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Kenneth is expected to lose strength

Hurricane Kenneth is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by Friday, when it's forecast to be about 200 miles east-northeast of Hilo.

The storm, with sustained winds of about 75 mph, was moving at about 3 mph yesterday.

It's too early to tell whether the Category 1 hurricane will affect Hawaii's weather, said National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Farrell.

Kenneth crossed into the Central Pacific yesterday, and responsibility for tracking the storm shifted from the National Hurricane Center in Miami to Hawaii's Central Pacific Hurricane Center.

Last night, the hurricane was situated about 1,035 miles east of the Big Island.

Kenneth is the second named storm to pass into the Central Pacific this hurricane season.

Hurricane Jova passed north of the islands last week and has weakened to a tropical depression.

Bill gives $35.4 million for Hawaii agriculture

A bill to fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture passed by the U.S. Senate provides Hawaii with nearly $35.4 million for agriculture-related initiatives, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye said last week.

"Key initiatives include $10 million for the continued construction of the U.S. Pacific Basin Agriculture Resource Center's laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Hilo," said Inouye, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

One key initiative addresses needed improvements in the aftermath of the severe flood that hit Manoa Valley and the University of Hawaii on Oct. 30, 2004. The bill also includes an Inouye-sponsored amendment that prohibits the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services from demolishing or dismantling the Hawaii Fruit Fly Production Facility in Waimanalo.

"From a Hawaii perspective, the permanent closure of the facility in Waimanalo would not bode well for the future of diversified agriculture in Hawaii," Inouye said. "Unfortunately, Hawaii is infested with four fruit fly pest species -- not just the Mediterranean fruit fly. Any hope of area-wide control or eradication of these pests requires efficient rearing of all four species for sterile release programs."

The measure passed by the Senate last week now advances to a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
2 men at club arrested in critical stabbing

Police arrested two men at a nightclub yesterday after they allegedly stabbed another man in the chest multiple times.

Witnesses told police that they saw the victim, 24, and the suspects, both 20, in a fight at Blue Tropix nightclub at 1700 Kapiolani Blvd., around 1 a.m.

More people got involved in the confrontation, police said. During the fight, the victim realized that he had been stabbed in the chest multiple times.

Police said the victim sought help. He was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The two suspects were located in the nightclub and arrested on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder.

The motive for the stabbing has yet to be determined, police said.

CENTRAL OAHU
Missing elderly man found in Mililani

A 79-year-old man who was reported missing Thursday was located early yesterday in Mililani.

George Furtado was found at the intersection of Lanikuhana Avenue and Kamehameha Highway about 2:45 a.m. yesterday, police said.

He was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital for treatment and observation.

Family members reported Furtado missing Thursday morning. Police said he had been emotionally stressed over his wife's health problems.

Furtado was last seen going to bed at his Hokuili Street home in Mililani at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Police earlier conducted an air and ground search for Furtado.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Boy, 12, missing since fishing along shore

Police are asking for the public's help in locating a 12-year-old boy who has been missing since Saturday.

Alexander Derego of Waimea was last seen in the area of Kaawaloa Point in South Kona near Kealakekua Bay.

Police described the boy as 5 feet tall, 128 pounds, with a medium-stocky build and a dark complexion.

Hawaii County fire officials said he was fishing with his uncle and brother along the shoreline of Kaawaloa Point, about two miles north of the Captain Cook monument.

The Coast Guard assisted police and fire personnel in an air and water search. The Coast Guard sent out its auxiliary boat, cutter Washington, HH-65 helicopter and C-130 Hercules plane to assist.

Family members assisted in a scuba dive search for the 12-year-old.

Officials reported that Derego was wearing black swim trunks and a dive light. The dive light was recovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kona police station at 326-4646, ext. 253, or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.