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Tesoro says air survey shows oil missed coast
Tesoro Hawaii reported that helicopter surveillance this morning showed a slight sheening on the water about nine miles southwest of Kalaeloa, but so far there's no indication that Hawaii's wildlife or coastline have been affected by the 600 gallons of crude oil from yesterday's oil tanker spill.Nathan Hokama, Tesoro spokesman, said that teams from the state Department of Health, U.S. Coast Guard and Tesoro will walk the southwest coastlines to confirm that there has been no impact.
Hokama believes wind and currents pushed the spill in a southwesterly direction and out to sea. "In addition, we sprayed chemical dispersants to break up the spill," which appears to have been successful, he said.
About 660 gallons of crude oil were spilled into the waters off Kalaeloa yesterday as a hose apparently separated while a tanker was transferring oil to a Tesoro refinery.
Hokama said the spill occurred at 7:15 a.m. while the tanker Overseas Chicago was completing unloading 600,000 barrels of oil at a buoy one and a half miles offshore.
This is the second time Tesoro has had an oil spill from its mooring at Barbers Point. In 1998, a total of 4,200 gallons was dumped into the ocean, resulting in tar balls washing up on Kauai beaches.
Man found competent to stand murder trial
LIHUE -- A Circuit Court judge has ruled Matthew Blankswade, 21, is mentally competent to stand trial for the June 26 murder of Jeffrey Brisebois, 48, who was shot in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun as he slept in his Wainiha home.Judge George Masuoka said two psychiatrists and a psychologist agreed Blankswade understood what he was doing at the time of the murder and understands the charge against him.
Blankswade confessed to the killing and told police detectives that the murder was planned by Amber Brisebois, 18, the victim's daughter and Blankswade's girlfriend, who stood in the doorway of Brisebois' bedroom and watched the killing. Amber Brisebois has not been charged with any crimes.
One Kalanianaole lane closed for pipe check
The left Honolulu-bound lane of Kalanianaole Highway will be closed from Analii Street to Kalaniiki Street from today until Friday while The Gas Co. continues maintenance work on its underground utility pipeline.After this section of pipeline is complete, construction will return to the left Hawaii Kai-bound lane from Laukahi Street to just past Analii Street.
The first phase is scheduled to be completed Feb. 14.
Waimanalo Library holds public fun day
A 9 a.m.-1 p.m. event Saturday at the Waimanalo Public and School Library will feature storytelling, games, entertainment, refreshments and prizes."Explore Waimanalo Library Day" will be hosted by the Friends of Waimanalo Library at the 41-1320 Kalanianaole Highway location, across from the fire station.
A pre-event kickoff will take place during story time at the library at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ronald McDonald will highlight an all-new school show combining music, magic and storytelling.
Having fun at the library is the idea, along with creating support for the campaign to reinstate a children's librarian at Waimanalo.
The full-time position was eliminated five years ago in budget cuts.
Kiewit lands contract to replace
HILO -- The state Department of Transportation has awarded a $5.7 million contract to Kiewit Pacific Co. for emergency replacement of the Keaiwa Stream Bridge on Mamalahoa Highway on the Big Island.
Big Isle bridge on Mamalahoa HighwayWork consists of removing the existing structure, guardrails and detour road; constructing a concrete bridge, abutments and asphalt concrete roadway and shoulders; stabilizing stream banks; and installing guardrail and treatments, as well as signing and pavement markings.
Work is scheduled to begin next month and is one of several emergency projects being completed due to the flooding disaster in November on the Big Island.
Comment on judicial hopefuls
LIHUE -- Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon is seeking public comment on judicial nominees to fill a vacancy on Kauai left by the retirement of Circuit Judge Yoshio Shigezawa.Six individuals have been nominated by the Judicial Selection Commission: Reinette W. Cooper, Mark T. Honda, Brian R. Jenkins, Douglas J. Sameshima, James Takayesu and Keith E. Tanaka.
Written comments on the character and qualifications of the nominees must be postmarked or delivered no later than Tuesday, Feb. 6. Comments should be addressed to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Supreme Court of Hawaii, 417. S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813, or dropped off at the Supreme Court clerk's office at the same address. Comments can also be faxed to 539-4703. All comments will be confidential.
The candidate selected is subject to Senate confirmation.
Discuss Molokai bridge
WAILUKU -- State transportation officials are planning to hold a public meeting on Thursday to discuss their plans to replace the Kawaikapu Bridge on Molokai.The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Kilohana Elementary School.
Transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said the two-lane bridge, 4 1/2 miles east of Kaunakakai, was damaged in heavy rains that occurred in November.
Kali said the bridge has been temporarily repaired.
Officials estimate replacement of the bridge will cost $2.1 million, and hope to start construction by March.
Conservancy buys forest land
KAILUA-KONA -- The Nature Conservancy has purchased 1,800 acres of native forest at Kapu'a, South Kona, the private, nonprofit organization announced.The land, at 3,000- to 5,000-foot elevation, sits next to 4,021 acres at Honomalino bought by the Nature Conservancy in 1999.
The two parcels will be managed jointly as the Kona Hema Reserve in conjunction with the state's adjoining 25,000-acre Manuka Natural Area Reserve.
Purchase of the Kapu'a land was made possible by landowner Leighton Mau donating part of the land's value and by a U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy grant, the first in Hawaii.
