Mother monk seal gives Texan a sharp welcome
POIPU, Kauai >> A Texas man was nipped in the behind on Sunday by a mother monk seal off Kauai because he swam too close to the seal's newborn pup, officials said.The monk seal nipped the man because it probably viewed him as a threat to her 2-week-old pup, said Don Heacock, an aquatic biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources.
Officials had set up an area to give the mother and pup some swimming and resting room. The snorkeler was not in that area.
Officials doubled the size of the seals' area after the incident.
Delores Clark, a spokeswoman for the National Marine Fisheries Service, said an investigation is being conducted.
The snorkeler was apparently about 50 feet away from shore when the mother swam rapidly up to him and gave him a nip.
The mother has been taking the pup into the water more frequently, teaching it how to swim, and she probably perceived the swimmer as a threat, Heacock said.
Monk seals are not aggressive, except mothers with pups and two or more males vying for the attention of a female, he said.
HOV and Express lanes closed Thursday, Friday
Lane and ramp closures will affect Koko Head-bound traffic on the H-1 freeway this week.The Express Shoulder and high occupancy vehicle lanes on the airport viaduct will be closed on Thursday and Friday.
Striping and signaling work is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ship heads out for Ehime Maru salvage task
After a week of preparation, the Navy-contract ship Rockwater 2 began its task today of trying to lift the fishing vessel Ehime Maru from the ocean bottom nine miles south of Diamond Head and move it to shallower water.The salvage operation is organized by the U.S. Navy to look for the remains of nine Ehime Maru crew members who are missing after the Feb. 9 collision with the nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville.
The Rockwater 2 spent a week at Pier 1 to prepare for the operation, which involves hoisting the Ehime Maru from where it rests 2,000 feet down and moving it to a spot a mile south of Honolulu Airport's reef runway.
That operation is supposed to take place later this month if the Rockwater 2 is able to build a cradle around the hull of the Ehime Maru and raise it.
The U.S. Navy said there is an 80 percent chance of success.
The Navy said the Rockwater 2 spent today surveying the ocean bottom at the site and conducting equipment checks.
Corrections and clarifications
>> In late 1999, City Councilman Andy Mirikitani fired two employees, one of whom later testified that the councilman gave him a bonus in exchange for a kickback. A story in Sunday's newspaper gave the wrong year, 1998.
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
CENTRAL OAHU
Schofield soldier arrested for stabbing wife, 1 other
A 32-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier is in police custody for allegedly stabbing his ex-wife and another man this morning in Waiau.Police say the suspect's estranged wife was driving another woman home and was being followed by the male victim in another car when the suspect cut her off near the corner of Hoohulu Street and Hoohaaheo Place about 2 a.m.
At about the same time, police received a cellular telephone call from a woman reporting that someone had pointed a gun at her and another call reporting a stabbing.
Police said the suspect took his 32-year-old wife to the Tripler Army Medical Center where he also received treatment for a cut to his left hand. He was later released to police who arrested him for two counts of attempted murder. The male victim, who is said to be a military man in his 40s, was taken to Queen's Medical Center by ambulance.
NORTH SHORE
2 Wahiawa men charged in car-to-car shootings
Police have charged two Wahiawa men after one of them allegedly fired a gun at another car Saturday night.Clint Soliven, 20, was charged with four counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder.
He also was charged with two counts of firearms violations. His total bail was set at $75,000.
Police also charged Robert Nunies, 18, with a firearms violation.
Bail for Nunies was set at $25,000. He was scheduled to appear in District Court today.
Nunies, Soliven and a 17-year-old passenger were arrested Saturday night. The juvenile was released.
The incident started about 11 p.m. when the three apparently got angry when another car overtook them on Kamehameha Highway near Haleiwa.
Two shots were fired at the other car, carrying four passengers. A window was hit but no one was injured.
