Aquarium wins $112,500 grant
The Waikiki Aquarium and Hawaii Maritime Center will receive federal grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, says U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink.A two-year general operating support grant totaling $112,500 will be given to the Waikiki Aquarium.
This grant rewards the best in museum practices with unrestricted funds for ongoing institutional activities such as education services, collections care, fund-raising and exhibit development.
Hawaii Maritime Center will receive a conservation assessment program grant of $2,940 to hire a conservator to evaluate the condition of the center's collections and to help museum staff set conservation goals for more effective collections management.
"I am very proud of the Waikiki Aquarium and the Hawaii Maritime Center on earning this national recognition and support. Congratulations are due to the management, boards and staff of both of these fine organizations," Mink said.
Agency hired to recover taxes owed
Hawaii has hired a California collection company to track down 1,600 delinquent tax payers with out-of-state addresses who owe the state over $2 million. And the state doesn't plan to stop there.The 12-month contract to Payco-General American Credits of San Ramon, Calif., gives a percentage of collected taxes to the firm; that's the total cost the state pays for the contract. The percentage ranges from 16.5 percent to 28 percent, depending on the value of the account, said a state Tax Department spokesman.
In December, the department will issue a new bid to collect on 10,000 more delinquent accounts. That would be the state's fifth contract to collect overdue taxes.
"This is part of the governor's efforts to privatize appropriate government functions that can help improve efficiency and increase revenues," said Tax Director Ray Kamikawa. "The hiring of these private collection agencies has allowed department personnel to concentrate on larger, more difficult accounts."
Brother is indicted in death of his sister
A state grand jury indicted Herbert Cruz yesterday for second-degree murder in connection with the death of his sister.Cruz, 25, is accused of stabbing to death Lisa Cruz, 30. The victim was found bleeding to death Aug. 30 from multiple wounds outside the Kaneaki Street house she shared with her brother, police said. She died that night at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.
Neighbors said a motorcycle accident a few years ago affected the behavior of Herbert Cruz. A judge last week ordered him to undergo a mental evaluation to see if he was fit to proceed.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Fire Department personnel remove the body of Maili resident
Thomas Oshige, found floating in waters off Maili Beach Park
yesterday. Police have classified the case as an unattended death.
Elderly man's body found floating off Maili
The body of an 85-year-old man was found floating off Maili Beach yesterday.Homicide detectives said there were no visible signs of foul play and have classified the case as an unattended death.
The man was identified as Thomas Oshige of Maili.
Harold Villiarimo said he was walking on the beach shortly after noon yesterday when he noticed something floating in the water about 10 feet from shore.
Dudley Rezentes, who was fishing a few feet away, also said he saw "something bobbing up and down . . . with a T-shirt over his head."
The two flagged a police officer.
Oshige was reported missing by his family on Monday morning, police said. He was last seen walking out of his home then at about 4 a.m.
Accident drivers have another confrontation
A traffic accident may have caused a case of delayed "road rage."Kailua police said a male suspect, 20, and another 20-year-old man got into the accident on Monday.
At the time, the suspect challenged the other man to a fight if he ever saw him again.
Shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, the two happened to meet at a service station on Oneawa Street. Police said the victim asked the suspect if he still wanted to fight.
The suspect allegedly pulled out a butterfly knife and asked if the victim wanted to be stabbed.
Someone at the service station called police.
Police arrested the suspect on Uluniu Street a short time later and confiscated the knife. He faces terroristic threatening charges.
Big Isle man, 83, killed crossing Belt Road
HILO -- An 83-year-old man died early yesterday while trying to walk across Hawaii Belt Road in Pepeekeo, 8 miles north of Hilo.Chujin Miyashiro of Pepeeko was struck by a pickup truck driven by Kenneth C. Bugado Sr., 54, of Ookala, they said. Miyashiro died at the scene.
Neither speeding nor alcohol were factors in the accident, but conditions in the area were dark at the time of the 5:45 a.m. accident, according to police.
The fatality was the 28th of the year on the Big Island, compared to 23 at the same time last year.
Robber flees with cash from Ward Centre store
Police are looking for a man who robbed a Ward Centre apparel store yesterday.The man is described as possibly homeless, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 180 pounds, in his 30s, with black crew cut hair and a white tank top.
The man passed a note at the Allure store, demanding money and stating he had a gun. He took cash and fled.
Man with bogus bills arrested by police
Police yesterday arrested a man who allegedly passed three counterfeit $20 bills.The suspect, 27, attempted to pass the fake bills at Hawaiian Brian's Billiards on Kapiolani Boulevard at 9 a.m., police said.
He was booked for first-degree forgery and questioned by Secret Service agents. He was released pending further investigation.
In other news...
A man killed Monday in a three-car pileup near Haleiwa has been identified as Quitmon Burch, 36.
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