Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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UH gets $21 million for flood repairs

The University of Hawaii will receive nearly $21.2 million in federal funds to help recover from the flooding in Manoa Valley 16 months ago.

"These funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program are vital to ensuring that the university is able to fully recover from the devastation of Oct. 30, 2004," U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said yesterday in a news release issued by his Washington office.

More than $13 million will be used to replace library collections that were destroyed or severely damaged by floodwaters.

Nearly $4.5 million will cover the costs that exceeded a $25 million insurance cap for emergency measures and content replacement. Also, more than $3.4 million will cover the costs that exceeded a $25 million insurance cap for emergency measures and building repairs.

In all, the flooding caused more than $81 million in damage to the university.

"With the help of FEMA's Public Assistance Program, UH is getting back on its feet and is moving forward," Inouye said.

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B Plus offers $500,000 in scholarships

At least $500,000 in scholarships to any University of Hawaii campus or community college is available to public high school seniors through the new state-funded Hawaii B Plus Scholarship program.

Hawaii public high school students who have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and can show a need for financial aid are eligible.

The B Plus program was designed to increase access to higher education by helping low-income families to afford UH tuition.

UH financial aid offices will distribute the awards.

The statewide GEAR UP program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program) and the university's Office of Student Equity, Excellence, and Diversity program are also working with the public schools to recruit applicants.

The priority deadline to receive applications for the B Plus Scholarship is March 15. The final deadline to turn in applications is July 15.

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Small substation fire cuts off power to base

Electrical power to Pearl Harbor Naval Base and customers in the surrounding area was cut off for about 40 minutes yesterday after a small fire in an Hawaiian Electric Co. substation.

A Navy spokesman said the outage affected small pockets of buildings on the base but did not halt any operations because most offices have backup generators.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers were released a few minutes before the end of their work shift, according to the spokesman.

The power went out at 2:40 p.m. and was restored at 3:24 p.m., said HECO spokesman Jose Dizon. It affected 1,740 customers in the Aliamanu area as well as the base.

Honolulu Fire Department units responded to the report of smoke visible at the Makalapa substation. The cause was a malfunction in lightning protection equipment, which sustained minor damage, Dizon said.

Maui whale sightings breaking records

MAALAEA, Maui » Whale sightings have increased dramatically this year on Maui, rising to 1,265 in a three-hour period, according to the Pacific Whale Foundation.

The Great Whale Count tally on Saturday was the highest in the Foundation's 10 years of gathering the observations.

The previous high was 952 sightings from Maui's coastline in 2001, the Foundation said.

Foundation spokeswoman Anne Rillero said those conducting the observations have no way to determine if the whales are counted more than once, but the same methodology is used each year, indicating there appear to be more sightings of activity this year than in the past.

"This year was clearly a banner year," she said.

Humpback whale migration season generally is from December through May in Hawaii.

According to the foundation, scientists believe the overall population of Northern Pacific humpback whales is growing at a rate of 7 percent a year.

Drug count gives man 20-year prison term

HILO » Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara sentenced Matthew Hoshide-Andrade, 22, of Hilo to 20 years in prison yesterday after he was found guilty of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Acting on a tip, police attempted to arrest Hoshide- Andrade at a University of Hawaii-Hilo parking lot on June 9, but he fled in his car, then lost control and got stuck with a flat tire on a residential lawn.

Hoshide-Andrade threw a bag eventually found to contain two ounces of crystal methamphetamine into the bushes, ran away but was arrested at a service station.

Repairs to close Kapaa Neighborhood Center

KAPAA » The 36-year-old Kapaa Neighborhood Center will be closed for two months starting tomorrow as county workers give it an extensive renovation.

Built in 1970, the center is one of the oldest neighborhood centers on the Garden Isle and serves as the hub of numerous community activities and events.

Everything from regular maintenance to roof repair, window and door replacement, painting, replacement of benches and restroom refurbishment will take place, county officials said.

It is the most extensive work needed in an ongoing $2 million project to fix up all of Kauai's neighborhood centers, officials added.

The Kapaa center is scheduled to reopen May 1.

