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Dependability, resourcefulness and a good attitude combined with his custodial skills earned Iona Iona Jr. the 2000 President's Award for Excellence in Building and Grounds Maintenance. Iona, a custodian at the University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus for two years, was honored and awarded with a $1,000 check in an awards ceremony yesterday at the Manoa campus. UH-West Oahu custodian
receives Award for Excellence"He gives more than 100 percent of himself in this job," says Phyllis Tsutsui, acting dean of student services.
Iona consistently goes beyond the call of his normal duties to maintain the campus, university officials said, using his skills as a plumber, carpenter, electrician and groundskeeper.
Four other finalists for the award also were honored yesterday: Michael Dang, Kapiolani Community College; Hatsuko Kaulukou, Manoa campus; Jae Han, Leeward Community College; Xavier "Frank" Chang, Windward Community College.
Off-duty DUI cop did not have to post bail
An off-duty police officer arrested last week for drunken driving did not have to post bail and was released on his own recognizance, but the police chief says he was not given special treatment."We've done that before with other citizens," police Chief Lee Donohue said today.
Officer Celso Bautista was involved in a Dec. 11 accident in Village Park in which no one was injured.
Donohue said Bautista did not pose a flight risk. The chief said that bail merely ensures the arrested person appears in court. He said, however, that relatively few people arrested are released on their own recognizance.
Donohue said that routinely on weekends when the holding cells are filled, judges will also release arrested persons on their own recognizance.
Bank says Lindseys owe over $959,000
The Bank of Hawaii has filed a foreclosure suit against former Kamehameha Schools trustee Lokelani Lindsey, saying she and her husband owe more than $959,000.In a suit filed in state Circuit Court on Monday, the bank said the Lindseys defaulted on two promissory notes totaling $815,000. The bank also said that Lokelani Lindsey failed to make $5,638 in payments on her overdraft protection plan for her checking account.
William McCorriston, one of Lindsey's attorneys, could not be reached for immediate comment.
The foreclosure suit is the latest financial setback for Lindsey, who was removed from her $1 million-a-year job as a Kamehameha Schools trustee by Circuit Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo last May. The Internal Revenue Service last year filed liens against Lindsey's Hawaii properties, saying she owes more than $400,000 in back taxes.
Box jellyfish close Hanauma Bay
The city's Ocean Safety Department closed Hanauma Bay early this morning because of an influx of box jellyfish, according to city lifeguard Capt. Edmund Pestana.The city closed access to the bay at 8 a.m. after discovering nearly 50 box jellyfish washed up on the beach, Pestana said.
He said it would have been too hard for lifeguards to take care of the number of people who might have been stung by box jellyfish at the bay.
Box jellyfish were also reported at Ala Moana and Waikiki beaches, prompting city officials to post warning signs at those two beaches.
Coast Guard flies ill crewman to isles
A sick crewman from a British container ship was flown from Midway island to Honolulu by the Coast Guard early today.Francisco Borromeo, 44, of the Philippines was taken to Queen's Medical Center after the four-hour flight aboard a C-130 long-range rescue aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station-Barbers Point.
The relief effort was launched after Borromeo became ill yesterday with severe intestinal problems, according to a Coast Guard release. He is a cook aboard the Fesco Endeavor, a British flag container ship en route from Long Beach, Calif., to China.
The ship was diverted to Midway, the nearest island with an airport.
Public invited to party to celebrate art center
An open house and Christmas concert are scheduled for tomorrow to celebrate the state's acquisition of the No. 1 Capitol District Building, formerly known as the Hemmeter Building.The building is to become the state's first permanent home for the arts.
At the free event, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the public will have an opportunity to tour the first two floors of the building. These areas are slated for a state art gallery and a visitor information center for cultural attraction in the Capitol District by 2002.
Entertainment will be provided by the the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus and Amy Hanaialii Gilliom and Willie K.
