3,500 Hawaii Kai homes without phone service
Phone lines are down for about 3,500 Hawaii Kai residents after a private contractor accidentally damaged a cable line in front of the post office at 7040 Hawaii Kai Dr. yesterday afternoon.Ann Nishida, spokeswoman for Verizon Hawaii, said repairs may take two to three days.
The outage, which started at 3 p.m., affects residents who live in Hahaione Valley and on Kawaihae Street.
Verizon Hawaii workers will be installing a temporary pay phone at the Oahu Club's parking lot so Hawaii Kai residents can make free local calls. Residents also can have their home phone calls forwarded to their cellular phones until repairs are completed.
Those with cellular phones can call 1-800-483-1000.
Box jellyfish invasion expected next week
The city Ocean Safety Division warns swimmers to expect a box jellyfish infestation along leeward shores Tuesday through Thursday.The areas commonly affected are Waikiki Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park.
Hanauma Bay, Pokai Bay and Makaha surfing beach also may be affected by the cyclic arrival of the stinging marine species.
Lifeguards will assess beaches and post signs if warranted.
WWII REMAINS BACK FROM MAKIN
Mail carriers hope to find food in your mailbox
The people who deliver the mail are hoping to find something other than mail waiting in island mailboxes tomorrow.Canned goods and other nonperishable food items are being sought by the National Association of Letter Carriers in its ninth annual food drive.
Post office box holders are encouraged to bring donations when they pick up their mail. Food collected will be donated to the Hawaii Food Bank and food banks on neighbor islands.
State tax collections up 8.6 percent, figures show
For the first 10 months of the fiscal year, Hawaii state tax collections are running 8.6 percent more than last year, according to figures released this morning by the state tax office.The state's Council on Revenues, which sets how much money the state can spend, by estimating how much money the state will collect, had pegged the growth rate at 6 percent. The largest growth was in general excise tax increases, which rose slightly more than 10 percent in the 10 month period.
According to Marie Okamura, state tax director, the cumulative revenue amount deposited for the first 10 months was $2.6 billion, which is a $209.2 million increase over the same period last year.
Navy tests whale hearing to learn their frequencies
TACOMA, Wash. >> The Navy, criticized for the deaths of whales after sonar tests in the Bahamas, is studying two beluga whales to find out which frequencies the mammals hear.Last year, animal rights advocates blamed Navy sonar transmissions for a mass beaching of whales in the Bahamas. Studies showed all the dead whales suffered severe hearing trauma.
Tom LaPuzza of the Navy's Marine Mammals Program said there was no evidence linking Navy tests to whale beachings.
The whales are being exposed to a variety of sounds in their pool at Tacoma's Point Defiance Aquarium. LaPuzza said the long-term study aims to increase knowledge about how and what whales hear and the effects of the noise.
>> A financial analysis showing the city losing money if it purchased the Luana Hills Country Club came from a legislative aide to City Councilman John Henry Felix. A story Wednesday listed an incorrect source for those numbers.
>> Readers wishing to learn more about Boy's Day traditions can read Basil Hall Chamberlain's 1890 work "Things Japanese," containing customs and legends in addition to one related in a May 4 story. The book was not mentioned in the story.
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
Big Island man killed in 2-car crash in Waimea
WAIMEA, Hawaii - A Big Island man was killed in a two-vehicle accident on the Hawaii Belt Road on the east side of Waimea yesterday, police said.The victim, Dominador Busque, 46, of Waimea, was driving a Toyota Tercel when he crossed the centerline and hit a Chevrolet pickup driven by Clifford Guerpo, 51, of Waiimea. Guerpo was treated at North Hawaii Community Hospital and released.
The weather was rainy at the time but alcohol is also believed to be a factor, police said.
Busque's death was the 12th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island compared to 10 at the same time last year.
Box marked 'explosives' leads to Monsarrat closing
Honolulu police closed Monsarrat Avenue for about two hours this morning after a box marked "Explosives" was found near the Waikiki Shell at about 5 a.m.Police reopened the street at 7:00 a.m. after the police bomb squad determined that there were no explosives in the box.
Pacific Heights man held on suspicion of stabbing
A 41-year-old Pacific Heights man is in police custody for allegedly stabbing a Pearl City man, 31, last night in the abdomen.Police said it happened about 6:30 p.m. at 1355 Hoohulu St., a few doors down from the victim's home. The suspect fled the scene in a pickup truck but was found a block away. Police recovered a 6-inch knife and a 10-inch knife. The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition.
Man refueling generator sets mobile home on fire
Honolulu fire officials said a man accidentally burned his mobile home to the ground after he tried to refuel his electric generator while it was still in operation. Firefighters said the 35-year-old resident suffered minor burns to his ears as a result of the fire.The smoke from the fire could be seen for miles from where it started at Waikea Place in Aiea Heights. Fire officials estimate the fire caused $35,000 in damage.
3 vehicles catch fire behind the Ice Palace
Two sedans and a rental truck caught fire last night on a service road behind the Ice Palace on Salt Lake Boulevard.The fire caused about $10,000 to the Ice Palace building and management closed the skating rink last night, said fire department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
Firefighters responded to the alarm at 8:16 p.m. and extinguished the fire at 8:39 p.m.
There was no damage estimate on the vehicles. Fire officials are investigating.
Parachutist injured landing on pavement
A parachutist was injured when he landed on the pavement at Dillingham Airfield yesterday. Firefighters from the Waialua station were called to assist the victim at about 4 p.m. The parachutist is a video photographer, according to his employer, Skydive Hawaii.Medical personnel said he may have suffered a fractured pelvis. He was flown to Queen's Medical Center for treatment.
Police issue new warning against 'Nigerian Scam'
CrimeStoppers officials want to remind the public that the "Nigerian Scam" is still in operation. Honolulu police said the scam consists of different individuals, possibly working as a group, contacting residents and businesses requesting assistance in transferring funds out of a foreign country to a local bank account, and in return victims would receive a percentage of the transferred funds.In relation to this scam, CrimeStoppers recently has received copies of letters from the Capital Petroleum Corp. of Nigeria signed by "Dr. Benson UKA, Accountant and Director of the Board."
If you have received such a letter, fax or e-mail, or one like it, please call the Honolulu office of the U.S. Secret Service at 541-1912 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Man in Farrington crash upgraded to fair condition
A 19-year-old Waianae man who was thrown from a vehicle in a one-car accident on Farrington Highway Tuesday night has been upgraded from critical to fair condition at Queen's Medical Center.The man was a front-seat passenger in a car that left the roadway near Keaau Beach Park and overturned. The man, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
The driver received minor injuries. Two back-seat passengers were not injured.
Man turned over to police for breaking into vehicles
Security officers at Ala Moana Center detained a 40-year-old man for allegedly breaking into a vehicle in the center's parking lot yesterday.Officers saw the man walking around the parking lot looking into parked vehicles and began to monitor him with the center's security cameras. They apprehended him when they saw the man stick a screwdriver into the front passenger door lock of a vehicle and attempt to open it. The man was turned over to Honolulu police.
Jogger identifies suspect in theft of fishing gear
Honolulu police yesterday arrested a 37-year-old Salt Lake man after a woman jogger identified him as one of two men who took fishing equipment from a home on Monsarrat Avenue five days earlier. The two men fled after the woman confronted them as they were allegedly taking fishing equipment from a boat that was parked in carport Saturday.Yesterday while jogging she told police she saw the same vehicle with two males inside and called police and positively identified one of the men. The other man was not arrested.
