Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, April 2, 2001

Geology student survives fall into crack at Kilauea

A 24-year-old geology student from the University of Oregon survived after plunging 100 feet at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

On Friday night, Nate Sheldon and a female companion were walking through a koa grove near the rim of Kilauea caldera when he tumbled into an earth crack.

National park officials said Sheldon's companion ran for help to the nearby Kilauea Military Camp.

National Park Service rangers, rescue personnel, firefighters and medical personnel responded to the scene. A rope-and-pulley haul system hoisted Sheldon out of the crack.

Conscious and alert, he was transported by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center, where he was treated for multiple abrasions and later released.

Park visitors are advised to stay on the trail to avoid a lava landscape riddles with cracks, scarps and steam vents.

Park officials said Sheldon's fall could have had dire results if he was hiking alone.

Park ranger Jeff Kracht said, "The crack was too deep to climb out of, and cries for help would not have carried far."

Sheldon admitted to rangers that he was drinking at a bar for about three hours before the fall.

Sheldon was at the park with a group of University of Oregon geology students to study volcanoes.

Ewa Beach Library hours change with upgrades

The Ewa Beach Public and School Library will temporarily change its evening hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and April 10 to undergo technological upgrades. Normally, the library is open on Tuesdays from noon to 8 p.m.

The rest of the library hours will not be affected. In the meantime the library's auditorium and passport application service will not be available during these times.

Water workshop Saturday to focus on Oahu issues

The Punaluu Community Association, in cooperation with the Hawaii Laieikawai Association, invites you to a workshop on the scientific, legal and political issues related to water on Oahu.

The workshop will be held at the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center in Punaluu on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The workshop will focus on utilizing the Punaluu watershed as a point of reference. Representatives of government agencies were invited to participate with the community to discuss water issues in Oahu.

The number of participants is limited.

Reservations can be sent by fax to 293-0719, by phone at 293-5612 or e-mail to drjant@aol.com.

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[TAKING NOTICE]

Maui science teacher wins a grant for native plant project

Science teacher Valerie Delos Santos-Duarte of St. Anthony Grade School in Wailuku, Maui, has been awarded a Toyota Tapestry grant of nearly $10,000 for her project "Planting a Native Future."

Santos-Duarte's students will explore the needs of Maui's native plants by learning about relationships among water, soil, plant and animal life -- and why refurbishing native plant life is so important.

They will establish a plant nursery on campus to propagate seedlings for reintroduction into island communities. The students will also speak to community groups and neighbors about the importance of native plants.

Santos-Duarte has taught science for 15 years and is one of 50 winners chosen by the National Science Teachers Association to receive the award for excellence, creativity and vision in teacher environmental and physical science.

Isle math teacher wins national award

Roosevelt High School math teacher Patricia Young is a recipient of the 2000 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The annual award, administered by the National Science Foundation, recognizes the best of the nation's K-12 math and science teachers.

Young was selected from more than 600 national finalists and received a $7,500 educational grant for the school and a trip to Washington, D.C.

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[STREETWISE]

Roadwork this week on Oahu:

HONOLULU

Airport

Nimitz Highway from Rodgers Boulevard to Ahua Street.

Vineyard

H-1 at Lunalilo-Vineyard Offramp, Makiki Viaduct and Palama Separation.

Punchbowl

Punchbowl and Beretania streets intersection; Punchbowl Street between King and Beretania streets; Punchbowl Street between Vineyard Boulevard and Beretania Street and Vineyard Boulevard and Lusitana Street; Halekauwila Street; and Ward Avenue.

Kapiolani

H-1 from the vicinity of Punchbowl Offramp to Kapiolani Interchange and Kapiolani Interchange to Punchbowl Onramp.

Wilhelmina Rise

Maunahilu, Puumalu and Paula places; and Paula Drive.

Kapahulu

Harding Avenue between Kapiolani Boulevard and Kapahulu Avenue; Harding Avenue from Kapahulu to 1st avenues; Waialae to 2nd avenues; and Kapahulu Avenue at the Harding Avenue intersection.

Aina Haina

Kalanianaole Highway from Ainakoa Avenue to West Hind Drive; and in the vicinity of Analii Street intersection.

