Two Hawaii chefs nominated for award
Two Hawaii chefs have been nominated for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award. George Mavrothalassitis of Chef Mavro on Oahu and Peter Merriman of Merriman's on the Big Island and Merriman's Island Bistro on Maui were nominated as Best Chef in the Northwest/Hawaii.Nominated with them are Philippe Boulot of the Heathman Hotel and Greg Higgins of Higgins, both in Portland, Ore., and Tim Kelley of the Painted Table in Seattle.
The only local chefs to win the award in 11 years have been Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong. Sam Choy and Jean-Marie Josselin have been nominated in the past. The James Beard awards are probably the most respected in the restaurant industry. Winners will be announced April 30 in New York.
Big Isle ranches eligible for federal assistance
HILO >> The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced two financial assistance programs, one for ranches affected by drought and the other for wool and mohair producers affected by foreign competition.Ranches in Kau, Kona, Kohala and Hamakua, which experienced at least a 40 percent loss of grazing area during at least 120 consecutive days last year, are eligible for payments from the Livestock Assistance Program. The application deadline is April 27.
Reimbursements may be available to wool and mohair producers for losses due to foreign competition in the 2000 marketing year. The application deadline is April 13. For more information on either program, call the U.S. Farm Service Agency in Hilo at 933-8340.
St. Louis School to honor five distinguished alumni
St. Louis School is inducting five alumni into its Gallery of Distinguished Achievers at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.Stephen J. Alencastre became bishop of Hawaii in 1926. Alencastre focused on education and youth problems.
George J. Helm Jr. is recognized for his talent as a Hawaiian musician and falsetto singer, as well as his dedication to Hawaiian issues.
Wallace S. Miyahira is the current director and former president of the Oahu Residential and Commercial Operations of Castle & Cooke Inc.
Les Murakami is the retiring baseball coach for the University of Hawaii Rainbows. Alfred A. Lee is an inventor and pioneer in structural engineering and the construction industry.
Milken Educators offers $500 to dedicated teacher
The National Milken Educators of Hawaii is offering a $500 scholarship to a public teacher who has shown leadership in professional and staff development. Candidates must have at least four years' experience and tenure in the Department of Education.Applications must be postmarked by May 1. They can be downloaded from the DOE Web site (in PDF format) at http://doe.k12.hi.us.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest:>> Neighborhood Boards: Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley meeting, 7 p.m. at Mililani Mauka Elementary School, 95-1111 Makaikai St. Also, Nuuanu/Punchbowl meeting, 7:15 p.m. at Booth District Park, 2331 Kanealii Ave.
>> St. Louis School: Sixth annual induction of outstanding alumni to Gallery of Distinguished Achievers, 6 p.m., Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Call 739-7777.
>> Kapono Andermann is a student at Windward Community College. An incorrect college was given in a Friday story on the tuition increase at Hawaii colleges. Corrections and clarifications
>> The Lung Association's Walk to Fight Asthma will start at 8 a.m. on April 29 at the Skygate Sculpture on the civic center grounds near Honolulu Hale. The wrong starting time was listed in an item March 14. For information, call 537-5966, extension 309.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
2 die in traffic accidents in Wahiawa, downtown
Two people were killed in separate traffic accidents over the weekend.About 8:10 p.m. Friday, an 18-year-old woman was struck by a car as she rode her bicycle across South Beretania Street near the Moiliili Star Market. Police say she was in a crosswalk at the time of the collision and was not wearing a helmet. She died later at the Queen's Medical Center.
The car was driven by a 45-year-old Moiliili man.
Six hours later, a 28-year-old man died after the car he was driving struck a utility pole off Kaukonahua Road near Wilikina Drive in Wahiawa. Police say the car initially went off the roadway and struck a guardrail before veering off in the other direction and hitting the pole.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A 20-year-old male passenger was taken to Queen's Medical Center, where he was reported in fair condition yesterday.
The victims are Oahu's 12th and 13th traffic fatalities of the year.
Hilo man allegedly threatened to kill baby
A man who allegedly threatened to kill his 7-month-old daughter in Hilo Saturday has been charged with seven counts of terroristic threatening, kidnapping and resisting arrest.About 6:07 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a domestic dispute at a Peepee Street home. When officers knocked on the door, a woman ran out and told police that 42-year-old Randy Galima was inside with a knife and his child.
After police entered the house, Galima allegedly grabbed a bat and started swinging at them. He then grabbed his daughter and retreated into the kitchen. Police said he got a knife and threatened to kill his child.
A hostage negotiator was called. At 2:30 a.m. police officers subdued the suspect with pepper spray. The child, who was unharmed, was turned over to Child Protective Services.
Galima is being held in lieu of $40,500 bail.
Puna man, 35, suspected in kidnap and robbery
A 35-year-old Puna man faces several charges after allegedly breaking into a woman's home, tying her up and stealing items from her house.The suspect was identified as Frank Eblacas Jr. At 5 p.m. Wednesday a 40-year-old woman told police she was awakened by an intruder in her Orchid Land Estates home. The victim said she struggled with the intruder before he tied her up.
On Saturday, detectives arrested and charged Eblacas with first-degree burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and kidnapping.
Eblacas is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $45,000 bail.
3 charged in beating, robbery at golf course
HILO >> Three men were charged Saturday after they allegedly beat and robbed another male early Friday near Banyan Drive.At about 12:56 a.m. a 22-year-old man told police he was robbed in the Hawaii Naniloa Golf Course parking lot. The victim said he was approached by a vehicle carrying five men. Police said two men got out of the vehicle, punched him and took $20.
Within half an hour, five suspects were arrested. Police later charged Daya Polikapu, 18, with second-degree robbery and third-degree assault. His bail is set at $6,000. Ellswood Noeau, 22, and Justin Flores, 19, were each charged with second-degree robbery. Bail for each is set at $5,000. Two other men were released.
Big Isle man charged in assault of woman
A 49-year-old Puna man was charged yesterday after severely beating a woman Friday afternoon, police said.Allen Alani Aku was charged with second-degree attempted murder. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock without bail.
At about 5:25 p.m. Friday, a 40-year-old woman told police she was assaulted along the Puna Post Office Road. Police said the victim suffered face and head injuries. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center and later transported to Queen's Medical Center on Oahu in critical condition.
Police arrested Aku Friday evening. The 40-year-old woman underwent surgery for her injuries.
