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Helping Hands to host a fund-raiser dinner

Helping Hands Hawaii and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye will host a fund-raiser dinner today to recognize the Hawaii National Guard and others who have contributed to the success of its Ready to Learn program.

The event will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom.

The program provides school supplies to needy children from kindergarten through 12th grade. In 1998, Inouye took over the program from Helping Hands' Community Clearinghouse and expanded it to serve families throughout the state. He and his wife, Maggie, are honorary chairs.

Members of the National Guard, many of whom are now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, have played a key role in the collection and distribution of supply kits to children throughout the state.

Retired Hawaiian Electric Co. employee Ed Hiraki will be honored for giving his time to run the supply warehouse every summer for the past six years. He has always donated his entire salary to the program.

Kalowena Komeiji is being recognized as the coordinator of the program and for increasing the number of children served every year.

The program serves an average of 25,000 children each year. More information is available at www.helpinghandshawaii.org/ready.htm.

Program offering scholarships in art

The Art Institutes of California have awarded half of $70,000 in scholarships reserved for Hawaii students and are seeking applicants for the remaining awards.

The institutes, which are awarding scholarships for five California art schools, said McKinley High School student Katelin Yee has won the largest award in the first round - $25,000 - to attend the Art Institute of California-San Francisco.

The awards are part of the institutes' "Get off the Rock Scholarship" aimed at encouraging Hawaii students to pursue education in the fashion, design, media and culinary arts.

The deadline to apply for the remaining scholarship funds is April 1. For details, contact Michelle Pfiefle at the Art Institute of California-San Francisco, at 415-276-1021.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WEST OAHU
Head-on crash hurts 3 on Fort Barrette Road

A head-on collision on Fort Barrette Road left two people in critical condition yesterday afternoon and also injured a 13-year-old boy, police and firefighters said.

The accident happened about 4:41 p.m. and closed the road between Farrington Highway and Kamaaha Street for hours.

Police said a 26-year-old man, driving a 1983 Toyota Camry, crossed the center line while traveling south on Fort Barrette Road and collided head-on with a 1996 Nissan Sentra driven by a 39-year-old woman. A 13-year-old boy sat in the Sentra's front passenger seat.

After the accident, the Camry caught fire, while the Sentra rolled down an embankment.

Police said the 26-year-old appeared to be speeding. He might also have been under the influence of alcohol, they said.

The man and woman, who was pinned in her vehicle, were taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, while the boy was transported in stable condition.

Police seek suspects in cabdriver stabbing

Police are looking for four male suspects in connection with the stabbing of a cabdriver Saturday night in Ewa Beach.

The suspects range in age from 13 to 24. The man who allegedly stabbed the 39-year-old driver is possibly

in his 20s and is wanted for second-degree attempted murder.

Police said the taxi driver picked up four males in Waikiki. One of them asked to go to Ewa Beach and gave the driver $15 as a tip.

The driver drove as directed to an area unknown to him. When the passengers got out, he also stepped out of the cab and informed them of the fare.

The attempted-murder suspect gave the driver $2. The driver asked if that was it. The suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the driver in the upper right chest before they all fled, police said.

NORTH SHORE
Rescuers save family swept out at Pipeline

Lifeguards and firefighters rescued four people from turbulent surf at the North Shore's Banzai Pipeline surf spot last night after they were apparently swept out to deeper waters while wading.

The four were all part of a family of visitors and included three teenagers, Ocean Safety Capt. Bodo Van Der Leeden said.

The incident happened about 6 p.m., when most lifeguards had already left the beach. Van Der Leeden said people on shore saw the family waving their arms for help, and called 911. Firefighters responded and swam out to help. Lifeguards who were in the area also helped.

"It's a good ending," he said. "The family's extremely grateful."