Firefighters come to aid of hikers
Firefighters hiked a trail at Iao Valley State Park to help a group of hikers, including a 19-year-old man who was injured when he fell off a trail Thursday evening, a fire official said.
Fire crews from Wailuku and Kahului responded to the 6:34 p.m. alarm reporting that the hiker who fell was believed to have broken his leg, said Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
He said five young adults were hiking along the upper ridge trail about two miles above the marked pathway when the hiker fell. Crews reached the hikers and escorted them to safety, Mainaga said.
He said medics treated the injured man, a Texas native, for injuries to his left leg and head. The man refused to be transported to the hospital by ambulance and was released, Mainaga said.
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Napili man arrested for pawning art
A Napili man was arrested Thursday after an investigation showed that he had pawned two whale sculptures that were reported missing from a Kihei condominium unit while he was resident manager of the complex, police said.
Keith Romero, 49, was charged with first-degree burglary, three counts of second-degree theft and two counts of fourth-degree theft. He was released after posting $8,200 bail.
Police said Romero was resident manager at Kihei Beach Condominiums from May to December, when the sculptures were taken from the unit. Also during that period, he pawned tools that had been bought and charged to the company, police said.
The value of the stolen property was $8,950, police said.
An all-points bulletin had been issued for Romero, who turned himself in, police said.
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County to be on corner at Whale Day
A "County on Your Corner" event with Mayor Alan Arakawa is set from 10 a.m. to noon today during Whale Day at Kalama Park.
Also at the event will be Transportation Director JoAnne Johnson-Winer, Deputy Managing Director David Ching and Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong. Kihei residency Council Member Don Couch also is expected to attend.
"It is important to connect with people face to face," said Arakawa. "County on Your Corner, which is scheduled in a different location each month, is a good way for myself and members of my Cabinet to interact with the community."
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Meeting to look at community plan
A public meeting on the community plan process with a panel of members from county government and the private sector will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kihei Charter School.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. for pupu and conversation.
The current Kihei Makena Community Plan has been in effect since 1998 so it's time to update it, a news release about the event said.
The charter school is located at 41 E. Lipoa St. Nonperishable food donations for the Maui Food Bank are encouraged.
For more information, call (508) 499-9996 or go to www.gokihei.org.
