Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Firefighters contain weeklong Waianae fire
Firefighters have finally contained the weeklong Waianae brush fire, the largest on the Leeward Coast in two years, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.The Waianae fire, which began Wednesday, burned more than 1,500 acres and had begun spreading to Hawaiian homelands, Soo said.
Firefighters left the fire at 6:15 p.m. yesterday, satisfied they had contained it. They had battled the flames for 12 hours, Soo said.
"You can't fully extinguish it, but the fire was contained. It's not threatening any houses, although it is near a nursery."
The team that doused the brush fire yesterday included 35 firefighters, four engine company trucks, three tankers, a brush truck, a ladder truck to pump water, and helicopters to drop water buckets.
Suit accuses teacher of carving boy's hand
A former special-education student at Kaaawa Elementary School is suing the state Department of Education after a teacher allegedly assaulted him with a pen.In a complaint filed yesterday in Circuit Court, a third-grader accused teacher Eva Hinkley of carving an X on the back of his left hand with the sharp end of a pen on Sept. 4, 1998. The act was unprovoked, the complaint said.
Hinkley could not be reached for comment.
Russell Suzuki, deputy attorney general for the education unit, said he has not seen the suit and declined comment.
Examiner's office IDs two who died Sunday
A 23-year-old Army man who drowned in rough surf while SCUBA diving Sunday at Mokuleia has been identified by the medical examiner's office as Daniel J. Maury.The medical examiner's office also identified the 44-year-old man killed in a two-car collision on North Nimitz Highway and Puuloa Road early Sunday morning as Gaylen Oho.
Another man, 27, injured in the collision remains in critical condition at Queen's Hospital.
State files tax charge against Hilo attorney
A criminal complaint has been filed against Hilo attorney Dennis D. Nishimura for failure to file his general excise tax returns for three years, according to state tax director Ray Kamikawa.Nishimura failed to file returns for 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Failing to file is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $25,000 fine.
Kamikawa, in encouraging taxpayers to file their tax returns, said the Tax Department generally will not initiate a criminal investigation when taxpayers voluntarily come forward to report their failure to file or other omissions.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Crash injures 2, closes Kunia Road for a day
A section of Kunia Road between the Del Monte packing plant and the entrance to the Royal Kunia subdivision on Anonui Street will be closed most of today as crews replace a utility pole damaged in a auto crash last night, police said.Two women, ages 19 and 22, were injured in the 11:30 p.m. crash. The younger woman was treated at Queen's Hospital and released, while her companion remained hospitalized in fair condition.
The crash cut off electrical power to the packing plant and also Kunia Store, Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Fred Kobashikawa said.
Suspect in Waikiki bank robbery arrested
Police recently arrested a suspect believed to have robbed the Waikiki branch of First Hawaiian Bank last week.The 34-year-old man voluntarily surrendered at Honolulu Police Department's Waianae substation on Friday in connection with the March 13 bank robbery. It was the state's 10th bank robbery of the year.
Perpetrator of sex assaults sought
Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted two women in restrooms at separate locations yesterday.The first assault occurred at a Fort Street Mall building's restroom and was reported at 7:15 p.m.
A woman, 32, told police the suspect entered the restroom after her, turned off the light and assaulted her.
A 14-year-old girl was attacked at 8:30 p.m.at a Kalakaua Avenue restaurant. The suspect allegedly slammed her against a restroom wall, slapped her and demanded money before sexually assaulting her.
Suspect in two Waikiki robberies arrested
Police are seeking to charge a 35-year-old man arrested yesterday in Waikiki for two robbery cases.The suspect allegedly pushed a 62-year-old man from behind Saturday on Kuamoo Street, causing the victim to fall. He then searched the man's clothing and fled with money.
The suspect confronted another man, 63, yesterday, demanding money after tripping the victim. The victim later spotted the suspect in Waikiki and notified police, who made the arrest at Kuhio Avenue and Nahua Street.
