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The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii will have a public reception for U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater at the Pacific Club from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Transportation secretary to visit
The reception will provide an opportunity to show support for and raise concerns about highways, airlines, airports, shipping, maritime facilities and tourism.
Seats are $50 per person. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday. No refunds or cancelations will be allowed. The club is at 1451 Queen Emma St.
For more information, call 545-4329.
Pre-court holding cells to be built on Big Isle
HILO -- Hawaii County police hope to have a new 18-cell holding area for pre-court suspects by the summer of 2001, relieving a "very critical" situation, Maj. Morton Carter said.The Hawaii County Council last week approved a funding mechanism for the project. Preparation of the site next to the police station is expected to start next month, with construction beginning in the summer.
The Hilo police station now has five holding cells for suspects awaiting court action.
Especially on three-day weekends, the facility is packed with as many as 24 people, some sleeping on mattresses in the hallway in front of the cells, Carter said.
Roadwork tomorrow to shut Waialae ramp
The H-1 Waialae Ewa-bound onramp will be closed tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for roadwork.The state Department of Transportation advises motorists to take an alternate route.
Foundation is seeking applications for grants
The Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation is accepting applications for 1999 grant requests from organizations and projects that would improve the legal status of women and children. The deadline for applications is March 14.Grant criteria and application forms are available by mail or personal pick-up. For further information, contact Bernice Littman at 521-9219.
North Hawaii hospital getting $11,000 gift
KOHALA -- South Kohala resident Dr. James Malernee and officials of Mauna Lani Resort will present an $11,000 check to the North Hawaii Community Hospital today, the result of a winning golf bid by Malernee.The founder of a New York business research company, Malernee was the winner of a chance to play golf with celebrity golfers during the 2000 Senior Skins Game tournament Jan. 29-30. He ended up being a partner of Arnold Palmer, while his bid money will end up benefiting the hospital.
Barbers Point harbor work to start in April
Pier P-5 at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor will be extended 305 feet under a $4.7 million state contract.Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. has received the contract for the extension and related utility improvements.
The contract also provides for grading and paving for construction of a new storage yard.
Work will start in April.
Deadline now May 15 for 'alala release ideas
HILO -- State and federal officials are extending time for comment on a proposal to release critically endangered Hawaiian crows, also known as 'alala, in five new areas.The comment period was to have closed last Monday, but because only a few comments were received, a new deadline of May 15 was set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Only three 'alala hatched in the wild remain. An 'alala recovery program has been releasing birds hatched in captivity at McCandless Ranch in South Kona, but those birds have been dying.
Five new sites have been proposed for release, two in Kona, one in Ka'u and two near Hilo. All have advantages and disadvantages which are discussed in an environmental assessment, available for viewing at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/ or obtained from U.S. Fish and Wildlife at (808) 541-3441.
Corrections
The Nasdaq composite index has gained more than 8 percent so far in 2000. A report in Hawaii Inc. Friday had incorrect information.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Armed robber holds up Pearl City 7-Eleven
A man armed with a handgun, suspected of robbing a Waipahu convenience store yesterday, struck again early this morning.The 7-Eleven Store at 897 Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash at 3 a.m.
The suspect, who is about 5-foot-1 and in his mid-20s, fits the description of a man who robbed the Island Mini Mart at 94-767 Farrington Highway in Waipahu yesterday at 5:30 p.m.
The same man may also be responsible for Friday's 3:18 a.m. robbery of the Island Mini Mart store at 95-280 Kipapa Drive in Mililani. Only cigarettes were taken in that holdup.
Thwarted S&L robbery suspect turns himself in
The suspect in Friday's International Savings & Loan robbery in Kapahulu surrendered to police yesterday on the advice of family members after he told them about the incident.The man, 33, passed a demand note to the teller but left the bank empty-handed.
Fire at Waipahu home leaves three homeless
Fire gutted a two-story Waipahu home yesterday, causing $300,000 estimated damage and leaving three people without shelter.An overheated coffee pot appeared to be the cause of the fire, which broke out at about 12:50 p.m. at 94-415 Hiahia Loop, fire officials said.
No one was home and the fire caused no injuries. The American Red Cross was to provide temporary shelter for an elderly woman and her adult son and daughter who lived at the home.
Tire blown on takeoff; no passengers injured
An American Airlines plane bound for San Francisco blew a right rear tire on takeoff yesterday and returned to Honolulu for repairs, airport officials said.None of the 291 passengers on Flight 28 were injured during the 2:45 p.m. takeoff. The plane returned to Honolulu at about 3:15 p.m. for repairs and remained grounded at the airport last night. The passengers were offered flights on other airlines.
Rescuers save hiker stranded in Manoa
A man calling for help on the Manoa Falls trail attracted the attention of other hikers who used a cellular phone to call the Fire Department.Fire Department rescuers hiked in to the trail and located a stranded 23-year-old hiker at about 12:30 p.m. He had apparently wandered off the trail and was trapped on a cliff.
Rescuers rappelled to the hiker and brought him to safety.
Japanese boogie-boarder saved off Laniakea Beach
City lifeguards and a Fire Department crew rescued a boogie-boarder who got into trouble about 100 yards offshore of Laniakea Beach just after 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon.The Fire Department said the 35-year-old Japanese national ventured into the 8- to 12-foot surf without fins.
Earlier in the day, the Fire Department responded to a report of two other swimmers in distress, but local surfers had already brought the men to shore. One of the swimmers was not wearing fins.
Fishing boat removed from Kewalo Basin reef
A salvage company pulled a commercial fishing boat off the reef near the entrance to Kewalo Basin at 3:20 a.m. yesterday.No pollution was observed, and the 40-foot vessel was not taking on water, the Coast Guard reported. Some 300 gallons of diesel fuel were removed from the Shaman II Saturday.
The fishing boat had been caught on the reef since Friday night.
