Susan and Tim have done more than their share of wiping noses and changing diapers. Large family needs beds
First they raised their own children; now they're bringing up their daughter's six kids from a marriage gone sour.
They've been doing it for 14 years and they're tired.
Susan still works full time, but Tim lost his eyesight in an accident and can't contribute anything financially. Somehow, even without food stamps, Susan manages to keep everyone well-fed and happy.
Since everyone sleeps on mattresses on the floor, Susan is asking for some beds and linen, and enough towels so no one has to share theirs with someone else. The family also needs dressers and furniture.
If you can help, send a check to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund, P.O. Box 2019, Aiea 96701. Or you can donate items to the Community Clearing House in Building 914 at the Kapalama Military Reservation on the left of Sand Island Access Road about a half-mile beyond Kilgo's.
Navy will help city recycle wastewater, yard trimmings
The city has begun a yearlong pilot project with the U.S. Navy to recycle its wastewater sludge and yard trimmings into garden compost.Mayor Jeremy Harris yesterday said beginning Dec. 14, the city will deliver 40 tons a week of sludge from its Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant and 68 tons of yard trimmings a week to the Navy's Barbers Point Composting Center. In the past, the sludge was taken to Oahu landfills for disposal.
Honolulu's sludge, which is solid impurities removed from wastewater during treatment, is considered to be "clean" because it is low in heavy metals and therefore ideal for high-quality compost. The city regulates waste-water discharge by businesses and tests its sludge for more than 130 pollutants.
The composting process takes about six months. The final product will contain nutrients and improve soil texture. The Navy has been composting Department of Defense sludge for about a year at Barbers Point.
The joint-effort is part of a number of environmental projects undertaken by the city under a 1995 Consent Decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Planned Big Isle prison safe from lava flows
The site of a proposed 2,300-bed prison south of Hilo has a chance of being hit by a lava flow once every 2,000 to 4,000 years, the Hawaiian Geological Survey says.The estimate was made by studying the location and age of past lava flows, the observatory said. The information was released yesterday in the observatory's weekly Volcano Watch feature, which covers a wide range of topics related to volcanoes.
The prison is proposed for a 320-acre site at about the 3,100-foot elevation on Mauna Loa.
Two injured fishermen transferred to Queen's
Two men injured aboard a wave-battered fishing vessel this week were taken to Queen's Hospital yesterday.The Coast Guard identified the men taken to the hospital as Eric Sandberg, a passenger and National Marine Fisheries observer; and crewman Loc Le, 27.
Two other crewmen, Tan Nguyen and Taun Tran, also were injured when they were swept off the fishing vessel Red October by a large wave. One man, who is still missing, apparently drowned.
The four injured men were transferred from the Red October to a passing merchant ship, the President Polk. Sandberg, who suffered a cracked pelvis and broken rib, and Le were moved at about 7 a.m. yesterday by Coast Guard helicopter to an Oahu-bound Navy destroyer.
The two are recuperating in Queen's Hospital.
Convention Center to adopt noise guidelines
The Convention Center Authority is expected to adopt noise guidelines for the Hawaii Convention Center when it meets Monday, state Health Department spokesman Patrick Johnston said.Included in the guidelines will be the goal of holding noise to a level no greater than 60 decibels by the time it reaches nearby residences.
Also, center events must end by 10 p.m., events will be noise tested, event notices will be distributed to neighboring residential complexes and designated personnel will receive noise complaints.
The overall plan is on the authority's agenda for the meeting, which begins at 11 a.m. in Room 800 of the center.
Waikiki Neighborhood Board Chairman Sam Bren said residents will accept the plan "subject to a final disposition after they have run the three additional sound tests which they want to run."
"Assuming their sound expert is correct, they should not give us any more than 60 decibels at our respective locations," said Bren, who lives in a high-rise 300 feet from the center's rooftop terrace.
"But in the event that this does not work, we will then ask for a reduction."
Nearby residents want to make sure center noise won't exceed 60 decibels by the time it reaches their residences, he said.
