Coast Guard, good Samaritans aid mariner
An amateur radio operator, the Coast Guard and a good Samaritan vessel helped a mariner Friday who was stuck on a disabled sailboat 300 miles northeast of Hilo with no food and almost no water.
The radio operator alerted the Coast Guard by email that a mariner needed assistance aboard the disabled, Australian-flagged sailing vessel Q-Wave, the Coast Guard said.
The boat had lost its dinghy, sustained a tear in its main sail and had a broken motor with unreliable communications equipment. The mariner had less than a liter of water and no food, the Coast Guard said.
A Coast Guard crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Barbers Point dropped off emergency supplies, food, water and a VHF radio to the sailboat.
The good Samaritan vessel Fifth Wife overheard communications with the disabled vessel and responded to escort it back to Hilo.
Army convoys to travel on H-2, Farrington
The Army is advising motorists to watch out for convoys along the H-2 freeway and Farrington Highway as units conduct training at Makua Military Reservation.
There will be two 10-vehicle convoys from the 25th Infantry Division traveling from Schofield Barracks to Makua between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday, returning Friday between 9 and 11 a.m.
Convoys will move during off-peak hours to limit impact on local traffic. The Army is coordinating this effort with the Honolulu Police Department.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Rental scam hits Hawaii isle
Hawaii County police are warning of a rental scam that used a Hilo house being sold by its owner.
The scam has been used on Oahu, and Honolulu police recently warned the public about it.
A Hilo woman learned that her house, which she listed for sale, was posted for rent by some unknown person on Craigslist.
The Hilo woman emailed the person who posted the fake rental. That person claimed to be the homeowner and to be out of the country. The scammer asked the woman to wire $800 to the foreign country in exchange for a rental agreement and house key.
The bogus owner also instructed the real owner to disregard the for-sale sign and not to contact the real estate agent.
Police advise prospective renters to confirm the person renting the property is the owner or authorized rental agent.
Plan for Hana to be discussed
The Maui County General Plan Committee will discuss the proposed directed growth plan for the Hana region at 5 p.m. Thursday at Helene Hall in Hana, Council member Gladys C. Baisa said Friday.
Hana is the final region the committee needs to consider before completing its review. Because Hana is remote, it is difficult for residents to travel to Wailuku to testify.
"I want to make sure that we give Hana residents the same opportunity that other residents of the island have had to express their views on the proposed directed growth plan for their community," said Baisa, committee chairwoman.
The meeting is open to the public. The agenda is available at goo.gl/h165v.
