.
In Hilo, the average gas price was unchanged at $4.41 a gallon, which is 3 cents more than last month and 8 cents more than a year ago.
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 the last card swipe of the previous day.
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Police probe discovery of woman's body
Police were investigating Thursday the death of a 40-year-old woman whose body was found near a stairwell at Kahana Manor early in the morning.
Police were called to the complex at 4:04 a.m. after a resident came across the body.
No additional information was available Thursday.
