Streets reopened after gas leak repair
All lanes of Pensacola and Kinau streets were reopened just before 4 a.m. Saturday after Hawai‘iGas personnel repaired a gas leak on Pensacola Friday evening.
Police had closed Pensacola Street between Kinau and Beretania streets except for one lane for local traffic and TheBus. The leak was first detected by a police officer about 4 a.m. Friday.
A Hawai‘iGas spokesman said the leak was traced to a broken 4-inch pipe. Repair crews secured backup gas service to area businesses before shutting off the line.
Woman drowns during her visit to Kua Bay
A 43-year-old woman who went swimming in Kua Bay in Kailua-Kona apparently drowned Friday afternoon.
The Hawaii County Fire Department said the woman was found face down in the water and taken to shore by other beachgoers, who started CPR.
Paramedics continued treatment and took her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Firefighters said Kua Beach does not have a lifeguard station.
Flesh-eating bug sends swimmer into surgery
A Maui man who contracted a rare flesh-eating bacteria is recovering after surgery to repair his leg.
Hawaii News Now reports that 71-year-old Stephen "Steamer" Johnson underwent skin graft surgery Friday on his right leg.
Johnson, of Kihei, has been hospitalized in Hilo since swimming at the Ahalanui Park hot pond on Aug. 31. According to Johnson, he went swimming despite a bleeding cut on his shin.
Johnson says he got chills and a fever within 24 hours.
Doctors say the bacteria spread to five different places on his right leg but didn’t attack his muscles.
Hawaii County officials say signs at the pond warn people not to swim with an open wound. The park remains closed until water tests come back.
Kauai pipeline is finished early, under budget
A $2.1 million, 2,600-foot water pipeline in Kapaa, Kauai, has been completed before deadline and $100,000 under budget.
A blessing ceremony Wednesday marked the completion of the Kauai County Department of Water pipeline project, the Garden Island reports. Contractor Goodfellow Bros. replaced a 5-inch galvanized steel water line with a 12-inch PVC line.
