A more powerful KTUH was to resume broadcasting from the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus today, with a new antenna and tower that will reach a substantially larger audience. UH radio returns with more power
A new antenna and tower will allow
KTUH to reach more peopleThe station suspended broadcasts on July 30 for installation of a new tower and antenna. The project was delayed a few days because of damaged parts.
The new antenna and tower will increase KTUH's power to 3,000 watts from 100.
The $68,000 project has taken 13 years and has been funded entirely by student fees and community donations.
KTUH broadcasts from the Manoa campus at 90.3, with repeater sites at Mount Kaala, 91.3, and Leahi Hospital, 89.7.
Power failure affects 19,000 Maui customers
A power failure plunged Central, East and Upcountry Maui residents into a blackout last night.Maui Electric Co. officials said the outage affected about 19,000 customers -- homes and businesses from Pukalani to Wailuku as well as towns as far east as Keanae -- about 8:45 p.m.
"We noticed the lights and TV flickering at around 6 p.m. like there was a power surge," said Paia resident Cyrilla Pascual.
Earl Ifuku, manager of customer service for Maui Electric, said lightning strikes may have hit a main transmission line in Central Maui. Earlier, MECO reported that light rain on power lines was causing problems.
MECO restored power to Kahului Airport about 45 minutes later.
Maui Memorial Hospital and police stations were without power and operated on emergency generators.
West and South Maui had electricity, police said.
Monk seal and pup force closure of Poipu Beach
POIPU, Kauai >> Federal and Kauai County officials closed off the entire Poipu Beach area late yesterday because a Hawaiian monk seal and her pup have expanded the area in which they have been swimming. The beach is expected to be closed until the pup is weaned.The mother seal, which nipped a swimmer two weeks ago, lunged yesterday at a swimmer who was trying to get ashore. The area in which swimmers were prohibited started in front of the Waiohai Resort 3 1/2 weeks ago and has been gradually widened by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Protected Species Program.
Kauai officials name temporary police chief
LIHUE >> Inspector Alvin Yoshida, who heads the Kauai Police Department administrative bureau, is in charge of day-to-day operations at the Police Department until Deputy Chief Wilfred Ihu returns to work, Mayor Maryanne Kusaka's office said yesterday.Ihu was put in charge of the department Monday, the same day Chief George Freitas was placed on administrative leave pending investigation of alleged misconduct.
A death in Ihu's family resulted in him temporarily being unable to work.
Entry forms available for cancer benefit run
Applications are available for the 5-kilometer Susan G. Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure on Sept. 30 at Kapiolani Park.Jackie Young, breast cancer survivor, is chairwoman for the event, being held to raise funds to fight the disease.
The race will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by a 1-mile walk at 7:45 a.m. An awards ceremony will begin at 8:45 a.m. with entertainment by Dita Holifield and her band and recognition of local breast cancer survivors.
Safeway will serve breakfast to participants.
Registration is $18 until Sept. 22, then will go up to $22. The fee will be $15 for groups of five or more with applications mailed together, or $18 for late registration.
Pick up entry forms at all Chevron stations, Bank of Hawaii, Safeway, Kapiolani Women's Center, Pier 1 Imports, First Hawaiian Bank, Running Room, Runner's Route and Sports Authority, or call 973-5967.
[THE COURTS]
ACLU joins in efforts to open Campbell records
The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii has joined the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and KITV-4 News in efforts to open the legal proceedings surrounding the Estate of James Campbell.In papers filed with the state Supreme Court yesterday, the ACLU asked for permission to file a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the media organizations' attempt to make public the court filings and hearings regarding the Campbell Estate.
Brent White, the ACLU's executive director, said its interest in the case lies in upholding access to public information, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Access to records pertaining to the $2 billion Campbell Estate is of "great importance to the state of Hawaii," White said.
"The affairs of the Campbell Estate affect the lives of thousands of citizens," White said.
"There is thus rightfully a great public interest in the estate. Moreover, the public has a right to know how the affairs of the estate are played out in our courts."
The ACLU's filings come after state Probate Judge Colleen Hirai rejected the Star-Bulletin and KITV's request to make public the legal proceedings surrounding the Campbell Estate. The news organizations have filed for a writ of mandamus with the Supreme Court seeking to set aside Hirai's ruling, but the request was dismissed by the high court.
