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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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Pearl Harbor fuel spill is under investigation
Pearl Harbor officials are investigating the origin of a diesel fuel spill discovered Tuesday morning near where the cruiser USS Port Royal is berthed.
Pearl Harbor spokeswoman Lt. Barbara Mertz said about 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel and water had been recovered, and work would continue at Mike Piers 1 and 2 until all the fuel is removed.
Mertz said there is no evidence any marine life was affected by the diesel fuel spill.
New Year's smoke measured below 2004
There was less smoke in the air from fireworks this year than last New Year's, according to state Department of Health monitoring stations on Oahu and Maui.
The department's Clean Air Branch chief attributes that to winds in the late evening and light rain early Sunday.
"The weatherman was correct for once," Wilfred Nagamine said yesterday. Nagamine said he was disappointed last year when the high winds forecasted did not arrive.
The measurements recorded at Liliha, Pearl City, Kapolei and Kihei, Maui, were well within the state and national clean air standard of 150 micrograms of particulates per cubic meter of air for 24 hours.
The Honolulu station was not working because the recording equipment had been removed from the department's office building for re-roofing.
Former charity leader pleads not guilty
WAILUKU » The former executive director on Maui for Big Brothers Big Sisters is scheduled to face trial March 13 for allegedly stealing more than $25,000 from the charity.
Jeffrey Arnold pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft yesterday in Maui Circuit Court.
Arnold, of California, was released after posting $20,000 bail.
He is accused of taking more than $25,000 between Jan. 24, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2003.
Honolulu to receive federal security funds
Honolulu has won designation as one of 46 high-risk, high-threat U.S. urban areas eligible for a share of $740 million that Congress set aside for homeland security programs.
Just how much the city will get has not been determined. But Mayor Mufi Hannemann said Tuesday he is confident Honolulu will get its fair share.
He said the money would be used to enhance the capabilities of first and second responders in case of terrorist attack. The money also will be used to prepare and protect the state from influenza pandemic and hurricanes, the mayor said.
Taking Notice
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Morris Nakamura of Ewa Beach has received the Muscular Dystrophy Association's 2005 Personal Achievement Award for Hawaii. He was a carpenter until neuromuscular disabilities forced him to retire. He became a volunteer for advocacy organizations that help the disabled. An avid painter, Nakamura has donated his oils for fundraisers.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
HONOLULU
Civilian dies in Pearl Harbor crash
A civilian employee died from injuries he received in a single-vehicle accident yesterday morning at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, according to a Navy Region Hawaii press release.
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Barbara Mertz said the man hit a light pole, but she was not sure what caused the accident. The man was an employee of Navy Region Hawaii, but his name was withheld pending notification of his family, the release said. Mertz would not provide the man's age or his occupation until his family was notified.
Federal Fire Department and base security emergency units responded to the 9:50 a.m. accident, according to the Navy. The man was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, where he was pronounced dead, the release said. The Navy said the cause of death is being investigated.
Canadian man found ill on plane later dies
A 47-year-old Canadian man died after being found unresponsive on a plane shortly after takeoff from Honolulu Airport on Tuesday, police said. The pilot brought the plane back to Honolulu after the 11:09 p.m. incident.
The man was transported to Kaiser Medical Center, where he died, police said. Police said there were no signs of foul play. The case is pending investigation.
Man arrested after dad is hit with plate
Police arrested a 36-year-old man who allegedly hit his father in the head with a ceramic plate last week.
The suspect and victim, 68, live together in Kalihi and got into an argument on Thursday, when the son allegedly grabbed a plate and threw it at his father. Police said the plate struck the victim in the head and broke into several pieces, one of which sliced his father's right forearm.
The son fled, but an officer who worked on the case saw him Tuesday and arrested him for investigation of second-degree assault.
LEEWARD OAHU
Firefighters put out hot spots from fires
City and federal firefighters mopped up hot spots in Makaha yesterday, the leftovers from two brush fires that burned more than 500 acres, Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said.
The fires were reported at about 5 p.m. Tuesday and were contained by 3:19 p.m. yesterday. The larger fire was bordered by Farrington Highway and Kili Drive. The other burned the ridgeline above Makaha Valley Towers.
Yesterday, one HFD and one federal helicopter fought the fires from the air. No homes or structures were threatened by the fires, though smoke was a concern, fire officials said.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man arrested in harassment
Police yesterday arrested a 38-year-old Waimanalo man wanted for two separate cases involving an ex-girlfriend.
Police said the man is suspected of entering her Waimanalo home, uninvited, through an unlocked door at 11:45 p.m. New Year's Eve. The man allegedly punched the 28-year-old woman several times, police said.
On Nov. 11 the man allegedly chased the woman while she was driving in Waimanalo. Police said the man used his vehicle to rear-end and sideswipe her vehicle.
Police said the woman was unhurt in the incident. However, the suspect "lost control of the vehicle and spun out on Kalanianaole Highway," police said.
The Windward Crime Reduction Unit found the suspect and arrested him yesterday for suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and harassment by stalking in the Nov. 11 incident. He was also arrested for suspicion of first-degree burglary and abuse of a household member in the Dec. 31 case.
WEST OAHU
Mentally disabled man last seen in Waipahu
Honolulu police are looking for a mentally disabled man who was last seen in Waipahu last Thursday.
Clifford "CJ" Apuna, 24, is described as between 5 feet 9 and 5 feet 10 inches tall and has a tan complexion, black hair and black beard. Family members said Apuna had been near the Reynolds Recycling center at 94-766 Farrington Highway next to the Times Super Market before he disappeared. Apuna is mentally disabled and takes medication. HPD Missing Persons investigators are looking into the case and said there appears to be no indication of foul play involved. Anyone with information should call investigator Phil Camero at 529-3394.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo man charged with trying to kill 3 people
Big Island police charged a 56-year-old Hilo man with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to run over two men and a boy with his car Saturday.
John M. Damo Sr. allegedly accelerated toward the three people near the shoulder of Mahiai Street in the Panaewa area, running over one person's foot, police said. The victims had been riding two all-terrain vehicles and a dirt bike in the area and had earlier been warned by Damo about riding in the neighborhood.
The victim who was struck by the vehicle was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated and released. Detectives charged Damo on Saturday evening with one count of attempted second-degree murder and three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening. He was released after posting $23,000 bail.
