Suspects sought in attack at state park
Maui police are looking for suspects involved in an assault of a 63-year-old man Tuesday evening at the Makena State Park toilet facilities.
The Wailuku resident sustained a laceration to his right forehead, contusions and bleeding in his head, said Lt. Jayson Rego of the Criminal Investigation Division.
The victim was in stable condition Wednesday at Maui Memorial Medical Center, he said.
The man was reportedly attacked by two males as he exited the park toilet between 6 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Rego said.
The suspects are described as local males in their 20s and about 5 feet 9 inches tall. They also stole the man's wallet.
Police have opened up a second-degree robbery and attempted murder case in the incident because the man suffered life-threatening bleeding in his brain.
Anyone with information in the case may call Maui Crime Stoppers at 242-6966. Callers remain anonymous and are given a code number. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of suspects in felony crimes.
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Crews put out 3 fires on Molokai
Molokai fire crews fought three brush fires Wednesday morning in the area of Hoomalu Drive and Likelike Avenue in the Kalamaula Mauka subdivision, fire officials said.
An estimated 21 acres were scorched in the blazes reported at 11:36 a.m.
The first fire burned half an acre, the second burned 1 acre and the third was estimated to be 20 acres.
The first two fires were put out quickly, while the third fire was contained at 2:15 p.m.
Late Wednesday afternoon, crews were mopping up.
No homes were threatened, fire officials said.
The Kaunakakai engine crew and tanker, fire crews from Hoolehua and Pukoo, the wildland crew from Kaunakakai, the Fire Department's Air One helicopter and two county Public Works water tankers and a bulldozer assisted with dousing the fire.
The cause of the fires remained undetermined. A fire investigator responded to the scene.
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Hiker rescued after breaking ankle
Fire crews and the Fire Department's Air One helicopter were able to pluck a 44-year-old California man off an Iao Valley State Park trail Tuesday afternoon after the man suffered a broken ankle, fire officials said.
Around 3:20 p.m., the man was about a 45-minute hike into the trail above the park's lookout. The helicopter and a Kahului rescue crew were able to find him and airlifted him to a nearby landing zone secured by the Wailuku fire crew at 4:30 p.m.
The Blackhawk, Calif., man was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center.
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High-surf advisory extended to Friday
The high-surf advisory for east-facing shores of Molokai and Maui has been extended to 9 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service in Honolulu said Wednesday.
The advisory means high surf will affect beaches, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. Surf will be 6 to 10 feet through tonight.
A high tide of about 1.9 feet is expected between 7:33 a.m. and 8:51 a.m. today.
Beachgoers are urged to stay out of the water and away from the shore break.
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Walkability expert to speak Friday
Dan Burden, executive director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, will offer a presentation at 5 p.m. Friday at the Door of Faith Church.
Burden will discuss streetscapes, address challenges to and opportunities for improving the walkability of areas, and concepts and benefits of "complete streets."
The institute that Burden co-founded provides assistance to numerous entities, including the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the City and County of Honolulu.
The state Department of Health Healthy Hawai'i Initiative is sponsoring Burden's work on Maui. The Nutrition & Physical Activity Coalition of Maui County and the Maui Family YMCA's Y's Pioneering Healthier Communities also are supporting the event.
The church is at 4975 Lower Honoapiilani Road in Napili.
For more information, contact Sandra McGuinness, coalition county coordinator, at 264-7895 or send email to sandramaui@aol.com.