"The Forest Legacy Program is a voluntary program established to help landowners protect forest lands from conversion to nonforest uses," said Jack Ewel of the U.S. Forest Service.
UH-Hilo reaches for the stars
HILO -- The new Hilo facility of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy will be dedicated in ceremonies at 11 a.m. Feb. 23, the university announced.Located at the University Park above the main UH-Hilo campus, the $11 million, 35,000-square-foot facility is expected to house about 30 percent of the institute's activities within three years, university spokesman Jim Manke said.
The main office of the institute, including the office of Director Rolf Kudritzki, will remain at Manoa. The building is already partly occupied, but dedication ceremonies have been delayed to allow Kudritzki, appointed in June, to settle into the job.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest11:30 a.m., Pacific Club: Hawaii Developers Council luncheon meeting featuring Cheryl Soon speaking on "A Proposed Mass Transit System and Its Impact on Development on Oahu." For information, call 533-0522.
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Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Girl, 12, burned trying to douse fire at home
A 12-year-old girl who tried to put out flames with a fire extinguisher at her Makakilo home suffered second-degree burns to her face, arms and legs yesterday afternoon, a fire official said.She was reported in fair condition and held for observation at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.
The fire began in the second-floor loft of the home at 92-7095 Elele St. off Makakilo Drive. After the family smelled smoke, the girl's mother called 911.
The girl went up to the loft and tried to put out the fire, said fire Capt. Richard Soo.
Her mother, 10-year-old sister, three dogs and a cat escaped unharmed. The girl's father and an older sister were not at home at the time.
The fire caused an estimated $55,000 in damage. The cause of the fire was an unattended candle, Soo said.
Worker, 24, badly hurt in Sand Island accident
A 24-year-old cart washer was in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center this morning after an industrial accident yesterday on Sand Island.The male victim was found pinned between a truck and a storage container at Eco-Feed Inc., 1059 Makepono St., at 8:25 a.m., police said.
Argument in Wahiawa may have led to drive-by
Police are investigating a possible drive-by shooting in Wahiawa yesterday morning.Police say a 25-year-old man got into an argument with three teen-agers on Kolekole Drive and pulled out a handgun. The teen-agers fled into a nearby home.
The victims say they saw the suspect return in his car at about 3:35 a.m. with its lights off and that they heard a gunshot. No one was injured.
Police later recovered a bullet casing in the street.
The suspect was arrested later in the day.
Alleged murder attempt leads to woman's arrest
An Ewa Beach woman was arrested last night for attempted murder after she tried to run over her neighbor with a car, police said.The incident happened on Kilaha Street in Ewa Beach at about 11:25 last night. Police say the two women had been fighting earlier in the evening.
The suspect, 30, got into her car and ran into the victim as she was walking away, police said.
The victim, 29, is listed in fair condition at the Queen's Medical Center.
Kalihi man may get time in felony domestic abuse
A 40-year-old Kalihi man may be charged with felony domestic abuse after he allegedly punched a 16-year-old girl and a male friend last night.The girl was with a group of friends at 11:45 last night on Puuhale Road in Kalihi when the suspect began punching her friend, police said. The girl intervened and was also allegedly punched in the face. Police did not say what the relationship was between the man and the girl.
The suspect was arrested at his apartment on North Vineyard Boulevard. He has at least two other convictions for domestic abuse within the last three years, which means a third conviction could result in a longer prison sentence.
Honda driver flees after collision with motorcycle
Police are investigating an apparent hit-and-run accident involving a 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 1995 Honda Civic last night.Police say the Honda and the motorcycle attempted to change lanes at the same time while going east on the H-1 freeway, and there was a collision. The 6:45 p.m. incident occurred about one mile west of the Kaamilo Street overpass.
The 17-year-old driver of the Civic fled the scene, but later turned himself in. The 44-year-old motorcyclist suffered a broken wrist.
Six injured as two cars collide in Wahiawa
A two-car collision at a Wahiawa intersection where a man was killed last year resulted in injuries to six people Saturday night.Police say a four-door sedan, traveling north on Kaukonahua Road, collided with the driver's side of a two-door convertible heading east on Kamananui Road at 7:20 p.m.
A 33-year-old Mililani woman, a back-seat passenger of the convertible, suffered critical injuries and was taken to the Queen's Medical Center by helicopter. She was reported in guarded condition yesterday.
The driver of the sedan, a 36-year-old Helemano woman eight months pregnant, complained of back and stomach pain and was also flown to Queen's but has been released.
Police say a man who ran the flashing red light at that intersection was killed last year.
'Ice' found on driver of stolen moped, cops say
Police say they found crystal methamphetamine on a 33-year-old suspect after his arrest for operating a stolen moped.Officers say they stopped the driver for a defective tail light and discovered the suspect had no driver's license and the moped had a defaced serial number.
The suspect was arrested at the scene. While the suspect was being processed at the central receiving desk, an officer discovered him in possession of crystal methamphetamine, police said.
The suspect was arrested for promoting dangerous drugs and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
Boy allegedly shot at with nail gun; no arrests
A man allegedly threatened and fired shots with a nail gun at a boy last night.Both the man and the boy live at the same address on Mary Street in Kalihi, but police did not say what their relationship was.
The suspect threatened to kill the boy at about 8:45 p.m. and fired seven rounds, police said.
A witness intervened and struggled with the suspect, who fled the scene.
The boy was not injured and no arrests were made.