The building is located on the corner of Hotel and Richards streets. Parking is available at Iolani Palace, the municipal parking lot at Alii Place and the basements of the state Capitol and the Kalanimoku Building.
Geothermal official to be on Big Isle board
KEAAU, Hawaii -- Big Island geothermal official Barry Mizuno has been named to the board of directors of W.H. Shipman Ltd., the company announced.Mizuno, the owner's representative at Puna Geothermal Venture, has been with that company for eight years. Previously, he was a managing director of Hawaii County.
Shipman owns 17,000 acres, mostly in the Puna District, has a variety of agricultural leases and operates W.H. Shipman Business Park in Keaau.
Roy Blackshear, chairman of the 12-member board, said Mizuno was invited to join to help provide guidance on present and planned growth in the Keaau area.
City Human Resources moves to S. King Street
The city Department of Human Resources this week moved to 715 S. King St., Suite 500, on the corner of King and Cook streets.It previously was located next to Honolulu Hale in the Mission Memorial buildings, which will be undergoing renovation.
Phone numbers for the agency remain the same.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
7 p.m., Kaneohe Senior/Community Center: Kaneohe No. 30 Neighborhood Board meeting, 45-613 Puohala Road.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Toys-R-Us employee held, accomplice sought
Police arrested a toy store employee and are looking for an accomplice in an attempted theft of several hundred dollars' worth of toys from the Waimalu Toys-R-Us store last night.The woman was a cashier at the store and rang up her accomplice's purchases at less than $25, police said.
But when the alleged accomplice left the store, security alarms sounded. The accomplice fled, leaving behind $642 worth of toys, police said.
Police arrested the employee at 11 p.m. last night.
Motorcycle 'chop shop' suspect is arrested
A man suspected of running a motorcycle "chop shop" out of his Makakilo home was arrested for auto theft, firearms and drug offenses yesterday.Police searched the 20-year-old man's home yesterday for evidence that he was taking stolen motorcycles and taking them apart for parts.
Police say they discovered a homemade "zip" gun and three rounds of .44-caliber Magnum bullets and a plastic packet with white powder residue.
Police also recovered a stolen motorcycle and moped.
Man whose car went into Ala Wai Canal dies
The 63-year-old man whose car plunged into the Ala Wai Canal yesterday morning has died. The medical examiner's office has identified him as Dewitt Irwin.An autopsy will be conducted this morning to determine cause of death.
Irwin was unconscious when a fire-rescue crew removed him from the car, which ended up in the canal near Paoakalani Avenue.
Police seek suspect in purse, car thefts
Police are looking for a man who broke into a car at Pupukea Beach Park on Sept. 17, stole a purse and later stole the victim's other car.Police believe the man stole a purse from a Department of Defense employee's personal vehicle. The purse contained her checkbook, cash, credit cards and keys to her home and other vehicle.
The suspect attempted to use her ATM card at the Haleiwa First Hawaiian Bank machine at 66-135 Kamehameha Highway at 12:10 p.m. on Sept. 17 without success, police said.
At 2:40 the next morning, the victim's husband heard someone start up his car and drive away, police said. The car has not been recovered.
The suspect is described as being in his late 30s, medium height, stocky build and dark hair.
The stolen vehicle is a 1997 two-door, silver Honda Prelude, Hawaii license number JGE 039.
Police seek 2 suspects in record store robbery
Police are asking the public's help in identifying two male suspects responsible for a shoplifting-turned-robbery at about 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at Tower Records at Pearl Kai Center.Police say a man entered the store and switched a price tag on a CD and paid for it at the lower price.
When a security guard stopped him, he punched the security guard several times, police said, and left with an accomplice in a blue sports utility vehicle.
Both suspects are males in their 20s and about 6 feet tall.
One of them weighs about 220 pounds, has a muscular build and has tattoo bands on each of his biceps and legs.
He was wearing floral print shorts and a cap, tank top, kukui nut lei and slippers.
The second suspect is 140 pounds with a medium build and was wearing a T-shirt, floral shorts and slippers.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
