Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
CANOE VOYAGES FROM LAIE TO KONA
Chad Paishon, captain of the voyaging canoe Iosepa, made a final check of the vessel's rigging early yesterday before sailing to Kona on the Big Island from Hukilau Beach in Laie. The twin-hulled Iosepa was built by Laie community members and is now part of Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Hawaiian studies program.
Scrap metal facility on Maui fined $202,900
WAILUKU >> The state Health Department has issued a $202,900 fine against a Valley Isle scrap metal business run by the uncle of former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.The state alleges Maui Scrap Metal Co. violated state solid waste rules and did not comply with corrective actions stipulated in a Dec. 7, 2000, consent agreement.
The complaint, announced yesterday by the state, charges Maui Scrap with operating an unpermitted solid waste management facility that as of July 23, 2003, contained 1,000 tons of vehicles, 400 tons of appliances, 12,000 tires, 200 tons of cans and 250 lead acid batteries.
Maui Scrap Metal has requested a hearing. Company President Roger Apana could not be reached for comment.
Kailua sewage spill leaks 2,000 gallons
A ruptured sewer line spilled about 2,000 gallons of untreated sewage in Kailua yesterday, with some of the spill entering Kawainui Marsh, the city reported.The spill was discovered at noon on the grounds of the Kukanono sewage pumping station at 705 Manu Oo St.
The sewage came from a 10-inch pressurized line that pumps sewage from the neighborhood near Castle Hospital to the Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant, said Frank Doyle, city environmental services director.
The spill area isn't generally accessible to the public, but warning signs have been posted and the affected area will be tested, the city said.
Landowner allegedly broke waste rules
The state Department of Health has fined a Waianae landowner $41,160 for junk cars, drums of oil and asphalt accumulated at 87-1683 Kapiki Road.The department alleges that Edward Fong, the James K.F. Fong Trust, and the Dorothy F.M. Fong Trust violated state solid waste rules by allowing on the property 90 junk vehicles, 12 55-gallon drums of used oil, 50 drums of asphalt, 50 drums of aircraft oil, and a number of 55-gallon drums labeled as dry-cleaning fluid.
The Fongs, who have cleaned about one-third of the cited waste from the property, have requested a hearing.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle prison escapee captured after car chase
Big Island police caught a prison escapee after a seven-mile chase yesterday morning.Police said Blaine K. "Tiger" Faris, 41, was spotted by Puna officers on Hawaii Belt Road yesterday at 10:44 a.m. Faris was driving a Toyota and attempted to evade officers after being told to stop.
Police said Faris led them on a car chase through Ueyama Camp and the Fern Acres subdivision, then got out of the car and ran. He was arrested without incident. He was taken to the Hawaii Community Correctional Center and held in lieu of $5,100 bail.
Faris escaped from the Hale Nani minimum-security facility in Hilo on April 29.
HONOLULU
Dozens evacuated due to apartment fire
More than 80 residents of a Pawaa apartment building near the Kaheka Street Daiei store were evacuated early yesterday because of an intentionally set fire in a vacant apartment, fire officials said.Firefighters responded to the fire in apartment 1305 at 1650 Kanunu St. at 2:47 a.m. The fire was extinguished at 3:33 a.m.
A neighbor fought the fire from his balcony using a fire standpipe hose.
"We believe that it stopped the fire from spreading to the 14th floor," said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The fire caused $21,000 damage to the apartment and building, Tejada said. A second apartment just below unit 1305 was also damaged, mostly from water, he said. The damage was estimated at $4,000. The building does not have a sprinkler system.
WAIKIKI
State Hospital patient returns after escape
A 32-year-old Hawaii State Hospital patient who escaped from a state vehicle in Waikiki on Wednesday walked back to the hospital, police said.Pomale Falaniko returned to the facility just before noon yesterday, police said.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