CENTRAL OAHU

Haleiwa

Haleiwa, Nalimu, Niuula and Walikanahele roads; Kaika Place; and Naoiwi Lane.

Waialua

Aikaula, Haona, Kanalu, Kuoha, Naluahi and Nauahi streets; and Goodale Avenue.

Wahiawa

Wilikina Drive at Kamananui Road.

Leilehua

Kamehameha Highway at Leilehua Golf Course Road.

Mililani

H-2 from Leilehua to Waiawa interchanges.

Waipahu

Pupuole Place; and Awaia, Awanei, Awanui, Paiwa and Pupuole streets.

Aiea

Kamehameha Highway from Acacia Road to Hoomanu Street.

Pearl Harbor

Kamehameha Highway near the Arizona Memorial.

Pearl City

Komo Mai Drive from Lanikeha to Apoepoe streets; Hoolaulea to Kaahele streets; Waimano Home Road to Kaahele Street.

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa Beach

Fort Weaver Road from Farrington Highway to Hanakahi Street.

Makakilo

H-1 from the Palehua Separation to Waikele Bridge; Kunia Interchange to Waikele Bridge; Anonui Street to South Kupuna Loop; H-1 at the Kunia Interchange; and Kunia Road from South Kupuna Loop to North Kupuna Loop.

Maili

Heleuma, Okokomo and Okohola streets.

Nanakuli

Farrington Highway from Ala Hema Street to Piliokoe Bridge, in the vicinity of Tracks Beach Park and from Auyong Homestead Road to Nanaikeola Street; Piliokoe Bridge to Kahe Power Plant; and Hakimo Road to Haleakala Avenue.

WINDWARD OAHU

Kaneohe

H-3 from the Halekou Interchange to Kaneohe Marine Corps Base; Likelike Highway from Kahekili to Kamehameha highways and between the Wilson Tunnels and H-3 Overpass; Kahekili Highway from Ahuimanu to Haiku roads; Kulukeoe Street to Likelike Highway; Yacht Club Street; Keoe Way and Place; Mokulele Drive; Ahuimanu Road; Kamehameha Highway from Kaneohe Bay Drive to Kahiko Street; and Kamehameha Highway from Likelike Highway to Kaneohe Steam Bridge.

Maunawili

Auloa Road from Castle Junction to near Lunaai Street.

Kailua

Kaha Street and Loop; Kaimake Loop and Kaipiha Street; Kainui Drive between Oneawa Street and Kalaheo Avenue.

Kahaluu

Ahuimanu, Ahilama and Pulama roads; Mapele Place and Road; and Kamehameha Highway from Lihikai to Laenani drives and along the two drives.

Kaaawa

Kamehameha Highway in the vicinity of Polinalina Road.

Laie

Kamehameha Highway at Anemoku Street in the vicinity of Laie Shopping Center.

[ CORRECTIONS ] 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.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Hotel guest who plunged to his death is identified

Medical examiners identified the 58-year-old man who died after falling 28 floors to his death at the Hyatt Regency Hotel as Tomihiro Kasori of Tokyo.

At 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, Kasori and his wife were having dinner on the lanai of their room on the 32nd floor when Kasori stood up on his chair after getting a leg cramp. Police said he fell off the railing onto the hotel's fourth-floor deck.

Police search for suspect in theft of automobile

Police are looking for a man who threatened another man with a screwdriver and stole his vehicle Saturday afternoon.

At 5:30 p.m. the suspect approached the victim on the mauka side of Sears' parking lot at 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., police said. The suspect forced his way into the victim's car and ordered him to drive.

The suspect dropped the victim off at Likini Place and Salt Lake Boulevard. He is described as 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

State hospital escapee found yesterday by police

A state hospital patient was found by police yesterday four days after he escaped by throwing a table through a window, police said.

Leonard Moore was admitted to the state hospital on March 20 to determine if he was fit to stand trial for auto theft.

Woman's condition fair after Punahou car crash

A 34-year-old woman critically injured when her car struck a wall on Punahou Street Saturday morning has been upgraded to fair. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The accident happened at about 4:32 a.m. as the car passed Nehoa Street in the makai direction. A male passenger suffered minor injuries.