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Domestic violence agency hosts gala

Sandy Chun has been recognized by the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline for the "Outstanding Individual Contribution" in domestic violence as an active member of the organization's board of directors.

Chun was honored for "bringing to the agency her extensive social and community networks," according to an announcement of the awards. She has participated in many of the agency's fundraising events over the years.

"Chipping Away at Domestic Violence" is the agency's major annual fundraising event. For more information about domestic violence or to provide support, call 534-0040.

Also receiving annual awards at the organization's "Chipping Away at Domestic Violence" golf gala at Oahu Country Club were:

Clay, Chapman, Crumpton, Iwamura and Pulice, as the "Outstanding Corporate Contributor." The firm was cited for offering pro bono legal assistance in the negotiation and purchase of an agency site and for other support. Bradley R. Pulice accepted the award for the firm and served as attorney for the clearinghouse for the property sale.

Kaiser Permanente received the "Health Cares About Domestic Violence Award" for providing guidance, training and consultation for its medical professionals to assure that victims of domestic violence get responsive health-care assistance. The clearinghouse has provided technical assistance to Kaiser for protocols for screening and referrals.

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Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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WINDWARD OAHU

Man's shooting leads to arrest of 2 suspects

Police arrested two men after they allegedly threatened and shot at another man in Kahuku on Sunday.

Police said that at about 7:30 a.m. the suspects, both 23, argued with the man, 52, when one of the suspects fired a rifle shot at him. The second suspect then allegedly threatened the victim verbally while holding a handgun.

Police later arrested both suspects near Pualalea Street. One suspect was arrested for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening while the other was arrested for investigation of second-degree attempted murder.

CENTRAL OAHU

5 injured when teen crashes stolen car

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy after he allegedly crashed a stolen car he was driving into another vehicle while on the way to the North Shore on Sunday.

The boy was driving on Kaukonahua Road near Wahiawa when he collided with the other vehicle at Kamananui Road at about 4:25 p.m. Two passengers in the stolen vehicle along with two passengers in the other vehicle were taken in stable condition to an area hospital. A third occupant in the other vehicle was in serious condition.

Police said the 16-year-old identified himself as the driver of the first car ,and when officers learned that it had been reported stolen, they arrested him for investigation of auto theft and driving without a license.

HONOLULU

Man punches car and attacks officer

Police arrested a 38-year-old man after he allegedly attacked a police officer who was investigating a complaint that the man punched a car in Kakaako.

Police said the man walked up to a 25-year-old woman's car that was stopped at a traffic light near Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard at 8:43 a.m. Sunday and punched her hood, causing a dent. A police officer was flagged down, and the officer told the man to sit down but the man allegedly attacked the officer instead.

Police said the officer suffered some scratches to his face and head and was treated at Straub Clinic & Hospital.

The suspect suffered some abrasions to his arms and was treated at the Queen's Medical Center. He was later arrested for investigation of assault on a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree criminal property damage.

LEEWARD OAHU

Woman is arrested in ID and check fraud

Police arrested a 25-year-old woman after she allegedly used an altered military ID card Sunday to try to cash a forged check.

The suspect allegedly used another person's name and a fake ID to cash the check at a Pearl City store about 1:15 a.m. The store employee recognized the check as having been forged and called 911.

Responding officers arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree forgery and second-degree identity theft.

Parkgoers raise alarm about man with gun

Police arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly walking at a Waianae beach park with a shotgun last weekend.

Police said that at 9:35 p.m. Saturday they received calls about a man with a shotgun in the area and went to check it out.

Witnesses provided officers with a description of the man and his vehicle, and he was found nearby sitting in his pickup truck. Police said officers could see a shotgun inside the pickup, and they arrested him for investigation of a firearm offense.

WAIKIKI

Help sought in finding visitor from Japan

Police want help finding a missing Japanese woman who was last seen more than two weeks ago.

Kanako Hibino, 22, was last seen on Feb. 10 at about 10 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa, 2424 Kalakaua Ave. She was scheduled to return to Japan a few days later but did not, according to police.

Investigators said Hibino might be in the company of a man named Eldon Cox, also known as James Fox or James Anderson. Hibino is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, about 112 pounds, with brown eyes. Cox, 45, is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 155 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.