Marine based in isles dies in Afghanistan
A Hawaii-based Marine from New Jersey has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon said Thursday that Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott of Manchester, N.J., died Wednesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province.
The 23-year-old was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, at Kaneohe.
Water main break closes McCully Street
A major traffic artery in and out of Waikiki might still be blocked to motorists when they make their commute this morning as a result of a water main break.
McCully Street between South King and Waiola streets was shut down in both directions by Honolulu police after a 16-inch water main broke at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Asphalt was ripped and there was minor flooding on McCully Street. Four customers were without water, and water wagons were set up in front of 916 McCully St., officials with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply said.
Repairs were expected to last through the evening, officials said.
Motorists were urged to take alternate routes or avoid the area altogether.
Water officials said the water main was installed in 1928.
Slain Navy SEAL honored for service on 37th birthday
Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa signed a proclamation Thursday honoring Kraig Vickers, the Maui High School graduate who was killed in Afghanistan.
Vickers was one of 30 American service members killed last week when a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Vickers was a senior chief petty officer working with a Navy SEAL team. Arakawa’s proclamation recognized Vickers for his 15 years as a bomb disposal technician in the Navy.
Born on Oahu, Vickers grew up on Maui and was a star high school football player and wrestler. Thursday would have been his 37th birthday.
Family members were at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Tuesday when Vickers’ remains were returned. Also that day, more than 200 surfers carried flowers out to the Virginia Beach, Va., surf in a paddle-out in honor of Vickers, who lived there with his wife, Nani, and their three children.
Flags statewide will fly at half-staff in mayor’s memory
Gov. Neil Abercrombie ordered national and Hawaii flags flown at half-staff Monday at state buildings in honor of former Hawaii County Mayor Herbert Matayoshi.
Matayoshi died July 11 at age 82. He was Hawaii County mayor from 1974 to 1984.
"Herb Matayoshi was a politician of the old school — thoughtful, supportive, encouraging and selfless — it was never about him," Abercrombie said in a news release.
A service for Matayoshi will be held Monday in Hilo at Church of the Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St. Visitation is at 2:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 4 p.m.
