KEKAHA >> A Kauai resident died of an apparent drowning in waters off Kekaha on Thursday afternoon.

Police have identified the man as 60-year-old Vern White.

At approximately 3:50 p.m., firefighters from the Waimea station responded to a call of a swimmer in distress fronting St. Theresa Church. Rescuers arrived to the scene to find two bystanders trying to assist the man after they heard him calling for help. Firefighters swam out and brought the man to shore using a rescue tube and rescue board.

White was taken by awaiting medics to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

This is Kauai’s fourth drowning of 2017.

Family services center opening in Lahaina

A blessing and open house for Imua Family Services’ new West Maui center will be held on Wednesday.

The new center will provide better access to group programs for families to West Maui clients previously unable to travel to Kahului.

The nonprofit Imua Family Services provides early childhood intervention and development programs for children. Last year it reached 2,300 children and families through programs such as Dream Imua and Camp Imua.

The new West Maui Family Center is in Lahaina at 930 Wainee St., Suite 8. Wednesday’s ceremony will take place at 11 a.m, officiated by Clifford Naeole. Validated parking is available across the street at The Outlets of Maui.

The new Lahaina location is the organization’s third in Maui County, with the Imua Early Childhood Development Center in Kahului and a satellite center on Molokai at the Molokai Community Health Center.

Waihe‘e Ridge Trail opens as work pauses

WAILUKU >> A popular hike that was closed early this year for maintenance and upgrades will reopen temporarily as workers wait for materials to arrive and the weather to improve.

The 2.5-mile Waihe‘e Ridge Trail, which climbs the windward slope of the west Maui mountains, was scheduled to reopen Saturday following completion of a first phase of improvements to its surface, drainage and vegetative management. The trail will be closed again on March 20 when the work is scheduled to resume.

The trail is owned and operated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

Officials said the trail is muddy and slippery and they recommend hikers use walking sticks and wear shoes with good grip.

The work is being done by Trails Unlimited LLC with help from the Maui Division of Forestry and Wildlife Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program staff. Project cost is $27,000.

The Waihe‘e Ridge Trail was created in the 1960s by state forestry staff to gain access to plant trees.