Salvation Army appeals for typhoon relief aid
The Salvation Army has issued "an urgent public appeal" for cash donations to help relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Chata'an's devastation of Chuuk near Guam.And more than a dozen volunteers from the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross will fly today to Guam to conduct damage assessment and other services.
Daniel de Castro, Salvation Army community relations director in Hawaii, asked the public to send checks to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 620, Honolulu, HI 96809.
Donors can designate whether their donations go to Chuuk or Guam. Sending cash is the most "cost effective" way of helping instead of shipping supplies, he said.
The Hawaii branch sent eight members of its Salvationist Service Corps Team help in relief efforts that have spread to Guam, where the typhoon reached Thursday, de Castro said.
Ralph Hood, divisional commander of the Army's Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, said: "Many families are hurt. We have many of our staff and volunteers helping in Chuuk right now, and we are prepared to send more help as needed."
The rain has caused massive mudslides, resulting in at least 40 deaths and many injuries.
Cayetano to consider saltwater pool rules
Gov. Ben Cayetano says he will consider recreational use as a factor in determining whether to approve proposed rules for saltwater swimming pools supported by state Health Director Bruce Anderson.One portion of the draft rules require a mechanical pump to circulate water in the pool, which would make it difficult for the city to pursue restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium because its plans call for the water to be circulated naturally.
"I know that the city's not happy with the regulation," Cayetano said yesterday. "Regulations should always be balanced, taking into account the need to protect the public health but also the need to provide people with recreation and those kinds of activities."
The governor said he will take a "really good look" at the rules with the understanding that the Health Department will make its case for their approval.
Anderson and opponents of the Natatorium restoration said this week the new rules, if approved by the governor, would force the city to redesign its restoration plans to conform with the state rules.
[TAKING NOTICE]
HONORS
>> Ashlyn Javier, 12, of Ewa Beach was selected to represent Hawaii in May at the first Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Kids' Summit in Los Angeles for writing an essay about saving the endangered green sea turtle.>> Hawaii Kai Jaycees won several speech and writing competitions at the Hawaii State Jaycees trimester board convention. Winners were membership vice president Tracy Takata; international and business development vice president Barney Ho; and executive vice president Stan Fichtman. The chapter was also ranked in fourth place in the "Parade of Chapters."
>> Micah D.K. Glasgow, 15, of Hilo has been named a winner of the United States Achievement Academy for academic achievement in Latin. Glasgow's name will appear in the academy's yearbook. A student at Waiakea High School, Glasgow is the son of Lillian Glasgow of Hilo and James Glasgow of Oahu.
ACADEMIC AWARDS
>> Lena Ching, fiber artist and graduate student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has received the 2002 Elsa Takesue Memorial Scholarship of $500 from Fibers Hui of Hawaii.>> John Newman II of Mid-Pacific Institute has been selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference this summer in Washington, D.C. for the development of his leadership potential.
>> Hawaii Pacific University's Karen N. Mirikitani of Honolulu has been named a United States National Collegiate Award winner in Communication Arts. She is pursuing a MBA and a master's degree in organization change and will be graduating.
>> Irene Gordon, instructor of English as a second language at HPU, was selected to be a judge for the National Translation Award, who will review nominated English texts translated from Arabic. Gordon is the 2001 recipient of the HPU Trustees' Award for Teaching Excellence.
>> The College of Business Administration at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been awarded a Center for International Business Education and Research grant by the U.S. Department of Education for the years 2002-2006. UH is one of only 30 American business schools receiving federal funding for the CIBER award.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
BIG ISLAND
Police look for man wanted on 3 warrants
Big Island police are looking for a 29-year-old male wanted on three warrants, two for contempt of court and one for failure to appear in court.
The suspect was identified as Alfred Keahilihau, whose last known address was on Pilipaa Street in Hilo. Keahilihau, also known as Kaleo, is 5-feet-8, weighs about 180 pounds and has a tan complexion, short black hair and brown eyes, police said.
Besides the three warrants, Keahilihau also is wanted for questioning about another incident, said police, who did not give further details.
Anyone with information about Keahilihau's whereabouts can call Detective Greg Esteban at 961-2384 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Fire destroys former charter school site
HILO >> Fire destroyed a three-story building that formerly housed a Big Island charter school, officials said.The three-story building that formerly served as the Waters of Life charter school in the Hawaiian acres area of Kurtistown was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived around 9:40 p.m. Thursday night.
The fire was not extinguished until 1 a.m. The third floor of the wood structure collapsed, fire officials said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Damage is estimated at $300,000, fire officials said.
The school, which is now located at the Boys & Girls Club in Hilo, had operated out of the building during the 2000-01 school year.
The state had sought to close the school for alleged fiscal mismanagement, but Circuit Judge Riki May Amano ruled in February that the state Department of Education should have placed the school on probation first.
HONOLULU
Brush fires keep firefighters busy
Honolulu firefighters struggled with more than 50 brush fires in the last two days.Thirty-one brush fires took place on July 4 with 21 more occurring yesterday, according to fire officials.
Department Spokesman Captain Richard Soo said that 29 of the 31 brush fires on the July Fourth were fireworks related.
Most of the brush fires yesterday took place in Leeward Oahu and ranged from burning a couple hundred square feet to five acres.
WEST OAHU
Ewa woman arrested in check theft case
A 20-year-old Ewa woman was arrested Thursday after she allegedly tried to purchase a gift certificate from the Longs Drugs Pearlridge Center Store using someone else's personal check and state identification card.A store clerk became suspicious after looking at the identification card.
Police said the woman's photograph was taped over the picture on the card.
The woman was arrested for first- and second-degree forgery.