City says density of proposed eco-camp too high
City planners have told the developer of a proposed North Shore "eco-camp" that the density of tents being planned is too high and doesn't fit into the definition of an outdoor recreation camp.The city's definition of an outdoor recreation camp is, "Permanent facilities for active outdoor sports and recreation."
The focus of the eco-camp planned by mainland developer Stanley Selengut on some 144 acres of Kawailoa coastline land centers around the 252 "eco-tents," rather than the sports and recreational facilities, said Lorrie Chee, the city planning department's deputy director.
"It wasn't an outdoor camp," Chee said. "There was no justification for the number of tents on agricultural land."
She said it is up to the developer, not the city, to figure out how many tents fall under the definition of an outdoor recreational camp. City planners didn't decide against the project, but merely commented on an environmental impact statement submitted for it, Chee said.
Big Isle fire chief Nelson Tsuji retiring
HILO -- Hawaii County has announced the retirement of Fire Chief Nelson Tsuji effective Dec. 31. Tsuji, 57, has been with the department since 1967, and was appointed chief by Mayor Stephen Yamashiro in 1992.Deputy Chief Edward Bumatay will serve as acting chief until Yamashiro names a replacement.
Navy rescue vessel to hold open house
The Pearl Harbor-based USS Salvor, a rescue and salvage vessel, was to tie up at Aloha Tower Marketplace at 11 a.m. today for a weekend shipboard open house.Public tours of this vessel designed to assist disabled ships will be available tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Dean Mara, on trial for murder in a drive-by shooting, allegedly made off with property belonging to friend Gegham "Gary" Akopian. A story yesterday incorrectly reported that Akopian had taken Mara's belongings. CORRECTION
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffMom arrested in abuse of teen sons; dad flees
The mother of two teen-age boys is in police custody today, accused of beating her sons.The two boys, 14 and 16, were taken to the emergency room at Straub Hospital yesterday with multiple bruises. One boy had a broken arm, police said.
The officers investigated the parents at their Ahe Street apartment and arrested the mother, 36, police said. The father, 46, had fled before officers arrived.
The woman was booked on two counts of second-degree assault and two counts of domestic abuse.
Alleged car thief also may be wanted robber
Police are investigating whether a 22-year-old Nanakuli man arrested for auto theft is the same man involved in a Waikiki robbery last night.The man was apprehended in a stolen Honda at 249 California Ave. in Wahiawa at 11:45 p.m., police said.
When the license plates were checked, it was discovered that the car had been involved in a robbery about two hours before.
A woman from Korea was in the parking lot of the Royal Aloha condominium complex in Waikiki when a man grabbed her backpack from behind at 9:55 p.m., police said.
After a struggle, the man ran away with the bag and got into the stolen Honda, which was parked at the Kalakaua Avenue Jack-in-the-Box.
The injured woman was taken to Straub Hospital.
One injured seriously in Kahekili collision
A two-car collision yesterday forced police to close the Kahekili offramp from Likelike Highway to traffic for about 80 minutes.One person injured in the 12:40 p.m. collision was taken to Castle Hospital, where she is listed in serious condition.
Big Isle man's body ID'd, died of natural causes
HILO -- An autopsy has determined that John K. Lindsey, 84, of Waimea, whose body was found about a mile off Saddle Road Nov. 28 after being missing 20 days, died of natural causes, police said. Lindsey's body was positively identified through his dentures.
Two fugitives caught via CrimeStoppers
Fugitive Danny Lopaka Akau was arrested yesterday at a Wilhelmina Rise residence following a brief struggle with federal officers and sheriff's deputies.A gun belonging to Akau was recovered at the scene, according to a CrimeStoppers statement.
Akau was wanted on a $50,000 state warrant charging him with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and a no-bail federal warrant for violating conditions of his felony pretrial release.
Police arrested fugitive David Lucas without incident at 1:45 p.m. yesterday in Kalihi.
Lucas was wanted on a probation revocation warrant for auto theft.
Since Friday, eight people have been arrested after being featured on CrimeStoppers news releases.
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