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Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, March 10, 2001

Meteorite Insight

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
University of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
scientists made several discoveries about the solar system's
formation in studies of two primitive meteorites with pristine
materials. Klaus Keil, institute director, right, and Alexander Krot,
an associate researcher who led the latest investigation, show
a monitor with a view of a meteorite slice. Their findings
appear in the March 2 issue of the journal Science.
See yesterday's Star-Bulletin story.

Rodrigues urged to give up judge selection seat

Republican state Sen. Fred Hemmings wants United Public Workers state director Gary Rodrigues to step down from the state Judicial Selection Commission because of his indictment on federal mail fraud and other charges.

Rodrigues, one of the state's most powerful political figures, was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on charges of siphoning union money to pay himself and his daughter.

"It was questionable at best when he was appointed" to the panel that screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the governor about who should become a state judge, Hemmings said.

"Now that he is under indictment, he should step aside," Hemmings said. The panel should "be above reproach."

Rodrigues declined to take calls from the Star-Bulletin yesterday.

David Fairbanks, commission chairman, said there is nothing in state rules that requires an indicted commissioner or board member to leave.

Reggae singer debuts CD at World Cafe

Three Plus, Hoonua, Typical Hawaiians, Brazilian reggae star Andre Derizans and Natural Vibrations will join Rupert "Ojiji" Harveyof the Canadian reggae group Messenjah at his CD release dance party at World Cafe at 7 tonight.

Ojiji, who wrote and performed the hit "Cool Operator," will preview his latest solo project "Once A Lion," which was recorded in Hawaii and will be released here before international distribution.

As frontman for Messenjah, Ojiji won the 1998 Juno Award, the Canadian Music Association's equivalent to a Grammy, for Best Reggae Album.

Tickets are $8.50. For more information, call 593-8333.

Looking Ahead

Some events of interest

4 p.m.tomorrow, Islamic Center, 1935 Aleo Place in Manoa: The Muslim Association of Hawaii will welcome visitors in the continuing Open Table Pilgrimage series.

9:30 a.m. Monday, Bachman Hall, University of Hawaii-Manoa: The appointment of a president is the only item on the Board of Regents' agenda for a public meeting.

7 p.m. Monday, Maemae Elementary School: Liliha/Ka palama Neighborhood Board meeting, 319 Wyllie St.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Aiea Library: Aiea Neighborhood Board meeting, 99-143 Moanalua Road.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Waimanalo Library: Waimanalo Neighborhood Board meeting, 41-1320 Kalanianaole Highway.

Corrections

A local woman is expected to receive Theron Keoki Nicodemus' liver. A story yesterday said incorrectly that she would receive a kidney.

Information that Evan S. Dobelle, president of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., is leaving there tomorrow for an unknown destination was attributed incorrectly to Linda Campanella, college senior vice president, in the editing of an article Thursday. Dobelle reportedly is the leading candidate to succeed University of Hawaii president Kenneth Mortimer.

A story Thursday incorrectly said the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board objected to a stop-work order the state issued on the Waimanalo Outlet Project. The neighborhood board has not acted on the matter, said board member Joe Ryan.

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Police, Fire



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Brush Fire

Courtesy Honolulu Fire Department
A brush fire that started about a half mile from Thomson Corner,
along Kaukonahua Road in Waialua, engulfed some 100 acres
and kept firefighters occupied for hours after it was reported at
12:13 p.m. yesterday. The fire had a front more than two miles
wide, but it was headed toward Mount Kaala and well away
from any homes. It was reported contained at 5:40 p.m.,
according to Capt. Richard Soo, fire department spokesman.

Courtesy Honolulu Fire Department
A fire department helicopter refills a water bucket in a cane reservoir.

Three arrested in robbery at Ala Wai golf car lot

Three men were arrested early today in connection with a robbery at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse parking lot, 404 Kapahulu Ave.

Four suspects accosted an 18-year-old man and two friends at 1:30 a.m. today. One suspect took the man's backpack and sweater, while another suspect punched his friend.

The suspects got into a red van and left. They were stopped at Kapahulu and Harding Avenues. Three of the men were identified and arrested. The fourth fled.

Police recovered the stolen property.

The suspects -- a 22-year-old Kailua man, a 19-year-old from Kalihi and a 22-year-old Moiliili man -- were arrested for second-degree robbery at 2:45 a.m. at 1029 Kapahulu Ave.

A golf course employee said she was unaware of the robbery, but said that young people have been congregating and drinking in the parking lot after hours.

Mexicans, heroin seized in rural Big Island raid

HILO -- Police arrested two Mexican nationals and seized four pounds of heroin in what they described as a major drug raid at a rural Fern Forest home Thursday, they said.

The suspects, ages 21 and 23, will be turned over to federal authorities for prosecution, police said.

Two other Mexican nationals were turned over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for deportation, they said.

Besides 4.08 pounds of heroin, police and federal agents seized 12.5 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia and $2,600 in cash.

Family killed in crash near airport identified

The medical examiner's office has identified the woman who was killed when her car slammed into a tree Sunday as Ruta Levu, 30. She died of multiple internal injuries.

Levu's 2-month-old son Pulou Levu died at the scene, and her son Tapelu Levu Jr., 3, died at Queen's Medical Center Monday.

Levu had been driving eastbound on Koapaka Street when the accident happened.