|
Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
|
UH West rail stop to be discussed
After months of an apparent communication breakdown, Mayor Mufi Hannemann called for a meeting Wednesday to come to an agreement over the city's mass-transit line and stop near the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
The meeting includes representatives from the city, state Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii system, and West Oahu campus property owner Hunt Development.
The city and DLNR had sparred through comments and letters printed in the media, but apparently hadn't met earlier to discuss an agreement for the transit stop. The city had proposed an alignment with a stop farther away from the campus — about six blocks — than UH-West Oahu preferred, saying it had to go this route after waiting for several months to get approval from DLNR.
The department made a firm commitment to the city last week to run a portion of the first segment of its $3.7 billion mass-transit system through 100 acres of state property in Kapolei to build a stop near the UH-West Oahu campus.
Air Force halts Big Isle flight plan
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono says the U.S. Air Force has abandoned plans for a low-altitude training route over the Big Island.
The C-17 cargo jets that would have used the route were expected to travel over the communities of Honokaa and Waimea, raising concerns about noise and pollution.
Hirono says the Air Force decided it could satisfy its training needs without the proposed route.
The island Democrat says the decision by Air Force officials shows their willingness to be sensitive to the community's needs.
Dozens of Big Island residents opposed to the plan turned up at a Hawaii County Council committee meeting last week to voice their concerns.
12 stranded on atoll head home
Twelve people stranded for nearly a week on Palmyra Atoll, 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, are returning home to the mainland on commercial flights this weekend after they were flown to Honolulu on Friday night, a Nature Conservatory spokesman said.
The group, all supporters and staff of the Nature Conservatory, had been visiting the atoll to support global marine conservation efforts.
On April 19, the Grumman G-1 turboprop that flew them to Palmyra developed an engine problem in Honolulu and couldn't return to Palmyra to pick them up.
Honolulu-based Pacific Air Charters refitted a twin- engine Cessna with an extra fuel tank to reach Christmas Island, 300 miles from Palmyra. The fuel tank was removed so the Cessna could carry the passengers back to Christmas Island in two trips Thursday.
A charted plane then flew the group back to Honolulu in good spirits Friday, according to a news release.
While on Palmyra, which is owned by the Nature Conservatory, the group lived in cabins with electricity, water and food supplies.
|
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
|
HONOLULU
Man, 21, arrested on gun charges
Police arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly firing a pistol in the air during an argument between two groups of men near the intersection of Keeaumoku Street and Kapiolani Boulevard yesterday.
Police said the man brandished a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol and fired once into the air. Police said the suspect tried to get away but was arrested by responding officers.
He was found with five rounds of ammunition still in the pistol, and the gun's serial number was defaced. The man was on suspicion of first-degree reckless endangerment, place to keep, and defacing a serial number.
Gas leak closes off neighborhood
Firefighters and police closed a portion of Smith Street between Beretania and Pauahi streets in Chinatown yesterday following a gas leak.
At about 4:05 p.m., firefighters were called to Yusura Japanese Restaurant at 53 N. Beretania St. because of a gas smell. When they arrived, they found the Gas Company already on scene, said Honolulu fire Capt. James Todd.
Police said the restaurant was closed at the time.
Firefighters assisted with traffic in the area until the gas was dispersed and left at about 4:40 p.m.
LEEWARD OAHU
Driver allegedly runs over woman
A 35-year-old man was arrested Friday night after allegedly running over his girlfriend with his car.
The incident happened shortly before 6 p.m. in Ewa. Police said the suspect and a 43-year-old woman were arguing inside the man's vehicle. The woman left the vehicle and the suspect drove after her.
Police said the woman fell down, and the suspect allegedly ran over her with both passenger side tires. The man was arrested on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Rescuers find Big Isle man, 82
After two days of searching, a Big Island rescue helicopter found an 82-year-old man missing since Friday, the fire department reported.
The man was reported missing shortly after 6 a.m. Friday.
A helicopter spotted the man at 8:17 a.m. yesterday in a cleared area above Highway 11, south of Shiraki Cleaners. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital for a medical checkup.