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50 swimmers treated for box jellyfish stings

Lifeguards treated about 50 swimmers stung by box jellyfish yesterday in waters off Waikiki, Ala Moana and Hanauma Bay.

Warning signs were posted at the beaches through the weekend, and are expected to be up through today.

Scores of box jellyfish usually come into beaches of Oahu's South Shore up to 10 days after the full moon and stay for about three days.

Swimmers who are stung are advised to douse the affected area with vinegar. Lifeguards counted about 500 box jellyfish in waters off Kuhio Beach yesterday. About 100 were counted at the Ewa end of the Ala Moana Beach channel.

Blood bank sets up donation locations

Residents have a chance to save lives by donating blood at one of the Blood Bank of Hawaii blood drives scheduled as follows:

» Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus Center
» Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Windward Mall
» Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Waikele Center
» April 13 and 14, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Manoa Residence Halls (Lehua Parking Lot)
» April 16, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Town Center of Mililani
» April 17, 8 a.m.-noon, Daiei-Kailua
» April 20, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., UH-Manoa South Hospitality Room
» April 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hawaii Pacific University, Hawaii Loa Campus
» April 24, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Foodland-Ewa Town Center

Blood donors must be in good health, 18 or older, weigh 110 pounds or more and provide a valid photo ID. For information, call 845-9966.

Senate moves to save college-prep funding

A program that helps low-income students prepare for college, which was targeted for elimination in President Bush's budget, has won the support of the U.S. Senate.

GEAR UP, a federal grant program, was included in an amendment to restore $2.7 billion in higher education funding. All Democrats and six Republicans voted, 51-49, for the measure last week.

"This is great news for Hawaii's youth," said GEAR UP Hawaii Project Director Susan Kanagawa. "We still have some ways to go in regards to reinstating our funding, but we're confident that our policy-makers see the value in our services to schools, teachers and, most important, our students."

The funding still needs to be approved in conference committee and included in appropriations bills.

GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a collaboration of the University of Hawaii, the state Department of Education and community partners.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU
Motorcyclist dies in crash

A motorcyclist who died Saturday after being broadsided on Fort Weaver Road and then struck by two other vehicles was the 21st traffic fatality on Oahu roads this year, compared with 19 at the same time last year, traffic investigators said.

The crash happened about 8:45 p.m. Saturday when the 40-year-old Ewa Beach driver of a 1991 Harley-Davidson motorcycle tried to turn left onto Hanakahi Street from Fort Weaver Road.

Police said the man was broadsided by a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo driven by a 25-year-old woman before colliding with two other vehicles.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. The Isuzu driver, also of Ewa Beach, was taken to St. Francis West Hospital in fair condition.

The two other vehicles sustained minor damage, and their drivers were not injured.

The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. Police said speed did not appear to be a factor, and it is not known whether alcohol was involved.

Missing man's body is found at Waimea

The body of a man in his mid-30s who was reported missing about 5 p.m. Saturday was found yesterday at Waimea Bay, police and fire officials said.

Police said he likely drowned.

The man was last seen by friends Saturday morning on a reef at Three Tables. Fire officials searched the area until sunset and resumed searching yesterday until the body was found by a swimmer on rocks by the shore around 10:30 a.m., Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said.