Mayor sees Koko Head as educational tour site
Mayor Jeremy Harris hopes to put up a "world-class nature learning center" in East Honolulu encompassing Hanauma Bay and Koko Head Crater using funds from the Hanauma Bay special fund.The proposal hopes to reduce foot traffic at the popular Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and lure new visitors to underutilized Koko Head Regional Park, about a half-mile inland.
Existing parking at Hanauma Bay would be replaced with native Hawaiian landscaping. Hanauma visitors would need to park at the base of Koko Head -- at the former Koko Head Job Corps Center site, said Ben Lee, Harris' chief of staff.
A shuttle would take motorists between the parking lot and the bay and a proposed Hanauma educational facility. Small groups would then be led on snorkeling or geological tours, Lee said.
"What we envision is, most of the people visiting the bay would be with guided tours," he said.
At the old Job Corps site, visitors would see exhibits on volcanoes and Hawaii's natural history. They could also choose to ride a restored cable car to the top of Koko Head, a device similar to one the military used earlier this century for observation.
Visitors could also choose to take guided horseback tours of the Koko Hea Administration officials said they would have cost figures for the project in the coming weeks.
Harris said the University of Hawaii's Sea Grants and Friends of Hanauma Bay would play key roles in setting up and running educational tours of Hanauma and Koko Head.
Big Islanders warned of Nigerian oil scam
HILO -- Police are warning Big Islanders of a scam apparently originating in Lagos, Nigeria, in which residents are asked to form a business relationship with officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. and the Nigerian Federal Contracting Board.Letters supposedly from those officials ask residents to provide their bank account number and the telephone, telex and fax numbers of their bank, copies of business letterhead paper and blank invoices.
Three men face cocaine conspiracy charges
William T. Lee, Devon L. Caldwell and Daniel J. Hernandez were charged yesterday for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine.According to an affidavit filed by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lee sold about 2 ounces of crack cocaine on Monday to an undercover police officer for $2,300, the affidavit said.
Lee allegedly paid Caldwell $2,000 for the 2 ounces of cocaine prior to his arrest, and Caldwell paid Hernandez $1,700 yesterday for the cocaine he received to sell to Lee, the affidavit said.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffBurglary victim catches neighbor in his home
Police this morning arrested a Mililani man for allegedly breaking into his neighbor's home.The victim told detectives his Ulukoa Street home was burglarized on several occasions, police said. At 12:30 a.m., the victim awoke to noises and reportedly found his neighbor in his bedroom.
The victim detained the suspect until police arrived.
Maui police to display hundreds of stolen items
WAILUKU -- Maui police plan to display $100,000 worth of stolen items seized in an investigation, in an effort to have victims identify and recover their belongings.The thefts went as far back as 1994.
Hundreds of items -- mostly smaller power tools, hand tools, stereos, cameras, and video cameras -- will be displayed at the Lahaina police station from 9 to 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Large industrial tools, mopeds and bicycles will displayed from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Wailuku police station.
Police arrest woman for threatening spouse
Police yesterday arrested an Ewa Beach woman for allegedly threatening her husband with a knife.The couple, of Pohakupuna Road, got into an argument at 3:15 p.m., police said.
When the husband ordered his wife to move out of the house, she apparently slapped and bit him, police said. She then chased him with a 12-inch knife.
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