StarBulletin.com

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POSTED: Saturday, July 04, 2009

Celebrating the Fourth!

Fireworks displays will be held at these places:

» Kailua Beach Park, 8 p.m.

» Maili Beach Park, 8 p.m.

» Maunalua Bay (Hawaii Kai), 8 p.m.

» Marriot Ihilani Resort & Spa, 8 p.m.

» Ala Moana Beach, 8:30 p.m.

» Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii, 8:30 p.m.

» Hickam Air Force Base, 8:30 p.m.

» Turtle Bay Resort, 9 p.m.

» Pearl Harbor, 9 p.m.

» Schofield Barracks, 9 p.m.

Source: Honolulu Fire Department

Urban Honolulu population rises

The population of urban Honolulu increased slightly to 374,676 at this time last year, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau estimate.

The Census Bureau divides Honolulu into the area between Makapuu to Red Hill and the rest of Oahu when comparing Honolulu's population with other incorporated cities.

The Honolulu Census Data Place, basically the 968 ZIP code area, ranks 47th in population when compared with other cities, somewhere between Colorado Springs, Colo., and Arlington, Texas.

If the entire City and County of Honolulu population of 905,034 were included, Honolulu would be 12th in population and fall between the cities of Detroit (912,062) and San Francisco (808,976).

The Honolulu Census Data Place has grown only 0.8 percent since the 2000 census, while the rest of Oahu saw a 5.1 percent population increase.

Crews fixing broken Aiea water main

Honolulu Board of Water Supply crews were repairing an 8-inch water main break yesterday on Moanalua Road in Aiea that left 29 homes and the Aiea Library without water into last night.

The break was reported at 2:30 a.m., and a water wagon was sent to 99-062 Moanalua Road.

The repairs closed one lane of traffic on Moanalua Road. Crews attempted to restore water service at 4 p.m., but another leak was detected in the same area.

Former UH star Chang, 27, arrested

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Former University of Hawaii quarterback Tim Chang, college football's most prolific bomber, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of throwing a woman's camera onto a roof, police said.

Police arrested Chang, 27, at his Mililani home on suspicion of second-degree robbery at 7:35 a.m. and released him pending investigation.

According to a police report, Chang saw a 23-year-old woman videotaping a large fight in Pearlridge last month and asked her to stop.

A struggle ensued, and Chang grabbed the camera from the woman's wrist, tossing it onto the roof of a building, police said. Police identified Chang as the suspect.

Chang, the NCAA's all-time leading passer, played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League the past two years.

He could not be reached for comment. Chang had brief stints with the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. He told the Star-Bulletin in May that he had finished playing pro ball and was returning to UH to finish his degree.

Round Top and Waahila closing early

Puu Ualakaa State Park (Round Top) and Waahila Ridge State Park, above Saint Louis Heights, will close early at 4 p.m. today, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said.

“;We are closing these parks early to discourage use of fireworks, which is prohibited, and to protect the public and natural resources there,”; said DLNR Chairwoman Laura Thielen.

Officials said that the park will resume normal hours tomorrow.

Supreme Court to hear Kauai case

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a case over whether the Kauai County Council should have to reveal what it talked about behind closed doors.

The case started with a 2005 Kauai Council meeting that went into executive session. Those fighting to have the minutes of the meeting revealed believe the discussion involved soon-to-be-removed Police Chief K.C. Lum.

The state Office of Information Practices initially decided that the Council should give the public access to the minutes.

But Kauai Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe and the Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the county.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Aug. 10.