Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Time to tend native-plants garden

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a community cleanup of its new native-plants garden on Saturday at the Kalanimoku state office building, 1151 Punchbowl St.

The 8-11 a.m. event will include light weeding and cleaning. Native species in the garden include nanu (native gardenia), koki'o ula (red hibiscus of Kauai) and ma'o hau hele, the yellow hibiscus that is the state flower.

For more information, call 587-4169.

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Damien's top award presented to Pilares

Damien Memorial School has given its highest honor to football star Kealoha Pilares, who will attend the Air Force Academy Preparatory School in the fall.

Pilares, who led the state in scoring and rushing yardage last season, received the Viriliter Age award at yesterday's graduation ceremonies. "Viriliter age," the school's motto, means "Act manfully" in Latin.

"The award is given to the most well-rounded students," said Brother Greg O'Donnell, the school's president. "It's the award you really want to win at Damien."

In addition to his athletic achievements, Pilares was able to maintain high grades and serve as a campus ministry member and yearbook editor. He was one of 85 seniors at Damien to graduate.

» The Estate of James Campbell gave its 17th annual 2006 Kapolei Outstanding Achievement Awards to:

Kapolei High School Interact Club, for Community Service -- Organization; Obed Donlin of the American Youth Soccer Organization, for Community Service -- Individual; Dr. Daniel E. White of Island Pacific Academy, for Education; Dustin Shindo of Hoku Scientific Inc., for Entrepreneur; and the Ewa Beach Ohana, for Environment.

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Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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WINDWARD OAHU

Police seek suspect after road rage attack

Police were looking for a male suspect last night in a road rage incident that grew into an attempted-murder case.

The suspect allegedly got into an argument with a 38-year-old Kaneohe man during a road rage incident, police said.

The suspect allegedly got into his vehicle and accelerated toward the victim, police said.

CENTRAL OAHU

Old stolen check leads to woman's arrest

Police arrested a 24-year-old woman who allegedly tried to cash a check that had been stolen about a year ago.

Police said the woman walked into a bank in Wahiawa at 11:23 p.m. last Thursday and tried to cash the check. An alert teller checked the account number and found that the account had been closed and that the signature did not match that of the original account holder.

The bank called the original account holder, who said her checks had been stolen out of her car about a year earlier. Police were called, and officers arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree forgery.

HONOLULU

Police book suspect in stabbing of woman

Police have arrested a man suspected of stabbing a 49-year-old woman in Kalihi last night at 833 N. School St.

Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said the woman was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.

The suspect was brought in to the Kalihi police station for booking at about 9:30 p.m. on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder.

Man allegedly throws bicycle into ocean

Police arrested a 34-year-old man who allegedly threw a bicycle belonging to a homeless man into the ocean in Kakaako last Thursday.

Police said the victim, a 44-year-old man, was preparing to leave the park at about 10 p.m. when the suspect took his backpack. The victim yelled for the suspect to return it, police said.

At that point the suspect walked back to the victim, dropped the backpack, began arguing with the victim and then punched him, police said. The suspect then took the victim's bicycle and threw it into the ocean, police said.

The victim went to get his bike, and when he got back to his campsite, he noticed his backpack missing and called police. Officers found the suspect in the park. The suspect then pushed one of the officers and ran, police said. Officers caught him and arrested him for investigation of second-degree robbery.

Neighbor allegedly hit with two-by-four

Police arrested a 31-year-old Kalihi woman who allegedly assaulted her neighbor with a two-by-four on Sunday.

The suspect and victim, 32, were arguing at about 2:50 p.m. when the assault happened, police said. The victim suffered minor injuries to her head, police said. The suspect was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.

EAST OAHU

Suspects sought in McDonald's burglary

Police are looking for a burglar or burglars who stole cash from the safe at the Aina Haina McDonald's early Tuesday.

Police said the incident took place at 5:10 a.m. at the restaurant in the Aina Haina Shopping Center.

The case is classified as a second-degree burglary.

Fight between siblings leads to man's arrest

Police arrested a 19-year-old man who allegedly punched his younger sister in the face several times Monday in front of their Hawaii Kai home.

Police said the girl, 16, was sitting in the driver's seat of her mother's vehicle, which was parked in front of their house at about 2 p.m., when her brother punched her three to four times through the window.

Police arrested the brother for investigation of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and abuse of a household member, then released him pending an investigation.

LEEWARD OAHU

Air compressor taken from homeless man

Police arrested a 38-year-old man who allegedly stole an air compressor from a homeless man in Waianae last month.

Police said that at about 10 a.m. on May 7, the victim was approached by the suspect. Police said the suspect wanted an air compressor he had seen in the victim's van.

The victim refused to give it to him, and the suspect allegedly punched him in the face and took the compressor.

Police arrested the suspect Tuesday but later released him pending an investigation.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Isle snorkeler, 45, dies at Queen's

A 45-year-old man who collapsed after snorkeling on the Big Island on Monday died at the Queen's Medical Center.

Big Island police said the man had been snorkeling in the area of the Captain Cook monument in Kona when he began to feel ill. He came to shore and collapsed after telling his companion that he was felling some numbness.

The man was taken to an area hospital for initial treatment and later transported to Queen's, where he died. Police are investigating the case as an unattended death.

Police identify bodies in Kauai car crash

KAPAA, Kauai » The two men who died in Tuesday's head-on crash on the Kapaa Bypass Road were identified yesterday by Kauai police.

Driver Eli Mitchell, 21, and passenger Justin Brink, 27, both of Kapaa, were killed Tuesday afternoon after their car crossed the center line and hit a van.

The woman driving the van and her 2-year-old passenger were treated at Wilcox Hospital and released, police said.

Victims saved after car goes off bridge

Two people were seriously injured yesterday when a car went off a bridge near Laupahoehoe on the Big Island and fell 30 feet.

The accident happened at about 4:09 a.m. along Highway 19, north of the Ninole Post Office, according to a news release from the Big Island Fire Department.

The vehicle caught fire but was extinguished by a fire crew on the scene. Both victims were rescued and taken to Hilo Medical Center, the release said.