Keep on paddlin'. Canoe paddlers, relax:
Ala Wai is still OKA rumor that the city is going to ban canoe paddling on the Ala Wai and move the activity to Keehi Lagoon is spreading faster than the Outrigger club in a tight race.
But government officials say nothing of the sort is being considered.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said her office has been bombarded with calls from concerned paddlers, and understood the suggestion surfaced at a canoe function this weekend.
"We have nothing afoot like that," she said.
"We're not meeting or discussing anything of this nature, so it's not coming from us."
The city Parks and Recreation Department and the state Land and Natural Resources Department essentially said the same.
Alan Hayashi, executive director of the Convention Center Authority, said he welcomes the presence of the canoes.
"We'd rather have the canoes and the kayaks there to give a backdrop," he said. "Ala Wai is just a sterile river if you don't have the canoes there."
A Salt Lake man accused of selling illegal television cable descrambler boxes from his home is free on $20,000 bail on the condition he sell no more of the devices. Man in TV descrambler
case free on bailMichael Van Hohenstein, 42, who appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Francis Yamashita, will have a preliminary hearing Aug. 5 in federal court.
Van Hohenstein is accused of selling the illegal boxes throughout the nation, advertising with a toll-free number.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved $1.6 million to expand the control and prevention of the brown tree snake in Hawaii. Senate committee OKs
money to fight snakeAnother appropriation of $1 million for the construction of the Keeauhou Bird Conservation Center on the Big Island was approved.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffWAIMEA, Hawaii -- A 58-year-old Big Island woman was killed in a three-car accident on the road from Waimea to Kawaihae yesterday, police said. Her name was withheld pending notification of next of kin. Big Island woman killed
in collision near WaimeaPolice said a pickup traveling downhill crossed the center line, sideswiped an oncoming Geo Tracker, then struck an oncoming sedan at 10:24 p.m.
The driver of the sedan was killed. The 16-year-old boy driving the Tracker was not injured.
The 49-year-old Waimea woman driving the pickup was taken to North Hawaii Hospital where she was in satisfactory condition.
The woman was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of liquor and not having no-fault insurance.
This is the 18th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared with 20 at this time last year.
Police raided a Chinatown video store yesterday and arrested four people for drug possession. Four face drug counts
after Chinatown arrestsThe police Downtown Crime Reduction Unit arrested four men at Swing Video at 35 N. Hotel Street.
Some were arrested for outstanding warrants in addition to third and second-degree drug charges, said police Maj. Henry Lau.
Police seized 10 grams of rock cocaine, two packets of crystal methamphetamine, several glass pipes and $765 in cash. Lau said the drugs have a street value of $1,100.
"I think what happened is we've always had a lot of drug arrests in downtown. We're looking at the businesses that attract these activities," Lau said.
Lau said the police have been assisted by community patrols made up of the residents and businesses of Chinatown.
Honolulu police and the FBI are searching for a man who robbed First Hawaiian Bank's Kapiolani branch at 2:40 p.m. yesterday, fleeing on foot. Police, FBI seek suspect
in Kapiolani bank robberyThe FBI said it was the 35th bank robbery this year.
Firefighters yesterday extinguished a Makaha blaze that had been burning for two days. Firefighters extinguish
two-day blaze in MakahaThe fire started shortly after noon on Sunday above Makaha Valley Country Club and burned down the Kamaileunu mountain ridge onto the Waianae side.
Firefighters put out the blaze using helicopters carrying buckets of water. Firefighters said no homes were damaged.
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