KAHULUI – A fire at Kokua Pool Tuesday night in Kahului was likely arson. Last night at 8:30 p.m., Maui firefighters responded to a structure fire at Kokua swimming pool on Uhu Street, next to the Kahului Community Center.

Kahului firefighters arrived at 8:38 p.m. and found that Maui police officers were in the process of extinguishing the fire. Officers leaped over the fence and used a garden hose to put out a plastic bench burning outside the pool office.

A fire investigator was called and determined the fire was intentionally set. Damage to the bench made of recycled plastic was estimated at $1,000. A window near the bench also sustained minor damage.

Three fire units from Kahului and Wailuku responded to the fire.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most recently asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor,

Q: My husband and I moved to Maui two years ago. We heard there would be a new high school built in North Kihei. Great news! However, now we hear the project has been in the planning for over 10 years and to date we have seen no building. Just how long before this school gets built? And, does Maui still have the funding set aside for this project?! Thank you.

A: The State Legislature approved $30 million in the last biennium to begin construction of the high school in Kihei and the project is moving ahead, according to State Department of Education (DOE) officials. The DOE says they awarded a first-phase infrastructure contract last month to Alpha Inc., a local company here on Maui. After Alpha gets all the necessary permits, they will start building an access road and drilling wells needed for the high school. This contract for the infrastructure will cost around $400,000 and the State will allot the remaining money for site and infrastructure work on the project as it is awarded. Future construction and completion will depend on availability of funding. The total estimated cost for the school is $130 million and the DOE says they expect the school construction to be finished around 30 months after full funding of the project.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: Several weeks ago I read in the Maui News that the County had asked for bids for the refurbishment/resurfacing of Pu’ukolii Road. I understand that the bids have been submitted. So my question is, when do you expect the work to begin on this project? All of us on the Ka’anapali Hillside are anxiously awaiting the news. In advance, thank you for finally tackling this road improvement.

A: According to our Public Works department, the project bid opening was on October 1^st of this year, and the low bidder was Maui Kupono Builders. The contract is being processed, and the department hopes to complete the resurfacing by next summer.

Mayor Arakawa:

Q: When is Moreira “Mo” Monsalve’s family going to get their questions answered?

A: The Maui Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has been and will continue to pursue all leads into the Missing Person’s Case of Moreira “Mo” Monsalve. CID is still in contact with a family member for any questions. Our prayers are with the family as the search for her continues.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: [email protected], phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9^th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most recently asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Aloha Mayor,

Q: Is there a schedule for the opening of Liloa Drive between Alanui Ke Alii and Keonekai Road. Progress seemed to go pretty fast and then all of a sudden it seems like nothing is being done and there is no access to the road. By the way, the roundabout turned out great and the appearance is a great addition to Kihei.

A: Thank you for the compliment about the roundabout, we are glad it is a popular feature in the Kihei community. That particular stretch of road you are taking about is actually privately owned. Work on it is being completed by Towne Development out of Oahu as a condition of one of their previous developments. We talked to Towne and they said they should actually be finishing up that road by the first week of December, although it might be even sooner than that. So it won’t be much longer.

Dear Mayor,

Q: I would like to know why the vegetation along the upcountry area roads are not being maintained. I live in Haiku and on our street the vegetation has not been cut in at least 6-8 months. We walk the streets in our neighborhood and the two-lane road is now just one lane. There are sight distance issues and makes it very dangerous to walk. This same problem is all over the Haiku area roadways. The streets I have noticed are North Holokai Road, Pono Road and South Holokai Road, along with East Kuiaha and West Kuiaha roads.

A: Mahalo for your question, as it underscores the need to educate land owners on their responsibility to maintain roadsides when the property is less than 15 acres in size. According to Maui County Code 12.02.010-020, owners, managers, administrators and others that have control or possession of privately owned property that “abuts or adjoins a County street shall continually maintain, and keep clean, passable and free from weeds and noxious growths, the sidewalk or shoulder areas which abut or adjoin” the property. Our Department of Public Works help maintain the brush along County roadways that abut agricultural properties that are larger than 15 acres, but the vast majority of the overgrowth you are seeing is likely on smaller properties whose owners should be maintaining them. To file a complaint about a particular property, you can use the Request for Service (RFS) system at www.mauicounty.RFS.

Mayor Arakawa:

Q: Why is it that no one (MPD) cites, the U.S. mail truck? They don’t have plates at all. Are they exempt because they use maritime law, or coordinates to justify what is illegal to travel on these roads? Please let me know, thank you!!!

A: Your question is an interesting followup to the question we addressed in last week’s column regarding “Kingdom of Hawaii” license plates. Postal service vehicles are exempt from having Hawaii license plates because they belong to the Federal Government. Each truck is identified by blue numbers on its back. The vehicles are exempt from paying registration and taxes as a federal division, but safety inspections are still required.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email: [email protected], phone: 270-7855 or mail: 200 S. High Street, 9^th Floor, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.

EVENT: The National Weather Service has ISSUED a HIGH SURF WARNING for NORTH and WEST FACING SHORES of MAUI & MOLOKAI in effect until 6:00 p.m. Friday.

MONSTERS EN ROUTE? – Peahi’s famous “Jaws” break is expected to explode through the night. Click to enlarge. (Photo Courtesy Surfline)

A High Surf Warning means that dangerous, battering waves will pound the shoreline. This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions, and deadly rip currents.

EFFECTS: A large northwest swell will bring surf heights to advisory levels over north and west facing shores of Maui and Molokai today, with surf heights reaching warning levels tonight through Friday.

Expect building surf along north facing shores of 12 to 18 feet today, reaching 18 to 25 feet this evening and continuing through Friday. Expect building surf along west facing shores of 9 to 12 feet today, reaching 15 to 20 feet this evening and continuing through Friday.

Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves.

IMPACTS: EXPECT OCEAN WATER SWEEPING ACROSS PORTIONS OF BEACHES, VERY STRONG BREAKING WAVES, AND STRONG LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS. BREAKING WAVES MAY OCCASIONALY IMPACT HARBORS ENTRANCES, MAKING NAVIGATING THE HARBOR CHANNEL DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: LARGE BREAKING SURF, SIGNIFICANT SHOREBREAK AND DANGEROUS CURRENTS MAKE ENTERING THE WATER VERY HAZARDOUS. ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER COULD FACE SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR DEATH. BEACHGOERS, SWIMMERS AND SURFERS SHOULD HEED ALL ADVICE GIVEN BY OCEAN SAFETY OFFICIALS AND EXERCISE CAUTION. BOATERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SURFERS AND BODY BOARDERS UTILIZING THE HARBOR CHANNEL TO ACCESS SURFING AREAS.

INFORMATION: Maui Civil Defense Agency will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for any updates. NOAA Weather broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather internet services can be found at weather.gov/hawaii.

Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. This same notification can be found on the Maui County website at mauicounty.gov.

WAILUKU – The Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will consider a resolution establishing an advisory body to review the county manager form of governance on Monday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Committee Chair Michael P. Victorino announced today.

Due to the high surf on the North Shore, the Department of Parks and Recreation has closed Baldwin Beach Park in Paia for the day, due to waves flooding the parking lot area. A high surf warning continues through tonight for north and west shores of Maui and Moloka’i.

FLOOD – BUT NO RAIN – Baldwin Beach Park is closed to traffic due to very large waves sweeping up and over the beach into the parking lot. Click to enlarge. (Photo Courtesy Maui County)

Water safety officials are issuing simple instructions: “Don’t Go Out!”