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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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UH oceanographer to give speech
University of Hawaii-Manoa oceanographer David M. Karl will deliver a prestigious lecture today at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, Calif.
Karl, who directs the UH Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, will give a presentation on "Microbial Oceanography: A Sea of Opportunity."
He was asked to deliver the 20th annual Van Niel Memorial Lecture, a series honoring the late Cornelius Bernardus Van Niel, described as the most influential microbiologist and educator of the 20th century.
Hopkins Marine Station Director George Somero, in a news release, said Karl, like Van Niel, is "opening new frontiers with his work."
Karl joined UH in March 1978 and established the Laboratory for Microbial Oceanography in the 1980s. He worked with UH oceanographer Roger Lukas and others in 1988 to establish the Hawaii Ocean Time-Series program at an ocean site off Oahu.
Many discoveries have come out of the ongoing program, which investigates climate-related impacts on marine ecosystem dynamics.
Land agency gets new director
Orlando "Dan" Davidson was recently hired to serve as executive director of the state Land Use Commission. Davidson, currently executive director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp., will assume his new job May 16.
The role of the commission is to ensure that areas of state concern are addressed in the land use decision-making process. It oversees and administers the state's land use system.
Davidson began his career in Honolulu as a private attorney and also served as deputy corporation counsel specializing in planning, zoning and environmental law. He also served as deputy director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and executive director of the Land Use Research Foundation.
Castle principal earns honor
Castle High School Principal Meredith Maeda has been named the 2008 MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals Hawaii High School Principal of the Year.
Maeda, who arrived at Castle High nine years ago, is credited with raising student achievement, improving teaching quality, creating community and educational partnerships, and increasing parent and volunteer participation, according to a news release by the state Education Department.
He initiated 15 focus groups, including one that evaluated different bell schedules that maximize student learning and teaching development.
Maeda, also president of the Oahu Interscholastic Association and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, will be among Principals of the Year from other states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity attending the Principal's Institute and Awards Banquet in Washington, D.C., later this year.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Police seek help in school thefts
Hawaii County police are asking for the public's help in identifying people who stole five computers from Laupahoehoe High School in February.
The new, black-and-silver Lenovo laptop computers are valued at $1,000 each.
People with information about the computers may call Officer Michael DeCoito at 962-2120 or police at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 392-8181 in Kona.
HONOLULU
Purse-snatching duo works market
Police are looking for a man and woman wanted for purse-snatching at the Beretania Street Safeway.
The two entered the store at 1121 S. Beretania St. March 10 at about 8:50 p.m., and the man spoke to a customer while the female suspect removed her purse from the shopping cart.
The customer realized what happened, confronted the woman and got her purse back.
Police said the same man allegedly entered the store at about 5:30 p.m. March 21 and removed another customer's handbag and fled into the parking lot.
The store security reviewed the videotape and recognized the man was the same in both thefts.
The man is described as in his 40s, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 165 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
The woman is in her 30s, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 125 pounds, with brown hair.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Man allegedly assaults girl, 16
Police arrested a 20-year-old man Wednesday evening for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Salt Lake.
The girl told police that the man pulled her into his vehicle and sexually assaulted her before letting her leave, police said. Police said the sexual assault allegedly occurred last summer.
The man was arrested on a kidnapping charge, two counts of first-degree sexual assault, five counts of third-degree sexual assault and a contempt charge. The man was released yesterday at 10:45 a.m. pending further investigation.
NORTH SHORE
Rescue is launched after boat capsizes
The Coast Guard and Fire Department crews responded to calls for help to rescue two men from a capsized trimaran in Kawela Bay last night, but they were able to make their way to shore.
The two were able to right the boat and bring the vessel to shore, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.
WEST OAHU
Woman injured in family fight
Police arrested a 55-year-old Ewa Beach man who allegedly pushed a 48-year-old woman who is a family member, breaking her left arm.
Police said the man and woman were involved in an argument, and the man allegedly shoved the woman into a door at about 8 a.m. April 7, causing her to hit her head and fall to the floor.
The woman called police, and the man was arrested for abuse of a family or household member.
The woman was treated at an area hospital, where she was found to have a fractured left arm.