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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved more than $6 million to repair a former sugar cane irrigation system and alleviate Hamakua water shortages, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye says. Federal funds will help supply
Hamakua farmers with waterThe project will provide a stable, adequate and affordable supply of water to Hamakua's farmers, who grow products such as taro, papaya, coffee and asparagus.
"Federal funding of this project could set an important precedent for Hawaii's other rapidly deteriorating irrigation systems that were formerly maintained by sugar cane plantations," Inouye said.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service agreed to contribute funds toward the Lower Hamakua Ditch Watershed Project.
The project, which will be administered by the state, will cost approximately $10 million.
The Hamakua water system has degenerated since the Hamakua Sugar Co. closed more than seven years ago, Inouye said.
"Much-needed water has not reached Hamakua's growers. Funding for this project will enable the state to repair and maintain the system," he added.
Preservation panel proposed for city
Councilman Mufi Hannemann is pushing for a city historic preservation commission to prevent mishandling of ancestral bones unearthed in construction projects."Establishing a commission is a small price to pay to be culturally sensitive and politically correct," Hannemann said.
The Board of Water Supply halted a Waikiki beach expansion project after the bones of 37 remains were dug up under Kalakaua Avenue.
A state office said the city has violated state laws relating to Hawaiian burial sites at six construction sites over the past 10 months, Hannemann noted.
The councilman said he has received a number of complaints regarding the bones that were dug up, especially from descendants.
"Put yourself in their shoes. It those were your ancestors, you'd feel terrible," he said.
The proposed commission would have nine members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council. It would include volunteer experts in Hawaiian culture.
The commission would review all city projects and give officials warning of possible remains in the area. It would work with a similar state group.
Colorectal cancer screenings offered
Screenings for colorectal cancer, affecting the colon (the large bowel or intestine) and the rectum, are being offered this month by the Queen's Medical Center.People are advised to talk to their physician about the risk of colorectal cancer. If a screening is recommended, they may call the Queen's Referral Line at 537-7117 for an appointment with the Queen's Colon Cancer Screening Program.
Screenings are performed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Queen Emma Outpatient Center.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
While this is one of the most preventable types of cancers, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. for men and women combined, according to the American Cancer Society. About 130,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed annually.
For more information, call the Queen's Cancer Institute at 537-7353.
Correction
A homecoming celebration for the Hokule'a will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow at Kualoa Beach Park, not today, as reported in yesterday's editions.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Gunshots rouse Halawa; police collect weapon
Police are investigating several gunshots fired at a party at a Halawa home early this morning.The incident started after a scuffle broke out at an Iwaiwa Street home, police said.
Some of the people left the home after the incident, but they returned about 12:20 a.m. and got into another altercation, according to police.
One of males fired at least seven 9 mm rounds into the air and fled the area, police said.
Another man then fired a .22-caliber handgun into the air and fled. The handgun was recovered by police when the man dropped it.
No arrests or injuries were reported.
Man spills chlorine, makes explosive mistake
A Lanikai man suffered skin and lung injuries from a chlorine spill in front of his house last night.The resident, who lives on Mokulua Drive, accidentally spilled a small pile of granulated chlorine on his lawn and the street and tried to wash it away with water at 7:52 a.m., fire officials said.
The water and dry chlorine reacted to cause several small explosions, powerful enough to shake a neighbor's window.
The man suffered skin and lung irritation and was taken to Castle Hospital for treatment.
The fire hazardous materials team worked for four hours at the home to clean up the spill.
19-year-old sought in Ewa 'drive-by' shooting
Police are searching for a 19-year-old man in connection with a "drive-by" shooting yesterday in Ewa Beach.The suspect was a passenger in a car and fired a handgun at another car containing two women and a man near Fort Weaver Road and Ewa Beach Road at 12:15 a.m., police said.
The victims were able to identify the alleged shooter, who is still at large as of this morning, police said.
The car he was in was located nearby and impounded.
Big Island teen suffers fatal injuries in crash
KAILUA-KONA -- An 18-year-old high school student died yesterday when his car hit the rear of a dump truck, police said.The victim, who police said was trying to pass another vehicle, was identified as Alex Vancil of Kailua-Kona. He died at 2 p.m. at Kona Hospital following the 8 a.m. accident.
Vancil had attempted to pass a vehicle in front of him by speeding up and moving to an outside lane when he hit the slow-moving truck in the outer lane, police said.
The driver of the truck, Robert Murphy, 47, of Captain Cook, was not injured.
Vancil's death was the seventh of the year on the Big Island, compared to two at the same time last year.
Reward offered on robber wielding vehicle 'club'
CrimeStoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information on the man who slugged a 60-year-old woman at the Pali Shopping Center parking lot Dec. 27.
The woman was leaning into her parked car to change her grandchild's diaper when the robber struck her from behind with a "club" vehicle-locking device.
The attacker took her purse and escaped on foot. He was chased by a witness who retrieved the discarded purse and weapon two blocks away.
The suspect is a Filipino/Hawaiian man in his early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds.
He had thick, straight black hair and a mustache.
