The waters of Waikiki were busy as the annual Duke’s OceanFest continued yesterday with the C4 Waterman/Honolua Surf Stand-Up Paddle competition.

Yesterday’s competition had a record 84-paddler field which included six from Kaua‘i. Lihu‘e’s Taylor Savage and Warrick Gray competed in the amateur division, while Hanalei’s Titus Kinimaka and Bobby Cox, and Koloa’s Kalani Vierra and Kawika Carvalho were in the pro division.

Yesterday’s waters saw 2- to 3-foot rolling surf at Queen’s Beach in Waikiki which allowed for three rounds of competition. Kinimaka won got the furthest in the competition, reaching all the way to the semifinals before being eliminated by Noland Martin of Makaha, O‘ahu and Noah Shimabukuru of Kula, Maui.

Prior to that, though, Kinimaka two of his heats — the first in Round 1 and then his other in the quarterfinals. Carvalho won his Round 1 heat, but finished fourth in the his quarterfinal heat.

Savage won his opening heat in that amateurs, but finished fourth in the semis.

The finals heat has been established and will run on Saturday. The annual fest includes family events and several surfing events. The Association of Surfing Professional’s Hawai‘i division had its third outing of its Macy’s E-Series as a part of the OceanFest on Monday and today starts the Roxy Jam Honolulu.

(Source: Lanaly Cabalo, Kauai Garden Island News)

County and state emergency personnel yesterday continued to fight a fire on Napali Coast, officials said.

The blaze, which reportedly started late Saturday night, has scorched more than 50 acres east of Hanakapi‘ai Stream on the North Shore and required the rescue via boat of more than two dozen stranded hikers.

Air-1 joined the battle yesterday to provide aerial support, according to an Inter-Island Helicopters spokesman, but further details were unavailable as to the extent of the fire or possible cause.

The county public information office referred queries to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

A Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement worker on Kaua‘i said state personnel were still out fighting the fire and the Kalalau Trail, which provides the only land access to Hanakapi‘ai, remained closed.

(Source: Nathan Eagle, Kauai Garden Island News)

Motorists can expect some delays on Kuhio Highway between Kalihiwai Road and Kahiliholo Road while crews work to resurface Kuhio Highway near Hanalei.

Roadwork will effect travel in both directions from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily on these dates and locations:

Wednesday, August 20 through Friday, August 22, Kalihiwai Bridge to Kalihiwai Road.

Monday, August 25 through Friday, August 29, Kalihiwai Bridge to Kahiliholo Road.

Delays of no more than 15 minutes can be expected during construction hours. 

Electronic traffic boards have been posted around the construction area to notify drivers. 

(Source: KHNL 8 News)

Crews use boat in rescue effort

County firefighters and state rescue personnel yesterday evening were extricating hikers stranded by a fire that spread across the rugged Kalalau Trail, Kaua‘i Fire Capt. Kevin Souza said.

The emergency crew was using the Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Zodiac to shuttle an untold number of people from Hanakapi‘ai Beach, which is accessible only by trail or sea, to Ke‘e Beach where Kuhio Highway ends on the North Shore.

Unconfirmed reports from county officials and eyewitnesses indicated the blaze erupted from a campfire sometime late Saturday. The fire was still burning at press time, officials said.

A county lifeguard reported around 10:16 a.m. yesterday that there was a smoldering fire in the Hanakapi‘ai area, county spokeswoman Mary Daubert said.

“It was pretty much burned out with hot spots,” Souza said.

But sometime thereafter it spread across the trail, Daubert said.

An early report estimated the fire to be “larger than a football field,” Souza said.

The east side of Hanakapi‘ai Beach was burned from below up to the trail, he said.

Read more …

(Source: Nathan Eagle, Kauai Garden Island News)

Related Story:
Hikers evacuated from fire on Kauai (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

Residents at a project on Kauai question millions of dollars levied in monthly fees

The developer of a new luxury condominium resort project on Kauai is being accused of charging condo owners more than $2.2 million in bills that he should have paid himself.

Some condo owners at the new Waipouli Beach Resort have asked state and county authorities to investigate developer Chris Singleton.

An audit by a forensic accountant turned up more than $2.2 million in “questionable” charges to condo owners, former and current members of the condo board said recently.

Singleton calls the allegations “irresponsible and false” and says they arose after a couple of owners were ousted from the project’s board of directors.

Before the audit, the condo owners were paying nearly $1,600 in monthly fees. Now they pay about $1,300 a month, plus electric, taxes and whatever mortgage they have.

“Everybody was sort of horrified,” said David Leinweiber, a former board member.

Read more …

(Source: Tom Finnegan, Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

Professional surfer, author, shark attack survivor and now, shoe designer - 18-year-old Bethany Hamilton has not led a boring life.

The Kauai, Hawaii, native, who gained international attention after losing her left arm in a 2003 shark attack, debuted her signature flip-flop in mid-July. The Meilani was created for Ocean Minded, a San Clemente-based environmentally focused shoe company owned by Crocs.

Meilani, Hawaiian for “heavenly flower,” is Hamilton’s middle name. Although her first try at shoes, the Meilani is not Hamilton’s initial foray into design.

“I did jewelry for Claire’s, and then I had my own perfume, and I kind of wanted to start working on stuff I would wear every day, and every day I wear sandals,” said Hamilton, via phone from Portugal, where she was competing in the BPI Cascais Girls Festival surfing competition earlier this month.

Ocean Minded “At the core of Ocean Minded’s business philosophy is its involvement in causes to protect the environment,” said Stephanie Koon, a Crocs spokeswoman.

Koon said Hamilton was a good candidate to design a shoe for the company based on her ideals, which are in line with Ocean Minded’s principles.

“Bethany’s story is extremely inspirational and she also embodies the Ocean Minded philosophy,” said Koon. “She lives her life with a purpose and spirit that is unparalleled.”

Read more …

(Source: Miriam Finder, Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA)