Council to discuss fish catch limits

The federal body responsible for managing fisheries around Hawaii and other parts of the western Pacific region is meeting this week to discuss catch limits on deep-water bottom fish, opelu, lobster and other species.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is due to hold meetings in Waikiki starting today. The council’s science committee meets through Wednesday, while the full council meets Thursday through Saturday.

Congress has required all federally managed fish stocks to be regulated by annual catch limits by the end of this year. 

Man killed in car crash inside park

A man was killed and another was injured early Sunday morning in a car crash at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The car was dis­covered at 1:29 a.m. about 15 to 20 feet off Highway 11 on the rocks near the 36-mile marker, according to Hawaii County fire officials.

Rescue officials found two men, one of whom was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital. The other man had multiple injuries.

No further information on the victims, including the condition of the surviving victim, was available Sunday.

Hawaii County police and park rangers are investigating the crash.

Rift delays development of hospital

A split between partners of the proposed West Maui hospital has apparently stalled the project.

The Maui News reported Sunday that Newport Hospital Corp. developer Brian Hoyle had withdrawn from the project, which was proposed for a site near a Kaanapali coffee farm, after losing his financial backing.

But he said he is now planning to develop his own hospital on nearby land.

His former partner, Joe Pluta, described the situation as “a major disappointment,” the Maui News said.

Pluta is president of the West Maui Improvement Foundation, which he said is meeting with a number of interested developers with private financing to move forward with the original plans.

But Hoyle has received the certificate of need from the state to develop a West Maui hospital.