At least three people saw what appeared to be a 5-foot tan and brown snake yesterday morning in the grass near the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center garage. Snake spotted
near Kaiser MoanaluaA patient reported to security that he saw the snake about 10:30 a.m. A security employee and a Honolulu police officer also saw the snake before it slithered into the brush, state officials said.
But a search by other officers and agriculture officials turned up nothing.
The penalties for possessing snakes include fines up to $200,000 and up to three years in prison.
Snake owners are encouraged to turn them in under the department's amnesty program, which provides immunity from prosecution.
Anyone who sees a snake in the area should call the Agriculture Department's hot line at 586-PEST.
Correa security chief of Big Isle airports
HILO >> Former Big Island Police Chief James Correa has been named federal security director for the Kona and Hilo airports, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta announced.Correa will be responsible for implementation of the U.S. Transportation Security Act signed into law last November.
A starting date for the new job was not announced.
Correa was one of 20 airport security directors nationwide named by Mineta last Friday, bringing the total so far to 137.
Correa announced his retirement July 26, capping 27 years with the Police Department.
He had served as chief 19 months, plus three months as acting chief following the retirement of his predecessor, Wayne Carvalho.
The federal announcement said the starting salary for executive-level airport security directors is $105,000 per year.
Correa was earning $75,516 per year at the time of retirement, said county Civil Service Director Michael Ben.
Some police commissioners, who will select the new chief, have questioned whether the chief's salary is adequate.
Because of negotiated pay levels for officers below the position of chief and deputy chief, even with a recent 8.3 percent increase, the new chief will receive less than at least one of the higher-ranking officers he will supervise.
Yim named to Queen Liliuokalani Trust
Retired Circuit Judge Patrick Yim has been appointed as a trustee of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust.Yim said the Aug. 9 appointment by the Probate Court has brought his career full circle.
"I started my judicial career off the Family Court, and I got to see in a very real way problems that beset families," said Yim, a native Hawaiian.
Yim applied for the position last fall when First Hawaiian Bank announced its intention to withdraw as trustee in favor of a native Hawaiian.
As court-appointed fact finder during the Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate investigation, Yim prepared a report in 1997 recommending the removal of trustee Lokelani Lindsey for fostering an "environment of favoritism" at Kamehameha Schools.
Yim retired from the state Judiciary in 1994 after 23 years.
The trust was established by Queen Liliuokalani to provide for native Hawaiian orphan and other destitute children.
Trustees are paid an annual salary of $150,000.
Aton named acting Oahu Civil Defense chief
Former Honolulu Assistant Police Chief Doug Aton has been named acting administrator of the Oahu Civil Defense Agency.Aton, a 32-year police veteran, began a three-month contract Aug. 1 at an annual salary of $68,000.
Aton was executive director of the city's Office of Waikiki Development and was tourism safety coordinator for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Spokeswoman Carol Costa said the city intends to find a permanent administrator.
BACK TO TOP |
>> John Sullivan of Kula has been awarded the Maui Recycling Service's Recycling Reward, equivalent to free curbside recycling for three months, a $45 value. Sullivan's recycled items are cleaned and sorted and it only takes minutes to load in the truck. [Taking Notice]
>> Five members of Boy Scout Troop 35 have achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout. They are Randall Mukai, Matthew Kugiya, and Nathan Sakado of Mid-Pacific Institute; Michael Sato of St. Louis High; and Joshua Kam of Punahou.
>> Dara Chun of Aiea, a University of North Dakota aerospace freshman, has received her private pilot certificate.
>> Donald Bourassa, director of the Pacific Center for Advanced Techology Training at Honolulu Community College, has been nominated by the University of Hawaii as Employee of the Year for the Governor's Award for Distinguished State Service. UH also nominated Diana Chun and Eric Tanigawa of the UH's human resources office for the Team Excellence Award of Merit. The winners of the awards will be announced Oct. 4.
>> Shelley Weatherwax of the Good Beginnings Alliance has been awarded a National Head Start Fellowship in Washington, D.C., one of only 10 national fellowships recognizing achievement in early childhood education and family services.
>> Maile Galacgac of Sacred Hearts Academy has received the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship of $2,500 to continue her education at the school.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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>> Author Kimo Armitage and illustrator Solomon Enos will be at Borders Ward Centre and Waikele at noon and 4 p.m. tomorrow, respectively, to sign Armitage's children's books. An article in yesterday's Today section mistakenly identified the event as a signing for "'Oiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal," for which Armitage is an associate editor. Corrections and clarifications
>> The new Duke Kahanamoku stamp will be available tomorrow in Honolulu post offices with ZIP codes beginning with 968 and at special postal stations at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. A Page D1 article yesterday incorrectly reported that the stamp will be sold only at the Outrigger Waikiki tomorrow.
>> Bob Kern resigned from the board of the Friends of Hanauma Bay on Aug. 15. A Page A1 report Saturday incorrectly stated he was vice president of the board.
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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
APARTMENT OWNER
GETS NEWS OF FIRE
DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Lois Teruya reacted when Fire Capt. Robert Malandra told her her apartment had burned this morning. Teruya lived at 1635 Young St., unit 303, with sons, ages 21 and 25. No one was home when the fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. Estimated damage is $185,000. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.
HONOLULU
Police seek robber of bank in Liliha
Police are looking for a man who robbed the American Savings Bank Liliha branch just before closing yesterday.The robber, believed to be in his 40s, walked into the bank in the Liliha Square Shopping Center about 5:50 p.m. and handed a teller a note. He fled after he was given money.
CENTRAL OAHU
Masked gunman robs Kunia Times market
A masked gunman robbed Times Super Market Royal Kunia Store last night.Police said the robber entered the store about 10:55 p.m., brandished a handgun, took some items from the store and left. No further details of the robbery were available.
LEEWARD OAHU
Pearl City man charged in assault over 3 years
Police charged a 68-year-old Pearl City man yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl for several years.Joseph M. Domingo was charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault and seven counts of third-degree sexual assault in connection with assaults from 1998 to 2001. The victim was younger than 14. Bail was set at $100,000.
