[WINNERS & LOSERS]
[WINNERS]
UH faculty and students: After nearly two weeks, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly reached a deal with the state Tuesday night that had everybody back in the classroom by Thursday.Miss Aloha Hula: Natasha K. Oda, of Hilo's Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua, wowed the crowd at the 38th Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo Friday night.
Ka'anoi Ka'apana: The public education assistant at the Mental Health Association of Hawaii will receive the national Welcome Back Award for beating clinical depression.
[LOSERS]
Cmdr. Scott Waddle: The skipper of the nuclear sub USS Greeneville will not be court-martialed for his actions in the sinking of the Ehime Maru, but his Navy career is over.Randall Ogata: The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is looking for candidates to replace the OHA administrator in his $85,000-a-year job.
Daniel Copperud: An Oahu grand jury indicts the 19-year-old University of Hawaii student who hit a golf ball into the Rainbow Wahine Stadium during a high school softball game, striking a player. He faces a second-degree assault charge.
Meeting to discuss Kaukonahua safety
Improving safety on Kaukonahua Road is the subject of a meeting tomorrow morning at Honolulu Hale.This year, there have been eight fatal traffic accidents along the two-lane road between Wahiawa and Waialua, including an April 12 crash that killed three Mililani teenagers.
City Councilmember Rene Mansho is asking for a study of ways to improve safety along Kaukonahua Road. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the City Council Committee Room. Another meeting is scheduled for May 17 at the Haleiwa Elementary School cafeteria.
Kealia refuge closed to public for 6 weeks
WAILUKU >> Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Kihei will be closed to the public for nearly six weeks starting tomorrow, as workers repair and pave the half-mile entrance.The refuge is scheduled to reopen on June 1.
Refuge officials will continue working at the office.
The refuge serves as a nesting ground for a number of endangered birds, including the Hawaiian stilt and coot.
Strike costs Maui police close to $22,000 in OT
WAILUKU >> The first seven working days of the teachers strike cost the Maui County Police Department more than $21,600 in overtime, not including benefits.Police Chief Thomas Phillips said the strike has also forced his department to put off other work by officers, including some investigations by detectives who have been assigned to monitor strike posts.
Phillips said from April 5 to April 7 and April 9 to April 12, police assigned to strike posts worked 1,698 regular hours and 902 hours of overtime. Those assigned to strike posts were mainly patrol officers, who earn $16.19 an hour, and detective sergeants, who earn $18.96.
"It's putting a strain on things because we have people on posts," Phillips said. "We've got detectives not doing investigations."
Phillips said the assignments to strike posts have been cut back by half. "It's still a burden, no matter how much we cover."
Former Maui legislator nominated to PUC
Gov. Ben Cayetano's nomination of former Rep. David Morihara of Maui to the Public Utilities Commission was forwarded to the full Senate Thursday by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.Morihara, a Democrat, represented Puunene, Paia and Makawao for 10 years before deciding not to run for re-election last year.
After Morihara completed his term, Cayetano appointed him an executive assistant for technology, marketing and development.
Corrections and clarifications
>> The hula halau pictured on page A1 yesterday was misidentified. The dancers are from Halau Hula O Kawailiula, under the director of kumu hula Chinky Mahoe of Kailua.
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
Haleiwa woman charged in attempted stabbing
Police charged a 64-year-old Haleiwa woman yesterday with first-degree terroristic threatening after she allegedly tried to stab her 42-year-old niece with a three-inch kitchen knife, police said.The two were arguing Friday when Carolee Walker made verbal threats and lunged at her niece with the knife, aiming for her stomach, police said.
The younger woman, who lives with her aunt, was able to jump away unhurt.
Neighbors called police and Walker was arrested at 10:45 p.m. Friday at her 62-179 Emerson Rd. home in Haleiwa.
Bail was set at $11,000.
Man arrested in beating of brother with hammer
Police arrested a 24-year-old man who allegedly beat his younger brother with a hammer several times and threatened to kill him Friday night at about 6:30.The brothers were arguing over moving a vehicle when the suspect chased his 21-year-old brother around and out of the house on Kaukamana Street in Maili, police said.
The younger man was treated for minor injuries and released, police said.
2 male suspects sought in robbery of taxi driver
Honolulu police are looking for two men who robbed a taxi driver April 10. Police said the suspects called for a pick-up at Waiomau Road in Palolo.Police said one of the suspects told the cabbie he had a $50 bill, waited until the driver was getting change from his wallet and hit him over the head. The two men were last seen fleeing on foot and are believed to have entered the Palolo housing area.
One suspect is described as in his late 20s, 5'8", 180 pounds, with very short crew-cut hair. The second suspect is described as being in his 30s, 5'6", 160 pounds with a medium build. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *Crime on a cellular phone.
