Founder of data firm joins mayor’s team
The former head of Commercial Data Systems was named Monday as the city’s next director of information technology by Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Mark D. Wong is founder of the information technology company, which specializes in large systems for major corporations as well federal, state and local governments.
CDS, which Wong started in 1986 and sold in 2012, was ranked No. 89 in Hawaii Business magazine’s Top 250 companies in 2011. It has offices in 13 states.
Wong received a Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Yale University and is a graduate of ‘Iolani School.
Caldwell, in a news release announcing the appointment Monday, called Wong’s appointment "a major hire."
Fire causes loss of power in Haiku area
About 500 Haiku customers were expected to be without power until late Monday or possibly this morning after a power outage that initially affected 5,000 customers.
Tree-trimming crews were clearing a path to damaged poles and lines in mountainous terrain behind Windward Community College, HECO spokesman Darren Pai said. A fire on one of the poles caused the damage, he said.
The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, Pai said.
Power was restored to about 4,500 customers by 10:45 a.m. Monday. But the remaining customers, in the Hokulele and Crown Terrace subdivisions, will be without power until the poles and overhead lines are fixed.
Pai apologized for the inconvenience and said crews are working "as quickly and as safely as possible to restore power."
Electronic waste recycling events on tap for Kauai
Kauai County announced Monday it is setting up monthly electronic waste recycling events so residents can drop off unwanted TVs, computers and other items. There is no charge.
The first event is May 24 and 25 at Vidinha Stadium from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Corporate Solutions will operate this event.
Beginning June 7 and 8, e-waste recycling will be held on the second Friday and Saturday of the month at the Kauai Resource Center at 3460 Ahukini Road, near Lihue Airport and fronting the Lihue Transfer Station, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Electronics will be accepted only during designated times and locations. Materials that are left at facilities outside of the scheduled event times will be deemed "illegal dumping" and disposed of as mixed waste.
For more information, call 241-4841 or visit www.kauai.gov/recycling.
Police identify pedestrian killed on Highway 11
Hawaii County police have identified a pedestrian killed Friday in a crash near Glenwood as Robert S. Silva, 45, of Mountain View.
Police said Silva was walking in the northbound lane of Highway 11 near the 20-mile marker when he was hit by a northbound 1998 Peterbilt water truck driven by a 49-year-old Hilo man at about 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Silva was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:57 p.m.
The driver of the water truck and his passenger, his 48-year-old wife, were not injured.
It was the 13th traffic fatality on Hawaii island this year, compared with 14 at this time last year.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call officer Tuckloy Aurello at 961-8119.
