Big Isle power firms agree to purchase deal
Hawaii Electric Light Company and Hilo Coast Power Co. have agreed to five-year extension of a Big Island power purchase contract.Hilo Coast will continue to supply Hawaii Electric with 22 megawatts of electricity generated by its power plant at Pepeekeo, according to an announcement yesterday. The amount represents more than 10 percent of the Big Island's current power needs.
However, the extension requires Public Utilities Commission approval.
"We are pleased to have come to an agreement that's fair to our customers and both our companies," said Hawaii Electric President Warren Lee.
Second term granted to Family Court judge
Family Court Judge John Bryant Jr. will continue in his job in the Oahu Circuit.The state Judiciary announced yesterday his petition for retention was granted.
His second six-year term begins Oct. 22 and ends Oct. 21, 2005.
Hirono to lead mission of trade to Philippines
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will lead the state's 16th trade mission to the Philippines Nov. 11-21.The focus will be on businesses interested in importing or exporting goods or professional services, said Bennette Evangelista, president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
Meetings for participants will be arranged in Manila, Subic Bay, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu.
For more information, call Evangelista at 544-0686 or Lito R. Alcantra at 833-0333.
Hawaii Foodbank aims to feed children better
Hawaii Foodbank will observe National Food Bank Week from tomorrow through next Saturday, with "Feeding Children Better" as this year's theme.Working with national organizations, Hawaii Foodbank recently expanded its Ohana Produce Program to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to children in need. It continues to distribute fresh produce at Waianae, Nanakuli and the North Shore.
A new drop-off site has been added at Family Services Center Preschool in Kalihi.
For more information, call 836-3600.
Straub seeks nominees for professional award
Straub Foundation is seeking nominations for the 1999 Guy Champion and John C. Milnor Professional Activities Award.The award is given annually to a physician or health professional who has voluntarily used his or her skills to provide significant community service.
Dr. John Milnor established the Guy Champion Milnor Award in honor of his father. The award was renamed after he died to honor both physicians, who had distinguished medical careers at Straub.
Nominations for the award are due Oct. 22. Nominees will be sent a notification and forms to complete the application.
Contact Straub Foundation, 524-6755, to nominate someone or request an application form.
St. Francis offers free tests for breast cancer
Free breast cancer screenings are available Oct. 18-23 at St. Francis Medical Center to women who meet certain criteria.The screenings -- offered to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- include a clinical breast exam, self-examination instruction and a mammogram.
Appointments are required and will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Women should call the St. Francis Medical Center Institute of Cancer at 547-6870 for an appointment if they are 40 or older, have had no mammogram in the past year, have no breast implants, no history of breast cancer, no current breast problems and aren't pregnant or breast-feeding.
Power companies reach agreement
HILO -- Two Big Island power companies have agreed to extend their agreement five years rather than expand power production.Hawaii Electric Light Co. announced yesterday that it will continue buying 22 megawatts from the Hilo Coast Power Co., which had wanted to increase its capacity to 32 megawatts.
The contract was set to expire at the end of this year. The extension must be approved by the state Public Utilities Commission.
Helco is required by law to buy power from Hilo Coast, if Hilo Coast can produce power at the same or less cost than Helco.
Last year, the Public Utilities Commission ordered Helco to stop using expensive assumptions in negotiating with Hilo Coast.
Hilo Coast President Richard Hill said yesterday that the two companies were still not able to reach agreement on added power after that, but Hilo Coast is satisfied with the arrangement.
Customers warned about e-mail scheme
A fake e-mail message asking for credit card information and personal password data to be sent to an unaffiliated Web site at a different site address brought a warning from Hawaii OnLine to its customers.Hawaii OnLine said the forged e-mail message, sent about 11 p.m. Thursday, claims to be from Aloha.net's billing department. However, the notice did not originate from within Hawaii OnLine, its spokesmen say.
The phony message advised customers their accounts are overdue and directed them to a separate site to update their billing information. Hawaii OnLine said it blocked its users' access to the unaffiliated site yesterday after receiving notice from a customer.
Customers submitting data to the unaffiliated site are advised to notify their credit card company. Customer inquiries may be directed to Hawaii OnLine at 1-888-478-Net9 or support@aloha.net.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Nanakuli man arrested in beating of teen-ager
A 28-year-old Nanakuli man was arrested last night in connection with the beating of a teen-age neighbor, who was found seriously injured inside her home on Thursday.The victim's mother returned to her Helelua Street apartment Thursday night and found her 18-year-old daughter nude, unconscious and with serious head injuries, police said.
The suspect, who was arrested at 9:45 p.m., lives five units away in the same apartment building, according to police arrest records.
He was booked for first-degree assault.
The victim was upgraded to guarded condition yesterday at Queen's Hospital. Her condition today was not being released by hospital officials.
Welder's torch deemed cause of hotel fire
A welder's torch started a fire yesterday at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki that caused an estimated $16,000 damage to structure and contents, says a Fire Department spokesman.Fire Capt. Richard Soo reported that no one was injured in the 10:38 a.m. fire at 100 Holomoana St.
Hotel officials followed proper safety practices by ordering the twin-tower hotel to be evacuated three minutes after confirming there was a fire alarm, the fire captain added.
The hotel, with 550 rooms, was at 100 percent capacity, so a large crowd was outside the structure when the first fire units arrived, Soo said.
The third-floor fire started in the Hakone Restaurant kitchen, which is being renovated.
Investigators determined the fire was started by welders working on a kitchen duct, Soo said.
Firefighters had the blaze under control at 11:02 a.m.
People were allowed to return to the Ewa tower at 11:45 a.m., but those in the Diamond Head tower did not get back in until 12:45 p.m.
Knife-point robbery suspect arrested
Police yesterday arrested a man for allegedly robbing four people at knife-point last night at a Wahiawa bus stop.A man and three women were waiting at the bus stop on Kamehameha Highway and Olive Avenue when they were approached by the suspect at 10:26 p.m., police said.
The suspect held a knife to the man's throat and demanded money.
He then grabbed the man's backpack and a necklace from one of the women and ran away.
Police located the man a short time later and arrested him for first-degree robbery.
Pakalolo eradicators discover booby trap
HILO -- Police said they discovered booby traps made of sharpened sticks during a marijuana eradication operation this week.The sticks, designed to injure officers rappelling from helicopters, were discovered Wednesday in the Saddle Road area but were not disclosed by police until yesterday.
Police seized 18,032 marijuana plants in the four-day operation in the Puna, North and South Hilo, and Hamakua districts.
