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Navy says explosion poses no whale threat
WAILUKU -- The U.S. Navy says the explosion of a 2,000-pound bomb on Kahoolawe tomorrow poses no threat to marine life, and it does not intend to halt the operation.The Pacific Whale Foundation is criticizing the Navy for its plan to detonate the bomb during the time that endangered humpback whales are in Hawaii's waters.
Greg Kaufman, foundation president, said the detonation planned for tomorrow between 11 a.m. and noon comes at the height of the whale season. He said studies by his group showed military bombing has a negative effect on whales and results in fewer whale sightings in Maui County waters.
He said mothers and calves rest in Kanapou Bay near the planned detonation site.
The bomb is left from when Kahoolawe was a target island. The Navy says the blast may be felt in south and Upcountry Maui, and boaters are told to stay at least two miles away from Kahoolawe.
Oil dispersant does the job on Tesoro spill
Tesoro Hawaii and U.S. Coast Guard officials are pleased with the results of a new dispersant system used for the first time Sunday to contain an oil spill off Kalaeloa (Barbers Point).By 1:30 p.m. yesterday, a light sheen from the spill was still visible 10 miles southwest of Oahu, said Tesoro's F. David Hoffman.
Tesoro has been working with the Coast Guard and the state Department of Health to contain the spill since 15 barrels of oil, about 630 gallons, was released about 7:15 a.m. Sunday. It occurred when a delivery hose separated from a buoy during a delivery of Alaska North Slope crude oil to Tesoro's refinery at Kalaeloa.
The dispersant, which speeds the breakdown of oil into droplets, was used when the spill was three to 3 miles from Kalaeloa. Aerial-surveillance and emergency-response teams walking Oahu's southwest coastline yesterday found no impact and there have been no reports of injured marine life, said Curtis Martin of the Department of Health.
Teams will continue to monitor from Oahu and Kauai but expect no further impact.
The Coast Guard and Health Department have not yet determined whether Tesoro will be penalized.
Power blackout hits much of rural Oahu
A massive power failure blacked out much of rural Oahu for about an hour last night."We started getting calls at 7:06 p.m.," said Hawaiian Electric spokesman Fred Kobashikawa. "Calls were coming in from Wahiawa, Waialua, Kahuku and Hauula, and the customer count is about 3,500."
Power was restored at 8:05 p.m., he said. "We're going to be looking at a transformer at our Waialua substation," the probable cause, he said.
House may push for permanent ferry
State Reps. Joe Souki and Willie Espero, chairman and vice chairman of the House Transportation Committee, hope to see a permanent ferry in Hawaii waters.The WikiWiki demonstration project by the Department of Transportation ended Dec. 1, and both legislators agree a ferry would benefit residents. The demonstration ferries ran between Aloha Tower and Iroquois Point, Kalaeloa/Barbers Point or West Loch.
Both men have introduced legislation in support of ferries.
Auditor: State should quit licensing barbers
For the fifth time in 20 years, the state auditor is recommending that the state give up licensing of barbers and cosmetologists.Continued regulation drives up prices and reduces selection and quality of services, the auditor said in a report yesterday.
Continued regulation is not warranted because haircuts and facials pose little risk to public health, safety or welfare, the report said.
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology strongly disagreed. Repealing licensing would open the door to fraud, incompetence and public distrust, said the board, which is dominated by licensed operators.
Marine's remains sent back to his hometown
The remains of the fifth of 19 Makin Marine Raiders were sent home today -- more than 58 years after his death.Cpl. I.B. Earles will be buried in his hometown of Tulare, Calif. His remains and those of 18 others were recovered in December 1999 and taken to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory. The Marines were killed during a raid on Makin Island, now known as Butaritari, in August 1942.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
Noon, Supreme Court courtroom: Brown bag session featuring Judge Rhonda Nishimura and attorney James Branham on "An Overview of the Court System," 417 S. King St. Part of Hawaii State Judiciary's "Lunch 'n' Learn the Law" program. Free. For information, call 539-4910.
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Suspect arrested in pick-handle beating
Police arrested a man this morning who allegedly beat another man with a pick handle in Kalihi last night.The victim, a man in his 50s, suffered a laceration above his left eye, a possible broken wrist and abrasions to his left shoulder. Police said the man was not in critical condition, but no other information was available.
The incident occurred at a home on Kalihi Street near the Burmeister overpass at about 8:35 p.m. The attacker smashed open the victim's front door, kicked and punched him, and hit him over the head with the handle of a pickax, police said.
The victim drove himself to the Kalihi police substation at about 9 p.m. and was taken to the Queen's Medical Center.
Officers located the suspect at 2 a.m. in the victim's home and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery and burglary. Police said the victim is known to the suspect.
The suspect was taken to Queen's after he complained of pain to his ear and wrist.
Man accused of threats to daughter with machete
A 42-year-old man was arrested for threatening his 16-year-old daughter with a machete yesterday afternoon, police said.The man was arguing with his daughter at about 4:45 p.m. at their home in Kaneohe when he allegedly slapped a bowl out of her hand and began punching her head. She ran out the back door and he followed, picking up a machete near the garage, police said.
The man's wife intervened and the girl was able to escape to a neighbor's home. She suffered minor bruises to her arm and head.
Woman accuses brother of threatening with fork
Police arrested a 35-year-old man who allegedly threatened his sister with a fork last night during a domestic dispute.When police arrived at an Ewa Beach home on Hanakahi Street at 7:25 p.m., the man fled on foot.
A 33-year-old woman told police her brother had threatened her with a fork and had stabbed her with a fork on a previous occasion.
When the suspect returned to the home, another fight broke out and the man was arrested on suspicion of terroristic threatening, police said.
Traffic accident victim upgraded to fair condition
A 33-year-old Mililani woman involved in a two-car collision in Wahiawa on Saturday night was upgraded from guarded to fair condition at the Queen's Medical Center.She suffered critical injuries after a four-door sedan collided into the driver's side of a two-door convertible heading east on Kamananui Road at about 7:20 p.m. The 33-year-old was a back-seat passenger in the convertible.