Diamond Head vendor indicted on tax charges
An Oahu grand jury has indicted a Hawaii Kai man who sold T-shirts and water at Diamond Head Crater for failure to file his general excise tax returns from 1997 to 2000.Christopher Glynn, also known as Christian Glynn, 38, did business as Hanauma Bay Preservation Society and Eco Quest.
He was charged yesterday with four counts of failure to file.
A bench warrant of $4,000 has been issued for his arrest.
Glynn faces one year in jail and $25,000 in fines on each of the counts if convicted.
Grand jury indicts suspect in 3 bank heists
A federal grand jury has indicted suspected serial bank robber Edward Dino Leiffer for three robberies last month.The indictment, handed down yesterday, charges Leiffer with the July 10 robbery at City Bank in Kapahulu, the July 28 robbery at American Savings Bank in Kaneohe and July 30 robbery at American Savings Bank in Pearl City.
He allegedly made off with more than $1,000 in each robbery after handing the teller a note indicating he had a weapon. No weapons were seen.
Leiffer was captured Friday at a hotel near the airport after weeks of eluding police and the FBI.
He is also a suspect in two other bank robberies last month and a robbery earlier this month at the Hawaii National Bank's airport branch, a few blocks from where he was finally caught.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Lawrence H. Miike is former director of the state Department of Health. A front-page story yesterday about proposed uses for Waiahole Ditch water misidentified him as the current health director.>> Capt. Richard Soo is the Honolulu Fire Department's spokesman. He was misidentified as Capt. Richard Sua in a front-page caption yesterday.
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
EAST OAHU
Kaimuki man, 89, hit by pickup truck
An 89-year-old Kaimuki man is at Queen's Medical Center recovering from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a pickup truck on Waialae Avenue about 4:40 this morning.The man was crossing Waialae Avenue at the Palolo McDonald's Restaurant when he was hit. The man was taken to by ambulance to Queen's in serious condition where his condition improved to guarded.
HONOLULU
Police search for bus stop stabbing suspect
Police are looking for the suspect in a stabbing at a bus stop at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza this morning.Police said a 39-year-old Kaimuki man was at the bus stop at about 12:30 a.m. when a a man approached him and challenged him to a fight. The suspect took out a knife and tried to stab the victim who fought him off with a broom. Police said the suspect stabbed the victim in the back and fled.
The victim was treated and released at the Queen's Medical Center.
CENTRAL OAHU
Waipio Gentry brush fire battled and snuffed out
A city fire crew battled a brush fire yesterday afternoon across from Costco and Tony Honda along Ka Uka Boulevard in Waipio Gentry.Eleven firefighters responded to the fire at 11:53 a.m. and extinguished it at 2:22 p.m.
The fire burned about two acres.
Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said it is undetermined what caused the fire.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
2 suspects charged after Big Isle drug bust
KAILUA-KONA >> Police are holding a Kona man and woman in lieu of $24,000 bail each for alleged drug possession following a raid yesterday, they said.Jason Ishii, 32, and Lorraine Angay, 37, both of Kailua-Kona, were both charged with promoting dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In the 6:15 a.m. raid on their apartment, police found 14.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 0.3 grams of an undetermined powder, 10 tablets of a controlled substance and $1,031 in cash.
Home near Keaau is destroyed by fire
HILO >> Fire of an unknown cause destroyed a small house near Keaau at about 6 a.m. yesterday, the fire department said.Owned by Island Princess Macadamia Farm and occupied by Evangeline Carreira, the house was valued at $55,000.
Police release name of Californian killed on Maui
WAILUKU >> The 52-year-old woman who died in a traffic accident in West Maui Monday has been identified as Macia Wilson of San Bruno, Calif. Wilson was on vacation with her husband.She died when the car her husband was driving was struck broadside by an oncoming pickup truck.
The condition of Wilson's 21-year-old son, Derek, has improved to guarded from critical at Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
Police said the vehicle carrying the Wilsons was traveling at about noon in the Lahaina direction on Honoapiilani Highway when it stopped to turn into a park at Ukumehame.
A car driven by another visitor rear-ended the Wilsons' vehicle, pushing it into oncoming traffic, police said.
