Kauai County - Official website for the government of the County of Kauai, Hawaii

2/8/2010 2:56:35 PM - New HI-5 redemption center opens in Kapa‘a - KAPA‘A – A new HI-5 certified redemption center recently opened in the Arzadon Industrial Park in Kapa‘a. The center is located at 962 Kipuni Way next to the Kaua'i Community Federal Credit Union, and is operated by Kaua'i Community Recycling Services. The hours of operation at the center for large loads of HI-5 beverage containers are 8 am to 4 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, with no break in services for lunch. For smaller loads, reverse vending machines (RVMs) are also available at the new Kapa‘a center, and can be accessed daily, from 8 am to 4 pm.

2/8/2010 10:32:11 AM - Box jellyfish reported on south shore and westside beaches - PO'IPŪ – Ocean Safety officials report that box jellyfish have been found this morning at several Kaua'i beaches, including: Po'ipū; Salt Pond; and Kekaha. Officials are urging beachgoers to exercise caution and to check with lifeguards before entering the water at these beaches.

2/5/2010 6:36:46 PM - Near drowning in Po'ipū - PO'IPŪ – A 62-year-old visitor from Colorado Springs is in Wilcox Hospital this evening after being found face down at around 3:14 pm in the water fronting Lāwa‘i Beach Resort. His current condition is not known. The man had been snorkeling about 20 feet offshore with family members when his brother noticed that he was motionless. His brother brought him to shore and bystanders performed CPR.

2/5/2010 4:10:58 PM - Results of county audit released - LĪHU'E -- County Auditor Ernesto Pasion announced today the results of the independent financial audit for the County for the fiscal year ending June 2009. The audit, conducted by the firm of RC Holsinger Associates PC, resulted in a clean audit opinion. The complete report is available on the county website. Also posted on the county’s website are the auditor’s letters documenting the results of the single audit for the County in the same period. The single audit is an annual audit required by federal law, and is intended to ensure that the County is expending federal funds properly.

2/5/2010 2:23:41 PM - New, returning members of county boards and commissions receive training - LĪHU‘E – Nearly all of the new members of county boards and commissions recently attended a four-hour orientation where they were provided with an overview of their new role as county officials. A number of returning members were also in attendance. The training was sponsored by the county’s Boards and Commissions Office in partnership with the Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Kaua'i. “Board and commission members are vital to county operations. They lend their expertise to discussions on county issues and their input is invaluable,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “It’s important that we provide them with the training they need to succeed as contributing members of their respective boards and commissions.”

2/5/2010 12:18:21 PM - New state law mandates eWaste recycling programs - LĪHU'E – County officials are advising residents and businesses that a new state law requires manufacturers of covered electronic devices (CEDs) to implement recycling programs for their products starting this year. The CEDs addressed in the Hawai'i Electronics Waste and Recovery Act (Act 13) include: computers; computer printers; computer monitors; and portable computers with screens that are larger than four inches measured diagonally. In January of next year, the list of CEDs will expand to include televisions.

2/4/2010 5:17:19 PM - KPD is asking for help with finding runaway - LĪHU‘E – The Kaua‘i Police Department is asking for the public’s help with finding a runaway. Ruby Ann Octavio was reported missing on Feb. 1 when she failed to return home from school. Police believe that she may be with a 20-year-old man in the Puhi-Līhu'e area. Octavio, age 15, is five feet three inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. She has brown eyes, long brown hair, a fair complexion and a medium build. Octavio is of Portuguese descent.

2/4/2010 4:09:22 PM - Lāwa‘i man arrested in connection with fatal crash - LĪHU‘E – A 31-year-old Lāwa‘i man who was involved in Kaua'i’s first fatal crash of the year was arrested yesterday morning at police headquarters in Lihue. Tomas Garcia, age 32, of Kapa‘a, was killed in the crash that occurred on Kaumuali‘i Hwy. near the entrance to Kahili Mt. Park on Jan. 19. His passenger, a 27-year-old Kīlauea man, was injured. Norman Bukoski, Jr. was arrested and charged with drunk driving, first degree negligent homicide and first degree negligent injury. He was later released pending completion of the investigation.

2/4/2010 3:38:03 PM - Green waste accepted at Hanalei and Kapa‘a transfer stations again - KAPA‘A – Green waste operations at the Hanalei and Kapa‘a transfer stations have resumed. The service was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns caused by muddy conditions in the drop-off area.

2/3/2010 2:20:33 PM - KPD to step up speed enforcement efforts - LĪHU‘E – In light of the recent fatal traffic crashes, the Kaua'i Police Department will be increasing its speed enforcement efforts throughout the island with particular emphasis on the south and westside. “Statistics show that speeding is a factor in about one-third of fatal traffic crashes,” said Acting Assistant Chief Ale Quibilan. “We felt it was time for us to step up our speed enforcement efforts to deter drivers from going over the posted speed limit and to help keep our roadways safe.”

2/2/2010 9:35:02 AM - Hanalei bottle redemption center closed today - HANALEI – The Hanalei HI-5 bottle redemption center is closed today due flooding caused by the heavy rain. The facility will reopen next Tuesday, 8 am to 2 pm. Normal operating hours at the Hanalei center are Tuesdays from 8 am to 2 pm, with no break for lunch.

2/2/2010 9:24:49 AM - Green waste not accepted at Hanalei and Kapa‘a transfer stations - HANALEI – Green waste is not being accepted at the Hanalei and Kapa‘a transfer stations until further notice due to safety concerns caused by muddy conditions in the drop-off areas. In the meantime, residents may drop off their green waste at the Līhu‘e or Hanapēpē transfer station or the Kekaha Landfill.