Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, July 23, 2001

Kauai beach area closed due to birth of monk seal

POIPU, Kauai >> A Hawaiian monk seal born on the beach yesterday near Brennecke's restaurant brings to five the number of pups born in the main Hawaiian islands this year, wildlife officials said.

The seal is an endangered species with a population of about 1,300 to 1,400, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A volunteer with the agency's Monk Seal Watch Program spotted the mother and pup around 6 a.m., said NOAA biologist Thea Johanos.

"It looks very healthy and the mother looks very healthy," Johanos said. "It's the same mother that gave birth here last year."

Johanos is part of a team from the NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service that has been deployed to the area to monitor the situation.

The area has been closed to avoid disturbance and possible abandonment of the pup by the mother, NOAA said.

Federal law prohibits disturbing monk seals.

HFD's Air One helicopter fixed and back in service

The Honolulu Fire Department's Air One helicopter is back in service after having its left skid reattached.

"The skid came in from the mainland, and they were able to put that on," HFD Capt. Kenison Tejada said yesterday. "They tested it out, and it went back into service (Saturday)."

The skid broke off during a rescue call on July 13.

Pilot Steven Aiu was trying to land the helicopter near the Brigham Young University campus in Laie when the wind dropped it 20 to 25 feet to the ground, breaking off the left skid, Aiu said.

He then flew back to Honolulu Airport, where he hovered over the tarmac while mechanics fashioned a makeshift jack allowing him to land.

2 fish buoys slated for replacement

The platforms attract deep-water fish off Kalaupapa and Pearl

Two anchored, floating buoys off Oahu and Molokai that attract schools of tuna and other deep-water fish are to be replaced this week.

The replacement fish aggregation devices, or FADs, will be deployed by the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, which operates the program for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The replacement effort involves "O" buoy off Kalaupapa, Molokai, and "HH" buoy off Pearl Harbor, the department said Friday.

Boaters were asked to stay clear of the two FADs during replacement because almost 2.5 miles of mooring line on the ocean surface will pose a hazard to navigation.

Depending on sea and weather conditions, FADs need to be replaced every three to six years.

Currently, there are 55 FADs in Hawaii waters.

Corrections and clarifications

>> Attorney Scott Collins' last name was misspelled as Colleens on first reference in a Page 1 story Friday about his client, Fidel Eviota, being arrested on theft charges involving state construction funds.

Corrections and clarifications 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

LEEWARD OAHU

Ewa man held in alleged assaults with baseball bat

A 26-year-old man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly struck two boys with a baseball bat in Ewa Beach.

Police said the suspect heard his little brother crying outside their home on Ewa Beach Road. He went outside with a baseball bat and confronted two boys, ages 7 and 14, who were playing pogs with his brother.

Police said the suspect became infuriated and struck the two boys on the arm with a baseball bat. Police said it is unknown why the suspect struck the boys.

The boys suffered contusions to their right forearms, police said. Both victims were taken to Kaiser Medical Center where they were treated and released.

The suspect was arrested for two counts of assault.

WAIKIKI

Man arrested after wife reports knife attack

Alexander Flores, 33, was charged with terroristic threatening and abuse of a household member after he allegedly threatened his wife with a knife Wednesday night.

Police said the couple was having marital problems and arranged to talk it over around 6:30 p.m.

However, the victim showed up late to meet her husband at their home on Kalakaua Avenue, police said.

When she arrived, Flores punched her in the face several times, police said. His wife locked herself in the bathroom and later came out.

Police said the couple tried to resolve their problems, but the suspect brandished a knife and threatened to kill her and himself if she left him.

The victim was able to leave and later decided to report the attack to police. Flores was arrested Friday at 11:45 p.m. He is free after paying $11,000 bail.

NORTH SHORE

2 arrested in theft of 154 pineapples

A 29-year-old Waialua man and a 35-year-old Honolulu woman were arrested last night for allegedly stealing 154 pineapples.

Police said an officer stopped the couple's vehicle for a traffic violation about 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of Kaukonahua and Wilikina roads in Waialua. The officer noticed that the rear seat of the car was "filled to the roof" with pineapples and that the man and the woman were covered with dirt.

The officer called a representative from Del Monte who said the pineapples are of the variety grown by the company nearby. The fruit is valued at about $200.