|
Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
|
Kauai harbor renovation begins
KEKAHA, Kauai » The Department of Land and Natural Resources is set to begin construction at the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor and is urging boaters to exercise caution.
Initially, a minimum of one-half of the entrance channel will remain open at all times to permit vessels to enter and exit the harbor when construction begins in the middle of the month.
Starting Sept. 1, the harbor may be closed during construction at one-week intervals, officials at the department added.
The east breakwater at the harbor is scheduled to be removed in sections and reconstructed to provide a higher structure for more inner harbor protection.
Work on the west breakwater is expected to begin in late October.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of April 2009 and is expected to cost $18.7 million.
War games to close beaches
Bellows Air Force Station beach will be closed June 28-30 and again July 14-18 and July 25-27 because of military exercises that will be held there as part of Rim of the Pacific war games.
Also closed because of the naval exercises will be Pyramid Rock Beach at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay on July 7, July 14-18 and again July 25-27.
More than 20,000 military personnel from 10 countries will be participating in the multinational exercise June 29-July 31.
In a related matter, the Marine Corps said that as early as 5 this morning there will be more jet activity at the flight line and over Kaneohe Bay through Friday as two jets will be departing each morning as early as 5 a.m. in support of training exercises at the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands Beach on Kauai.
Goodwill gets jobs program funds
The Goodwill Industries of Hawaii's planned Ohana Career and Learning Center received the first half of a $2 million grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
The full two-year grant brings the total of grants and pledges to the $11 million needed for the center.
Slated to open in 2009 in the Kapolei Business Park, the center is designed to assist more than 1,000 Leeward Oahu residents each year with employment training and job placement.
Goodwill's President Laura Robertson says the center intends to help individuals build the confidence necessary for the job market.
Complete with computers and training areas, the center will help students build lifelong job skills through mock interviews and resume building workshops, says Laura Kay Rand, vice president of corporate services for Goodwill Industries.
Most prospective students will be referred from state Department of Education counselors at nearby schools or through partnerships with youth organizations such as the Goodwill's Ola I Ka Hana program. However, any individual interested in registering at the center is welcome to do so, says Rand.
For more information visit www.higoodwill.org or call 836-WORK.
Request passports early
Air travelers in need of U.S. passports are being advised to apply for one early because of projected delays to process the documents.
The U.S. Department of State expects to issue more than 21 million passports this year and 30 million in 2009. The department's Honolulu Passport Agency is encouraging travelers planning to travel abroad next year or in 2010 to apply for a passport as soon as possible.
The agency is also reminding travelers that passports must be valid for at least six months before the end of their trip to be accepted by many airlines and foreign countries.
More information, including a list of places to apply for a passport, is available at www.travel.state.gov
|
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
|
WEST OAHU
Cause of Ewa fire is undetermined
The cause of a Friday fire that destroyed two Ewa Beach homes has been classified as undetermined as fire inspectors closed their investigation.
Investigators found that the fire started in a garage at 91-984 Waimomona Place.
Damage to building and contents was estimated at $410,000 to that home and $430,000 to the 91-992 Waimomona Place residence where a car was also destroyed.
The houses are in the Soda Creek subdivision of Ewa by Gentry.
Ex-boyfriend accused of assault
Police arrested a 32-year-old Pearl City man who allegedly sexually assaulted his ex-girlfriend Monday night.
The woman, 28, reported to police that she met her recent ex-boyfriend at his home where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault and kidnapping.
LEEWARD OAHU
Truck owner stops alleged theft
Police arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly stealing a Waianae man's truck.
About 11:45 p.m. Monday, a 28-year-old man heard his truck starting up outside his Waianae apartment and saw it being driven off, police said.
He followed the truck in another vehicle and called police.
Police found the suspect along Farrington Highway and arrested him on suspicion of auto theft.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man arrested after domestic quarrel
Police arrested a 20-year-old man yesterday for allegedly abusing his roommate early Sunday.
The suspect and a 24-year-old woman are roommates in Kaneohe. Police said the two got into an argument shortly after midnight. The woman told police that the suspect threatened her with a knife and hit her with his fist.
Police arrested the suspect Monday on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member.
NORTH SHORE
Roommates' fight leads to arrest
Police arrested a 25-year-old Pupukea man who allegedly punched his girlfriend and threatened a roommate with knives Monday.
Police said the man suspected the roommate of flirting with his girlfriend, who also lives with them.
He punched the girlfriend, 27, in the back of the head then got two kitchen knives and threatened the 29-year-old roommate, police said.
Police arrested the suspect Monday on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse.