Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Seal recovering after surgery for fishhook
The injured Hawaiian monk seal from Kauai is recovering well from surgery yesterday to remove a fishhook in its esophagus, said officials with the National Marine Fisheries Service.The seal, known as "TT-40" from its flipper tag, is resting, sleeping and swimming like a normal seal, said Delores Clark, spokeswoman for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. TT-40's recovery continues to be positive, she said.
TT-40 returned to Kewalo Research Institute yesterday and will be monitored closely by NOAA officials. Caregivers will attempt to feed him small fish today.
NOAA officials plan to return TT-40 into the wild after a full recovery, which could take up to several weeks.
A team of veterinarians removed a 5-inch fishhook in 5 1/2 hours of surgery Wednesday. TT-40 was captured in Waimea, Kauai, on June 10 and was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard to Oahu the next day.
Ceremony swears in 150 board appointees
More than 150 Oahu residents who were appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle to various state boards and commissions were officially sworn in yesterday at a ceremony at Washington Place.Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon presided over the ceremony and administered the official oath of office to the new board members and commissioners.
Nearly 1,500 people statewide serve on 146 boards and commissions.
There are nearly 100 positions available on various boards and commissions for 2004, and nearly 300 vacancies will need to be filled in 2005 as terms for currently serving members expire.
For more information, or to apply to serve on a board or commission, visit the governor's Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov/team/boardscommissions.html, or send an e-mail to gov.boards@hawaii.gov
Engineer to give talk on Ala Wai watershed
An engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will give a talk on "Options for Improving the Ala Wai Watershed" at the annual meeting of the Ala Wai Watershed Association tomorrow.Derek Chow will speak to the group at 9 a.m.
Sign-in for the meeting, which lasts until noon, begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Mid-Pacific Institute's Atherton Pavilion, 2445 Kaala St. in Manoa.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle crash fatality was from Pahoa HILO >> Big Island police identified a man killed in a one-car accident south of Hilo early yesterday as Alika K.A. Kumai, 19, of Pahoa.
Kumai and two teenage passengers were thrown from their 2003 Dodge four-door sedan when Kumai lost control and the car struck an embankment and overturned in Nanawale Estates subdivision about 3 a.m., police said.
A Fire Department paramedic report said the car went airborne during the rollover but ended up on its wheels with its roof torn open.
The two passengers were taken to Hilo Hospital where they were listed in fair condition. Their names were not released.
Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, police said.
Kumai's death was the 21st traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island compared with 14 at the same time last year.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police find and arrest carjacking suspect Police arrested a 40-year-old man with no local address Wednesday who allegedly got into a car stopped in traffic in Waiau and drove off, leaving the driver on the street.
Police said a man was stopped in traffic at Moanalua Road and Kaahele Street when the suspect entered his car through the passenger door about 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The victim tried to drive away, but "the suspect began throwing punches," police said.
Police said the driver got out of his car, and the suspect drove away.
Shortly afterward, the car was found crashed into a house on Kaahele Street. The suspect was found and identified. Police arrested the man for second-degree robbery.
HONOLULU
Wife claims husband threatened with rifle Police arrested a 50-year-old Niu Valley man Wednesday who allegedly threatened his wife with a rifle.
Police said the couple got into an argument, which turned into a physical confrontation about 3 p.m. Wednesday at their Halemaumau Street home in Niu Valley.
The woman told police that her husband threatened to shoot her with a rifle, police said.
Police arrested the man for first-degree terroristic threatening.
WINDWARD OAHU
Woman and roommate held in assault case A 41-year-old Kaneohe woman was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly assaulted her husband with a large kitchen knife in their home.
Police also arrested a 44-year-old man, who also lived in the Kaneohe house, for threatening the husband.
Police said the married couple were involved in a dispute when the woman allegedly assaulted her 51-year-old husband.
The roommate also allegedly got involved and reportedly threatened the woman's husband with a dangerous instrument, police said.
The husband suffered minor cuts and refused medical treatment.
Police arrested the woman for second-degree assault and the roommate for first-degree terroristic threatening at their Hui Uliuli Street home.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
