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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Stingers arrive at south shores
More Portuguese men-of-war were spotted off the south shores yesterday, and the monthly influx of box jellyfish is expected today.
On Friday, lifeguards spotted 10 to 20 men-of-war in Waikiki and Ala Moana Beach Park. An exact figure was unavailable for yesterday, but Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said more were spotted.
Eight people were treated for stings at Ala Moana Beach Park yesterday. Men-of-war are not unusual with extended Kona winds, Cheplic said. Beachgoers are advised to speak with a lifeguard before heading into the water.
TheBoat to accept toy donations
The city's boat service will begin accepting donations for Toys for Tots starting tomorrow.
In return, TheBoat will give each donor a ticket good for either a future ride on the service, or a beverage and snack item on the vessel.
Donations on TheBoat will be accepted through Dec. 14. The city will also have a collection box in the Honolulu Hale courtyard until Dec. 16. TheBoat connects Leeward Oahu from Kalaeloa Harbor to downtown Honolulu.
Big Isle towing company fined
A Hilo towing company has been fined for storing too many vehicles at its lot, creating a hazard to the environment, according to Health Department officials.
Vern's Towing II at 169 Railroad Ave. is in violation of its Solid Waste Management permit and was fined $1,287 and ordered to take corrective action.
In April, the Health Department issued a warning letter to the facility, but Vern's failed to comply and had increased the number of vehicles in July.
The number of stored vehicles exceeds permit requirements and creates a low risk of contaminant exposure to the environment or to humans, Health Department officials said.
Work to close lane near Kakaako
Hawaii Electric Co. is advising motorists that its crews will replace a utility pole at the intersection of Ala Moana Boulevard and Koula Street in Kakaako tomorrow and Tuesday.
One westbound lane of traffic will be closed in the area between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Koula Street might also be temporarily closed on the mauka side of Ala Moana Boulevard during work hours.
$2M released to replace bridge
The state has released $2.24 million toward the replacement of the 80-year-old North Kahana Stream Bridge on Kamehameha Highway.
The money will help pay for construction of a wider bridge with shoulders and sidewalks for pedestrian and bicycle access, and a large waterway underneath to increase draining capacity.
The total project will cost about $12 million, which includes $8.6 million in federal funding, according to a news release from Gov. Linda Lingle.
A temporary road and bridge detour will be built on the makai side of the existing bridge to handle traffic. Construction is scheduled to begin March, and be completed in February 2009.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Waikiki
Police seek man in double stabbing
Police are looking for a man who allegedly stabbed two men during a fracas early yesterday morning in Waikiki.
At 2:24 a.m. a large fight broke out at Lewers Street and Aloha Drive. The fight involved some people crashing a party at the Aloha Towers apartment complex, neighbors said. During the fight, two 19-year-old men were allegedly stabbed by an unknown man.
Police described the man as being in his 20s. One of the victims was transported to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, while the other was hospitalized in serious condition. The man in critical condition was apparently driven to the McCully Shopping Center before being picked up by emergency officials, said Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic.
The suspect is wanted on charges of attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault.
Suspect arrested after barroom fight
Police arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly struck another man in the head with a beer bottle.
About 3:30 yesterday morning, two men, both 25 years old, were at a bar at 2301 Kuhio Ave. One of the men put his arm around another, and an argument ensued, police said.
The suspect allegedly grabbed a beer bottle and struck the victim in the head. The victim suffered lacerations to his face. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Isaiah Hoopai of Maili peers into the burned-out structure at 84-886 Farrington Highway following a fire there in Makaha on Friday.
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Leeward Oahu
Makaha house fire under investigation
Firefighters are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed an abandoned home on Friday in Makaha.
No was injured in the 12:45 p.m. fire at the single-story house at 84-904 Farrington Highway, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. According to witnesses and neighbors, a homeless man who used to sleep in the house had been at a bus stop when the fire started, Seelig said.
Firefighters, who controlled the blaze by 12:56 p.m., did not enter the home because of fears it could collapse. Investigators will likely need to take the house apart to determine what sparked the blaze and estimate damages, Seelig said.
Sid Biggs, who was doing maintenance work at a neighboring home and called 911, said the burned house was condemned and lacked electrical power. He said the owner of the property rents about three homes in the area.
"He is not real happy," he said. "Mostly, he was concerned it was not one of these other places where people are living."
WINDWARD Oahu
45-year-old man accused of assault
Police arrested a 45-year-old man who allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend Friday.
A 48-year-old woman broke off a relationship with the suspect about three months ago. Police said the suspect saw the woman at a Waimanalo gas station and confronted her about 9:30 a.m. Friday.
The woman got into her vehicle and tried to lock herself in. The suspect allegedly got into the vehicle and assaulted her before fleeing. The suspect was located and arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, police said.
Neighbor Islands
Crews pull man off vessel near Hilo
An ill man was evacuated from a fishing vessel by the U.S. Coast Guard yesterday morning.
About 8:45 a.m., the Coast Guard received a call from a sport fishing vessel's crew about 40 miles north of Hilo. The crew reported that a 30-year-old man was feeling ill aboard the 28-foot vessel Chelse Lynn.
A rescue helicopter crew from Barbers Point evacuated the man and transported him to the Hilo Medical Center.
2 hurt in separate motorcycle crashes
Two Maui men are in critical condition after separate motorcycle accidents that occurred within two minutes of each other Friday night.
At 11:26 p.m., a motorcycle was headed toward Kahului on Waiinu Road. The male driver, who had a female passenger, passed another vehicle from his left side in a no-passing zone.
Police said as the motorcycle moved back to the lane of travel, the driver lost control and laid his motorcycle down on its right side, causing the woman to be ejected.
She was taken to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition. The man was treated for his injuries and released. Police have not yet confirmed the woman's identity and declined to release her age.
The second motorcycle accident was reported at 11:28 p.m. on Honoapiilani Highway near the scenic lookout. Police said a 22-year-old man lost control of his motorcycle due to heavy rain and hit a guard rail. He was hospitalized in critical condition, but police said he is improving.