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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Maui beaches reopen after shark
WAILUKU » Three South Maui beaches were reopened around noon yesterday after authorities determined nearby waters were safe.
Kamaole Beach Park I, II and III were shut yesterday morning when a 6-foot hammerhead shark was sighted.
Officials said the shark appeared to be the same one seen Sunday, prompting the closure of a couple of beaches in South Maui.
Seminar to discuss breast cancer
Dr. Dan Takanishi, surgeon and breast cancer specialist at the Queen's Medical Center, will give a free lecture on risk factors, diet myths and new treatment options at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the Queen's Conference Center, 510 S. Beretania St.
Call the Queen's referral line, 537-7117, for information and to register because space is limited. Parking is available for a $5 flat rate in the Miller Street parking garage.
Help is offered for the grieving
Residents suffering from the loss of a loved one are invited to a free seminar presented by David Rasmussen, chaplain and director of Castle Medical Center's Spiritual Life Department, to help them through the holiday season.
It will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in the hospital's Wellness Center Auditorium. Registration is required. Call 263-5400 or register online at castlemed.org.
Star-Bulletin staff
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WEST OAHU
Arson suspected in brush fire
A 2-acre brush fire in Waikele Gulch might have been intentionally set, according to a Honolulu Fire Department official.
When firefighters responded to the first call, just before 10:30 a.m. yesterday, they found three separate fires, said fire Capt. Earle Kealoha.
The fire was brought under control at 11:08 a.m. and extinguished at 12:34 p.m.
Police seek missing woman
Police are asking for the public's help in finding a 52-year-old woman last seen Friday walking on Pali Highway toward the Pali Lookout.
Police said Paula Marie Iversen's family has not seen nor heard from her since about 12:45 p.m. Friday.
Iversen was emotionally distraught, police said.
She is described as Caucasian, 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a beige blouse, beige pants and carrying a red umbrella.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Taser helps stop alleged assault
Police used a Taser gun to subdue a 29-year-old man who allegedly threatened a 32-year-old man with a knife at their Waimalu apartment yesterday.
Officers responded to a domestic complaint at 98-380 Koauka Loop at 12:25 a.m. yesterday.
Security officers brought the 32-year-old man down to the apartment building parking lot to meet with police.
He reported that he was being threatened with a knife by the younger man.
When police officers approached the apartment, the suspect ran past them toward the victim, despite several warnings by the officers, police said.
The officers used a Taser gun to stop the man. He was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, where he was treated for minor scrapes and scratches to his shoulder and legs, and released, police said. The victim was not injured, police said.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree terroristic threatening, disorderly conduct and on a warrant.
HONOLULU
Man is found inside stolen car
Authorities charged a 26-year-old Makiki man yesterday who was found sleeping in an allegedly stolen Lexus on Sunday with its headlights on and engine running, police said.
Robert K. Kaawa was charged with auto theft and two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
Police on a routine patrol in Manoa found Kaawa sleeping in the driver's seat of an allegedly stolen Lexus at 12:55 a.m. Sunday.
Police also discovered a small packet of a crystalline substance on his lap and another small packet of a white powdery substance on the floor of the car, police said. The car belonged to a 69-year-old man.
Crews battle renewed brush fire
A Makaha brush fire reignited yesterday afternoon and threatened a few homes in a gated community last night.
The flames were about a half-mile away from about three or four single-family homes in Mauna Olu Estates at 8 last night, Honolulu fire Capt. Earle Kealoha estimated.
"What we're afraid of is it's going to continue to burn over the mountains into Makua Valley," which is to the north, he said.
The fire brought the total area burned since Friday to 500 acres.
Water drops could not be made at night, but three Honolulu and two federal fire companies were scheduled to work the night to protect the Makaha homes from the flames.
Kealoha said the fire had restarted at 10:09 a.m. yesterday, and the Honolulu Fire Department, despite requests to the military and other agencies, was unable to get more air support to make water drops on areas inaccessible by foot.
The Fire Department had only one helicopter available this morning, and a police helicopter assisted at 3:30 p.m. yesterday.
The Division of Forestry was unable to assist with its contract helicopters as they were on other assignments. "It hampered our efforts then and here we are now," Kealoha said.
The fire burned about 200 acres yesterday in the mountainous area 1.5 miles above Makaha Valley Towers, he said last night.
But "just before 6 p.m. the winds started to pick up, and flames started to pick up a little more," Kealoha said at 8 p.m. "There's a column of flames 500 feet from one end to another. ... It's going up toward the mountain in a vertical pattern."
If the fire burns deeper into the valley, it could destroy endangered species of native plants and animals, he said.