In Brief | Big Island & State | 1-9-14

Police arrest 34 for suspected DUI

Police arrest 34 for suspected DUI

Hawaii Island police arrested 34 drivers for suspected drunken driving between Dec. 30 and Sunday; seven were involved in traffic accidents; four were younger than 21.

Police have made 29 suspected DUI arrests this year compared with 15 during the same period in 2013, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.

Kona officers arrested 12 motorists while South Hilo officers arrested nine and Puna officers arrested six, according to police. North Kohala officers arrested two motorists in the district.

There have been 16 major accidents this year compared with 14 during the same period in 2013. As of Sunday, one traffic fatality had been reported on Big Island public roadways compared with zero at this time in 2013.

DLNR launches freshwater fishing license website

HONOLULU — The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources has launched a mobile-friendly freshwater fishing license website, freshwater.ehawaii.gov.

This online resource allows Hawaii residents and visitors to purchase a license, required to fish in the state’s freshwater streams and waters, from their computer or mobile device. Upon purchase, licensees receive a copy of their fishing license and other required permits by email.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands now on Google Street View

HONOLULU — The first 360-degree panoramic images from five new locations with Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument are now live on Google Maps. Internet users can now virtually visit Tern Island and East Island at French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island and Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

During July 2013, monument staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service spent a week capturing thousands of panoramas of incredible features. They covered 20 miles on foot using the Google Street View Trekker. This effort focused on five of the primary emergent land masses in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which are also part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Monument managers have collaborated with Google to use digital imagery and web technology to bring these islands and atolls to a broader audience, as well as expand the effort to “bring the place to the people.” In 2012, Google Street View went live with imagery of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. In total, more than 10,000 images across 41 miles have been captured from within the monument.

Monument mangers plan to use the imagery as an assessment tool to capture the present conditions and health of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The monument is cooperatively managed to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of the Northwestern Hawaii Islands, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations.

For more information, visit papahanaumokuakea.gov.

Navy: Drone testing on Kauai not a certainty

LIHUE, Kauai — U.S. Navy officials in Hawaii say drone testing at the Pacific Missile Range Facility is not a certainty even though the base is exploring the possibility with the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The Garden Island reported Wednesday that base spokesman Stefan Alford said there’s no final commitment in place.

Alford said the base is being considered as a possible test site because of its infrastructure, lots of air space with safeguards and no privacy concerns with flights over water.

The university was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration to manage one of six test site operations across the country. The operators will research the requirements necessary to safety integrate drones, or unmanned aircraft systems, into U.S. airspace.

The plan includes proposed test sites in Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon.

By local and wire sources