Groups want hearing on Waahila power line
Four community groups are asking the state Land Board to more closely address their concerns about putting a 138-kilovolt power line on Waahila Ridge.Life of the Land, Outdoor Circle, Malama O Manoa and 'Ilio'ulaokalani all informed the Land Board Thursday night that they want a "contested case hearing" regarding Hawaiian Electric's plans for the new power line. The groups have 10 days to file a written request.
Hawaiian Electric has said the line will ensure better reliability of electric service, particularly for the 36 percent of customers in East and Windward Oahu.
The groups opposing it question the need for the line, the health effects of the electromagnetic field it creates and the visual blight the larger poles would create on historic Waahila Ridge.
About 80 people testified against the project and about 20 for it at a 712-hour hearing Thursday night.
Some libraries to honor Kuhio Day on Tuesday
Five public libraries normally closed Mondays will observe Kuhio Day on Tuesday, March 27.Waialua, Kailua-Kona, Kihei, Lanai and Princeville libraries will reopen Wednesday, March 28.
All other public libraries will observe the holiday Monday.
Maui mayor pushes highway expansion
WAILUKU >> Government officials are moving forward with plans to widen the main highway artery through South Maui from two to four lanes.Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana wants to spend $1 million and says Gov. Ben Cayetano's administration has pledged $2 million toward funding the estimated $4 million Piilani Highway project.
Apana said the project, which could begin construction as early as July, needs the approval of the state Legislature and Maui County Council.
Astronaut to speak about role in space station
Edward Tsang Lu, NASA astronaut and former University of Hawaii researcher, will discuss the space station in a public lecture at 6:30 p.m. April 3 at the Punahou School Cornell Lecture Hall.Lu, formerly with the Institute for Astronomy, will speak from personal experience about "Building the Space Station: Construction Work in Space."
He was on NASA's sixth shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian space station Mir May 15-24, 1997.
His talk here is sponsored by the Hawaii Academy of Science, UH Institute for Astronomy, Punahou School and the American Chemical Society.
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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
10 face federal charges for 'ice' distribution
A federal grand jury has indicted 10 individuals, including a state deputy sheriff, for conspiring to distribute crystal methamphetamine here between September 2000 and until March 2001.Named in the indictment filed Thursday and unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court were Charles K. Hew-Len, Shawn Powell, Michael R. Becker, Daniel Kaheaku, Daniel J. Pacyao, Destanie P.K. Hew-Len, Desiree Higa, Michael B. De Kneef, Darryl W. Ogawa Jr. and Chico Martines.
The group is charged with 33 counts, including using telephones to further the conspiracy and aiding and abetting.
According to the indictment, about two pounds of crystal methamphetamine was involved.
Kaheaku works at the state Circuit Court cellblock.
Police flyover finds body on Navy's Waipahu land
Police spotted the body of a man yesterday while flying a helicopter in search of stolen cars in an uninhabited part of Waipahu.The Honolulu Police Department has turned the matter over to the U.S. Navy since it was Navy property.
The decomposed body was found at about 2:25 p.m. beneath a 60-foot cliff on a platform of an old Navy bunker, a Navy investigator said.
The man may have been dead up to two weeks, the investigator said.
Navy investigators were unable to determine whether foul play was involved. They await the results of an autopsy by the city medical examiner's office today.
The area is three miles mauka of Waipahu Street off a paved road running through a Navy ammunition magazine, near Honowai Street.
Although the area is secured by locked gates, residents say people use it as a shortcut to get to their homes.
Navy investigator Steve Rocco said investigators will return to the scene today.
Golfers on high are hitting homes in Waimalu
Golf balls are hitting houses deep in Waimalu Valley.Police said the golf balls are probably being hit from Kaonohi Ridge.
Officers are worried that people may not realize that homes are being hit by "practice balls," police said.
"Please be careful where you practice your swing," said Detective Letha DeCaires, coordinator of CrimeStoppers.
If you have information, call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Help locate inmate who fled Laumaka furlough
Police and CrimeStoppers are seeking the public's help in finding a 34-year-old escapee from the Laumaka Work Furlough program.Arnold "Bully" Willets has eight felony convictions, including robbery, kidnapping, and auto theft.
He was caught trying to provide a false urine sample. When confronted, he ran from prison.
Willets is known to frequent areas in Waianae, Pearl City, Kalihi and Honolulu.
He also goes by the names Alvin Ching, Lawrence Montalbo, Jeffrey Gomes, Ronald Ching and Lance Ching.
Willets is described as Hawaiian, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a muscular build, dark brown hair, a tan complexion, mustache, beard and a tattoo on his left forearm.
Anyone with information may call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *Crime on cellular telephones.
