Service has been restored to all school bus routes on Maui, but more drivers are needed to increase frequency to normal levels.
The last two routes that had been suspended, serving Baldwin High School and Iao Intermediate, are back in action, the Department of Education announced Monday.
A shortage of bus drivers forced cutbacks in routes at the start of the school year. School bus contractors are still seeking more drivers on Maui and Kauai, offering hiring bonuses for a limited time.
Applicants with commercial driver’s licenses should contact the Student Transportation Services branch at 586-0170 as soon as possible. Drivers without such a license can undertake training and testing, which takes about three weeks to complete.
Information about school bus registration, routes and service is available at the Get On Board Hotline at 586-0161.
Kauai
Body of man, 65, is recovered in waters off Nawiliwili Harbor
Police recovered the body of a 65-year-old man from waters near Nawiliwili Harbor in Lihue on Sunday.
His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
At about 7 a.m. a bystander walking near the jetty noticed an unresponsive male floating in the water and reported that to the Coast Guard.
Police, firefighters and crews from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources responded to the area. Firefighters removed the body from the water.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Wilcox Hospital morgue. The case remains under investigation, but police do not suspect foul play. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.
HAWAII ISLAND
$900,000 in items destroyed in Kailua-Kona warehouse fire
Fire badly damaged a warehouse early Monday at the Kohanaiki Industrial Park in Kailua-Kona.
Crews responded just past 5 a.m. to a blaze at a metal, five-compartment warehouse off Hulikoa Street, the Hawaii County Fire Department said.
One compartment was fully engulfed, and the flames had spread to two adjacent bays, the department said by email. Those three bays, with contents worth $900,000, were destroyed, but the two others, worth $450,000, were saved, the department said.
The fire was out by 6:30 a.m. There were no injuries. The cause is under investigation.
The building houses a vehicle-towing operation, a storage and restoration business, and a trailer sales business.
Police seeking Hilo man for questioning in assault
Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 27-year-old Hilo man wanted for questioning in an assault case.
Wayne Gonsalves Jr. is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 210 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a small star-type tattoo on the back of his left hand.
