Census 2000 will kick off in Hawaii Friday with an open house and ceremony at the local Census Bureau office. Census 2000 launches
with open house FridayLt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, and census officials will speak at the ceremony.
"The goal in Census 2000 is to take the most accurate and cost-effective census possible," said Robert Asato, local census office manager.
"The importance of a complete and accurate census count cannot be overstated."
The U.S. Census, taken every 10 years since 1790, is conducted by mailing questionnaires to all residential addresses in the nation. They are due back by April 1.
They can be requested in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog by mailing back an advance letter that will arrive in early March.
Census figures are used to reapportion congressional and state legislative districts.
The local census office is at 220 S. King St., Suite 410. The program starts at 11 a.m.
Taking Notice
Honors earned
Diane Pang, librarian at Aliiolani Elementary School, has received the 1999 Progressive School Library Media Award, sponsored by the Winnebago Software Company and the Hawaii Association of School Librarians (HASL). She received $400 to be used toward any library product she chooses.
Also, Carolyn Kirio, librarian at Waianae High, received HASL's Golden Key award. She is vice president and president on the association's board.
Dr. Raelene Chock, principal of Kaimuki High, received the administrator award for her strong support of library programs.
Representing Hawaii
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police seek man wanted in kidnapping, van theft
Police are seeking a 30-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped a female acquaintance and stole her blue 1997 van last night.The van's license number is GSB 316, police said.
The woman, 35, reported the incident to police at 12:10 a.m. from Alewa Heights after jumping out of the van. She said the man, a family friend and former co-worker, called at about 11:15 p.m. and asked her to pick him up at his Wong Lane residence in Kalihi.
The man, who appeared to be intoxicated, threatened her with a knife and forced her to drive to a park on Alewa Heights. The woman fled from the van to a nearby house and called police.
Police release suspects in New Year's killing
Three men arrested for questioning about a fatal New Year's Eve shooting in Kapalama have been released by police pending further investigation.Two of the three men arrested are 23 years old; the third is 18.
Police believe the 10:15 p.m. shooting at North King Street and Wolter Lane is related to a fight between members of rival gangs.
A man, 22, died after being shot in the head during a reported confrontation with a group of 10 or more men. His identify has not been released.
Another man, 24, who was shot in the stomach, is in critical condition at Queen's Hospital.
Solo crash on H-1 kills Ewa Beach man, 25
A 25-year-old Ewa Beach man was killed yesterday in an early-morning crash on the westbound on-ramp to the H-1 freeway near Waihona Street in Pearl City.The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 4 a.m. The car reportedly spun out of control, hit a guardrail and overturned, ejecting the driver, who was alone.
Car strikes van on H-1; two remain hospitalized
Five people were injured yesterday when a car collided with a van in the westbound lanes of the H-1 freeway about 900 feet east of Kaimakani Street in Pearl City.The 4:47 p.m. incident closed westbound lanes of the H-3 freeway for several hours.
Police investigators said the car, driven by a 16-year-old boy, spun out of control, crossed three lanes, collided with the van, overturned and skidded on its roof.
The car's driver and two passengers, ages 16 and 15, along with the van's driver, a 52-year-old man, and his female passenger, 50, were taken to Queen's Hospital.
The van's driver and the car's 16-year-old passenger are listed in fair condition. The other three were treated and released.
