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Navy cited in breach of hazardous-waste rules
The state Department of Health has cited the Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai for what it says are violations of the state hazardous waste and used-oil rules.The Health Department filed a complaint and compliance order and proposes a civil penalty of $40,100.
It charges the Navy with transporting hazardous waste generated from its off-site locations at Port Allen and Kokee to the Kekaha facility, transporting used oil without a permit and processing used oil without a permit.
The Health Department ordered the facility to pay the fine and comply with state hazardous waste and used-oil rules.
Waipahu Safeway closing end of month
Safeway is closing its Waipahu store at the end of the month, the only outlet the chain has closed in Hawaii since coming to the state 40 years ago.The closing will leave Safeway with 18 other locations in the islands, General Manager John Obery said yesterday.
He would not comment on why the company is closing the Waipahu store, but said no other closures are planned.
Safeway will find jobs at other stores for the 70 employees in Waipahu, he said. Safeway employs a total of 2,000 people statewide.
The California-based company owns 3.38 acres under the 41,376-square-foot Waipahu outlet. Obery declined to comment on what would happen with the land.
Get your fresh ahi here
Bank of Orient to shut Kaneohe branch
Bank of the Orient, which took over the troubled Bank of Honolulu last month, has announced its Kaneohe branch will close Dec. 19.The closing will not affect customers' access to their accounts or use of their ATM cards, Bank of the Orient said.
Accounts will be transferred to downtown, Kapiolani or Manoa branches, depending upon customer preference. Accounts will be accessible the following day, Dec. 20.
Kaneohe branch employees will be transferred to the other branches, the bank said. Kaneohe customers with safe deposit boxes are encouraged to arrange for their transfer no later than Dec. 19.
Bank of the Orient purchased federally insured deposits and certain loans of Bank of Honolulu on Oct. 13.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
4 p.m. tomorrow, Civic Center: Mothers Against Drunk Driving's 15th Annual MADD Dash, Red Ribbon Campaign kickoff. Meet at the Skygate Sculpture, corner of King and Alapai streets. For information, call 532-6232.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Two H-1 accidents send 3 women, 3 men to hospital
Honolulu police were investigating two major traffic accidents on the H-1 freeway this morning in Pearl City and Waipahu.A crash beneath the Kaonohi Street overpass at 4:45 a.m. sent two people to the hospital.
Police said a van with a flat tire was on the right shoulder of the Ewa-bound lane of the H-1 Freeway when a vehicle struck the van from behind.
A 24-year-old man was in critical condition, and a 20-year-old man was in fair condition at Queen's Medical Center this morning.
The other accident involving multiple vehicles occurred on the H-1 near the Kamehameha overpass in Waipahu. Four people were seriously injured, and the accident forced the closure of the town-bound lanes.
The victims, three women and a man in their 40s, were taken to St. Francis West Medical Center at 8:30 a.m. where they were reported in guarded condition.
Police also closed the Farrington Highway on-ramp and the Kamehameha on-ramp in the town direction and part of Kamehameha Highway in the Ewa direction.
Money collection in teen deaths not authorized
Campbell High School officials are looking into reports that a group of teens may be exploiting the deaths of two students to collect money.Albert Torres, 17, and Reginald Castillo, 16, died in a car crash Wednesday near Kipapa Gulch.
Neither the Department of Education nor the principal of Campbell High School have been approached to endorse the collection of money for the victims.
Man accused of trying to run over shop owner
A 41-year-old man has been arrested on charges of attempting to run over a Kalihi shop owner, police said.The suspect, who was known to the victim, approached the driveway at 1932 Democrat St. at about 5:45 p.m. yesterday.
Told to leave, he drove away and then reversed at high speed toward the 43-year-old owner, police said.
The suspect yelled, "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to run you over," according to a police report..
When the man jumped out of the way, the suspect allegedly tried again to run the victim over.
Robber threatens to use bomb at Kona bank
KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- A man in his 20s claiming to have a bomb in his backpack robbed the Kealakekua, Kona, branch of American Savings Bank of an undisclosed amount of cash yesterday, police said.The robber entered the bank about 11 a.m., police said. He threatened employees with the unseen bomb, took cash, and fled on foot.
No injuries were reported.
The suspect was described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 150 pounds, slim, with a light tan complexion. He was wearing a light-colored baseball cap over a reddish bandanna that covered his head, sunglasses, and dark T-shirt and pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call Big Island police at 326-4230 .
Police seek suspect in KCC student robbery
Police are looking for a suspect in the robbery of a Kapiolani Community College student on campus yesterday.The suspect approached the victim with a screwdriver and stole money and jewelry at about 9:30 a.m., police said.
Autopsy set for surfer found off Makapuu
An autopsy will be performed Monday on a 21-year-old surfer from Kailua who apparently drowned off Makapuu Beach yesterday.At about 8:45 a.m., a friend saw the victim underwater. He was brought to shore and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was attempted.
The victim was taken to Castle Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 10:09 a.m.
Police reported the victim had a history of seizures.
