West Hawaii Today from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii • A10

on the road, including one in January that caused the death of a 9-year-old Kailua-Kona girl. That accident, as well as two others in early 2022, were subsequently deter- mined to be caused by brake failure. Ranger Oscar Pouoa said the rangers independently decided to conduct tem- perature checks on the brakes of every vehicle they encounter coming down the summit, and advising drivers with overheating brakes to park at the mid- level facility at Halepohaku to cool them off, which can take anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the heat. The rangers already con- duct vehicle inspections at the midlevel checkpoint before they are allowed to proceed up the mountain. Those checks ensure the vehicles are properly main- tained and have four-wheel drive, while also screening for invasive species, and turn back more than of vehicles, according to a UH news release.

kind of tutoring people in how to drive four-wheel drive cars, since most people coming up here know how to do Pouoa said. Pouoa said the rangers advise drivers to pull over if their brake tempera- tures reach 300 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, as wet brake fluid boils around that threshold. When brake fluid boils, Pouoa said, it first makes applying the brakes feel sticky or spongy, and then causes them to fail entirely. Of the 50 to 100 vehicles that traverse the mountain on average each day, Pouoa said about are com- ing down too hot. For the most part, he said, drivers are gracious when rang- ers warn them about their brakes, but he added that the rangers cannot require drivers to stop, only strong- ly recommend it.

people ignore our recommenda- Pouoa said, adding that one of the three access road crashes this year hap- pened after the rangers began conducting brake checks, and that the driver had ignored advice to wait for their brakes to cool. Pouoa said drivers should come down the mountain using a low gear and at low speed to avoid overheating their brakes. Four-wheel drive also should be enabled Pouoa said many drivers incorrectly believe that four-wheel drive vehicles have that feature activated at all times. Pouoa also noted that there is a difference between all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehi- cles. The latter system is more common on trucks, while former is more typi- cal on cars and SUVs.

Pouoa said the rangers do not recommend that all-wheel drive vehicles ascend the mountain, as they typically do not have low enough gears to slow the car without heavy reli- ance on brakes. lot of times, you get people going down in neu- tral, and on the brakes the whole Pouoa said. following too close behind a car actually going down at a low gear, so just standing on their At least one driver was pulled over with a brake temperature above 900 degrees Fahrenheit, Pouoa said. That driver, at least, chose to wait at Halepohaku. The policy of conducting brake checks will contin- ue indefinitely, Pouoa said, suggesting that the rangers might add another shift to conduct late-night scans.

stop you, but we can tell you when putting your life in Pouoa said. park, cool off, and look at the Email Michael Brestovansky at herald.com.- A Full Service Real Estate Company We are currently looking for more long term properties to add to our inventory. Call us for more information. Christina Sotelo, BIC 808-990-2270 cell Kona Real Estate Management konahomesandrentals.com (808) 329-4605 74-5546 Kaiwi St. Kailua Kona, HI 96740 DALECO BATTERIES Serving the Big Island since 1982 FREE BATTERY RECYCLING If you are interested in a career in the solar storage industry and are customer- oriented, come talk to the folks at Daleco about our training and benefits program.

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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO WEST HAWAII TODAY OBITUARIES note: Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service. Content is subject to editing for parity treatment and style continuity. Date of publication cannot be guaranteed. Any questions regarding obituaries should be directed to the mortuary or via email to westhawaiitoday.com. Memorial advertisements may be purchased through the newspaper advertising department.

Sharon Knutson Sharon Dawn Knutson, 59 of Kailua-Kona, died May 25, 2022 in Kealakekua. Born on April 22, 1963, in Minnesota, she was a real estate owner and broker of Knutson Associates. Private services will be held. She is survived by sons, Blake (Kyle Nishiyama) Kessner and Grant Kessner; and daughter Stephanie Kessner. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.

Annie Pasa Annie Kauwe Pasa, 76, of Hilo, died Aug. 18, 2020 at her residence. Born in Honolulu, she was retired from Diagnostic Laboratory Services of Hilo. A celebration of life will be held June 25 at Pasa Farm, 1743 Auwae Road, with visitation from noon to 2 p.m. followed by lunch.

She is survived by husband, Alan Pasa children, Curtis (Mika Koyama) Pasa, Tina (Abel) Van Meter, Alan (Jen) Pasa, Pasa, Jason (Lisa) Pasa, and Sing (Lewin) Chartrand; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Homelani Cremation Services. Yoshie Kuroda Yoshie Kuroda, 97, of Keaau, died April 17, 2022, at her residence. Born in Paahau, she was a retired orchid nursery supervisor for Hawaii Mountain Orchids, W.H. Shipman Ltd.

Private services were held. She is survived by sons, Wayne (Cheryl) Kuroda of Hilo, Brian (Tammy) Kuroda of Eugene, Oregon; daughter, Penny Kuroda of Keaau; sister, Clara (Kent) Murakami of Honolulu; numerous nieces and nephews; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary. Anthony Sampaia Anthony Paul Sampaia, 59, of Pepeekeo, died May 23, 2022 at Hilo Medical Center. Born Feb.

11, 1963, in Hilo, he was a U.S. Army National Guard veteran and former self- employed handyman. Friends may call at 9 a.m. June 13 at Dodo Mortuary Chapel, services at 10:30 a.m. Burial at Mauna Kea Memorial Park in Papaikou.

Casual attire. He is survived by brother, Gabriel Anthony (Gloria) Sampaia of Hilo; sister, Therese Marie Sampaia of Hilo; and nieces and nephews; and numerous aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary. Lawrence Ackerman III Lawrence Douglas Ackerman III, 69, of Kealakekua, died May 28, 2022, at Kona Community Hospital. Born March 13, 1953, in Kaneohe, Oahu, he was a self- employed commercial fisherman and carpenter.

Services will be held at a later date. He is survived by son, Lawrence (Eunice) Ackerman IV of Kealakekua; daughter, Erin Ackerman of Alaska; brother, William Ackerman of Honaunau; two grandsons; two granddaughters; and one great-grandson. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary. John Honl John Herbert Honl, 92, of Kailua-Kona, died May 15, 2022 at Kona Community Hospital. Born May 30, 1929, on Kauai, he was an avid outdoorsman, fisherman, diver and hunter, owner and skipper of sport fishing, beach boy at Waikiki Beach, member of the Outrigger Canoe Club, Auxiliary member of the U.S.

Coast Guard, Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club, noted antique collector, member of the Historical Bottle Collectors Club and Big Island Volkswagen Club. A private scattering of ashes will be held at a later date. He is survived by son, Rex (LoriAnn) Honl; one granddaughter; five great grandchildren; one hanai grandson; one niece; hanai brother, Tioni (Gail) Judd of Waimea; and four step-children. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary. Kamehameha Day Celebration KEAUHOU SHOPPING CENTER PRESENTS SATURDAY, JUNE 10 am-12 pm www.keauhoushoppingcenter.com Entertainment by the 2022 Female Falsetto Champion Lahela Lee Park.