Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

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Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, January 17, 2000

Mentor Konishiki sends 35 kids on Japan visit
A group of 35 sixth-graders will be visiting Japan from Wednesday through Tuesday in the third cultural exchange trip sponsored by the Hawaii-born sumo wrestler, Konishiki.
The students were chosen based on essays they wrote, teacher recommendations and grades. They will enjoy cultural and educational highlights, including the bullet train, skiing and mochi-pounding. They will visit Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Temple, Sega World and Ueno Zoo.
Konishiki mentors the children on reaching career goals, staying off drugs and succeeding in school. For their part, the children perform hula and sing during their stay.

Mokapu H-3 on-ramp to get traffic lights
Traffic signals on Mokapu Saddle Road at the H-3 on-ramp will be installed under a $1.2-million state contract given to Standard Electric Inc.
Work includes installing a new signal system, rigid barrier, impact attenuator, drainage system, pavement marking, striping and signing.
Work should start in March.

Mamala waste water public meetings set
Public informational meetings have been set on wastewater improvements planned for the next 20 years that will affect the West Mamala Bay Sewerage District.
An increase in waste-water flow from the sewerage district -- including communities from Red Hill to West Beach and Mililani -- has spurred the city's facilities plan.
The meetings will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pearl Ridge Elementary School Cafeteria, and from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Ewa Elementary School Cafeteria.

Corrections

An article Friday about the arrest of a serviceman on suspicion of attempted rape incorrectly called the island of Okinawa a city.

Taking Notice

Grants and donations
The Kaimuki Public Library has received a $1,300 grant from the Ifuku Foundation, a local nonprofit organization operated by owners of the Rainbow Drive-In. The money will be used to replace a portion of the library's microfilm collection of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser.
Goodwill Industries of Hawaii has received $18,000 from the McInerny Foundation through Pacific Century Trust. The grant will be put toward the acquisition of a copier to produce training and marketing material .
Palolo Chinese Home, the largest residential care center for elders, has received $10,000 grants from the McInerny Foundation and the May Templeton Hopper Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation.
The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii has received over $90,000 from its Corporate Council for the Environment, a coalition of 80 local businesses committed to protecting Hawaii's natural heritage. Contributing $10,000 or more were Alexander and Baldwin Foundation, Bank of Hawaii, the Endangered Species Store, the Estate of James Campbell, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiian Electric Co., Molokai Ranch Ltd., Outrigger Hotels Hawaii and Tesoro Hawaii Corp.
Employees of GTE Directories have contributed $2,500 and boxes of educational materials to H.U.G.S. (Help, Understanding and Group Support), a nonprofit agency that helps children who are medically fragile.

Scholastic honors
Zachary Stone of Punahou was one of only 50 high school students in the nation selected to participate in the 16th annual Research Science Institute program. The six-week workshop, sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was for the top 1 percent of math and science students in the United States and other countries.
The Hawaii Vocational Association and the Vocational Education Coordinating Advisory Council have given awards to these outstanding educators for 1999: Lorna Almojuela, Farrington High School; Margaret Ohara, Leilehua; Leilehua Vocational Technology Department; Penelope Ostapiej, Aaron Koseki, Kapiolani Community College; KCC Paralegal Program; Servco Pacific-Toyota.
Association scholarships went to Southala Chanthalangsy of Waipahu High and Brenda Hidrovo of Honolulu Community College. The Sharon Gau Memorial Scholarship went to Nadine Solitorio of Maui Community College. The Hawaii Business Education Association Scholarship was awarded to Brian Yoshikawa.
The Pearl Harbor Shipyards Apprenticeship Program Awards were presented to Jayson Ligsay, Raymond Domingo and Dennis Huddy. Hawaii Job Corps Center Awards went to Frank Sardinha and Robert Tom.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Purse-snatching suspects nabbed with ex-cop's help
An off-duty state public safety officer witnessed a purse-snatching yesterday at Ala Moana Center and assisted police in apprehending two suspects in Chinatown.
The man, a former police officer who was not identified by police, was in his car when he witnessed the alleged 10:30 a.m. purse-snatching at a bus stop at the shopping center.
A 72-year-old visitor from Japan later told police she was waiting at the bus stop when a man pushed her down, grabbed her shoulder bag and fled to a waiting car.
The witness, who reported the incident to police, followed the vehicle, which the suspects abandoned nearby. The suspects then caught a taxi to Chinatown.
The witness followed the cab and advised police where the suspects were. Charges are pending against two men, ages 40 and 39, arrested in the purse-snatching incident.

Waialae man arrested in Kaimuki burglaries
Police have arrested a 24-year-old Waialae man, identified as a suspect in two separate holiday burglaries in Kaimuki by fingerprints recovered at the scene.
More than one suspect was involved in the burglaries over the Christmas and New Year's weekends at a third-floor electronics engineering firm's office on 10th Avenue and a deli sandwich shop on 11th Avenue.
Seven computers and a compact disc player were stolen from the electronics firm, while a security camera, monitor, telephone ID caller box and assorted deli meats were taken from the sandwich shop.

Short in extension cord blamed for Palama fire
An electrical shortage in an extension cord caused the fire at 1017-A Lowell Place in Palama Saturday night, according to fire investigators.
The fire began around 9 p.m. in the three-bedroom, wood-frame home. A 63-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman escaped uninjured.
Investigators returned to the burned house yesterday morning and determined that the fire began in a rear storeroom. Officials estimated damage of $100,000 to the building and contents.