Kane'ohe Bay Marines, Air Force personnel and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono will be at a brief blessing ceremony today at 9:30 a.m. to mark completion of the cleanup of a former landfill at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, the Marines announced yesterday.

The landfill, known as "LF24," was on property previously assigned to the Air Force, then transferred to the Marine Corps in 1999.

The Marine Corps requested funding to remove the landfill to use the previously unusable training area, as well as prevent any buried refuse at the site from unintentionally eroding into the ocean.

Waimanalo residents lobbied the military services to clean up the site, and the requested funds were eventually made available in August 2007, when Hirono helped earmark $2 million in Marine Corps money to clean up the World War II-era landfill.

The money was transferred to the Air Force, which hired contractor Ch2M Hill to conduct the cleanup.

HA'IKU MAN HELD IN HIT-AND-RUN

KU'AU, Maui — A 24-year-old Ha'iku man was arrested yesterday as a suspect in a hit-and-run collision that killed a visitor from Latvia.

The suspect was arrested hours after the 43-year-old pedestrian was struck near Wa'a Place in Ku'au at about 12:20 a.m. yesterday. The victim died at the accident site. Police have not released his name.

The suspect was released while police continue their investigation.

Maui has recorded three traffic fatalities in 2009, the same number as at this time last year.

MARIJUANA PLANTS SEIZED IN RAID

The state Department of Public Safety's Narcotics Enforcement Division says it seized more than 100 marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia during a raid Wednesday on a Kihei, Maui, home.

Chad Newman, 32, was arrested on one charge of commercial promotion of marijuana and one of prohibited acts related to drugs. He was booked and released.

The division said it received complaints from the public in late January about a marijuana growing operation at Newman's 102 Luakaha Circle house in Kihei. Investigators conducted surveillance, then obtained a search warrant.

Upon executing the warrant, investigators say they found a sophisticated indoor growing operation and 142 plants.

KAUA'I HIGHWAY LANES TO BE CLOSED

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The state Department of Transportation advises Kaua'i motorists of lane closures on Kaumuali'i Highway between Halewili Road and Wahiawa Bridge next week.

Work will be Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for pavement resurfacing.

During construction hours, all westbound traffic will be detoured through Halewili Road.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the detour area and to allow for extra travel time.