Lanai dark after windstorm knocks out electricity
HONOLULU (AP) — The entire island of Lanai has not had electrical service since Saturday after strong winds snapped or damaged utility poles.
Maui Electric Co. said Monday morning Lanai’s 1,700 customers remained without power. Crews were working to repair 19 utility poles on the 141-square-mile island.
Billionaire Larry Ellison purchased 98 percent of Lanai in 2012.
Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said Lanai lost electricity and telephone service about 9:45 p.m. Saturday. He said cellphone service is spotty.
Antone said the county is working on getting information to the island that is home for about 3,000 people.
Lanai resident Matt Kawasaki said the island’s three main stores are open, powered by generators.
He said many residents have been barbecuing. But they’re worried about perishable food spoiling.
High winds knock down tents at homeless camp
HONOLULU (AP) — Residents of a homeless encampment on Oahu are working to rebuild after severe weather during the weekend damaged their shelters.
Wind gusts reached up to 67 mph Saturday night in Puuhonua O Waianae Village on the western part of the island. The winds brought down trees, fencing and several plastic tarp shelters at the encampment.
“Part of my bedroom fell, the donation tent went, and a couple of the residents’ tents went down to the ground,” said village leader Twinkle Borge, who has lived at the camp for 10 years. “We can manage with the rain, but never ever went through something like this with the winds.”
The Waianae village is home to roughly 200 adults and children and about 150 animals.
Members of the nearby community have been helping the camp’s residents clean up the damage and put their homes back together.
200 mourn on beach for Marine killed in training
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (AP) — About 200 people gathered on a Florida beach to mourn a Marine killed during a live-fire training exercise at a California desert base.
Law enforcement officers and veterans joined Marines in saluting Lance Cpl. Austin J. Ruiz of Naples, Fla., during the service Sunday under a gazebo in Lovers Key State Park.
Emylie Barlow of Naples said her 19-year-old cousin was the first person in the family to enlist in the military. Barlow wore fatigues to the service and said Ruiz inspired her to enlist in the Marines as well.
Ruiz died Jan. 13 during training involving firearms in preparation for a larger exercise at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base. He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division and based in Hawaii.
Bank of Hawaii posts 4Q profit
HONOLULU (AP) — Bank of Hawaii Corp. on Monday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $43.5 million.
The bank based in Honolulu said it had earnings of $1.02 per share. The results matched Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of $1.02 per share.
The bank holding company posted revenue of $163.6 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $153.6 million.
For the year, the company reported profit of $181.5 million, or $4.23 per share. Revenue was reported as $614.9 million.
Bank of Hawaii shares decreased slightly since the beginning of the year. The stock rose 60 percent in the last 12 months.
