Japanese rescue ship to arrive today at Pearl
The Japanese submarine rescue ship Chihaya, with a crew of 130, was to arrive at Pearl Harbor today to help in the Ehime Maru recovery operations off the Honolulu Airport's reef runway next month.The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel, with a complement of Japanese divers, will help in the search for the nine Ehime Maru crew members lost when the Japanese fishing vessel sank after being struck by a surfacing U.S. submarine Feb. 9. The Chihaya's crew will support the U.S. and Japanese divers who will search the ship, and will then inspect the hull after the search effort is completed to make sure it is sound enough to be moved to its final resting place.
The Navy has begun the ambitious task of trying to raise the Ehime Maru from 2,000 feet of water nine miles south of Diamond Head. The Navy hopes to move the Ehime Maru 12.5 miles to shallow water a mile south of the reef runway where Navy and Japanese divers can search for the nine people.
Shoplifter on Maui gets 10-year prison sentence.
WAILUKU >> A Maui man with a lengthy criminal record was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week for shoplifting about $5 worth of beer and peanuts.Circuit Judge Artemio Baxa said Brian Allen, 42, must serve at least three years and four months behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.
Baxa noted Allen's criminal history includes convictions in Illinois, New Jersey, Arizona and Nevada as well as Hawaii, plus arrests in other states.
The judge said Allen has practically lived a life of crime since the age of 19.
In return for Allen's no-contest plea, prosecutors reduced a first-degree robbery charge to second-degree robbery.
Employees of Kitagawa Food Mart in Kahului said Allen brandished a knife when they confronted him for taking items from the store.
Flash Fire Critically Burns Auto Mechanic
The victim was emptying the contents of his gas tank at Auto World Specialists at 3047 Koapaka St. after he suspected water was in it, said Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman of the Honolulu Fire Department.He emptied the contents in a container and lit it to check if it was water, Soo said.
A flash fire occurred burning 90 percent of his body. Co-workers poured water on his body, Soo said.
Freeway lanes clear for back-to-school commuters
The state Department of Transportation is advising Oahu drivers that there will be no daytime closures of freeway lanes beginning today through Wednesday, Aug. 29, in observance of the agency's annual "Beat the School Jam."The lanes are being kept open as traffic is expected to become heavier with more public and private school students returning to classes.
Nearly 46,000 are scheduled to head back to school on Thursday with another 40,000 students, including those attending most universities, returning Aug. 27.
Transportation officials also have suggested using alternative transportation to ease traffic congestion.
Some options:
>> Vanpool Hawaii, which matches interested riders who travel along the same route. Call 596-8267.
>> SchoolPool, which matches students who live in the same area. Call 587-7433.
>> The Commuter Express, which provides Mililani and Waipio Gentry residents transportation to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. Call 677-7433.
>> Roberts Hawaii, which offers a free two-week trial period for private school students who live in Mililani, Wahiawa, Waipahu and Waipio Gentry. Call 832-4886.
Meanwhile, the DOT advises motorists to anticipate delays and allow for extra travel time due to projects that will force lane closures in portions of the H-1 corridor today through Friday.
The projects include:
>> Seismic retrofit work along Harding Avenue that will close lanes from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
>> Barrier work and utility relocation that will close the right lane of the Punahou overpass makai-bound.
>> Work at the Punahou Pump Station that could possibly close lanes at the H-1 freeway Punahou Street overpass from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Kaneohe Bay pier owners face Oct. 8 deadline to make structures legal
People with piers on Kaneohe Bay have until Oct. 8 to get "amnesty" from fines from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.Of 229 pier owners, all but about 30 have come forward to participate in the program to get their piers legal in the eyes of the state, said Sam Lemmo of the DLNR's Land Division.
Lemmo said he is "very satisfied with the turnout" and hopes more owners will sign up.
"Once Oct. 8 slides by, we're going to see who has not come in and start considering how we're going to go about a program of removal."
Any pier owners who want to join the program should call Traver Carroll at 587-0439. Those with illegal piers who do not participate in the program will be subject to fines and/or removal of the piers.
Corrections and clarifications
>> A photo from the Moanikeala Keiki Auana Hula Competition at the Polynesian Cultural Center was shot by Barry Markowitz. His name was omitted from a photo caption on Page D6 in yesterday's paper.
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
HONOLULU
Tourist rescued after failed Diamond Head trek
Fire rescue crews helped a 33-year-old male tourist off Diamond Head after he attempted to reach the top from the outside.At about 2:30 p.m. yesterday, the hiker was 450 feet from the top when he became stuck on the ocean side, said Fire Dept. spokesman, Capt. Richard Soo.
Because of the victim's precarious position and the fire department chopper being out of service, it took crews almost four hours help him to the ground, Soo said.
Halawa man arrested in Jungle River robbery
A 21-year-old Halawa man was arrested last night for a knife-point robbery of a miniature golf course near Pearlridge Center.Police said employees of Jungle River Mini Golf at 98-1101 Moanalua Road were counting the night's receipts when the man entered the office at 10:20 p.m., threatened them with a knife then fled on foot with money from two bags.
The man also threatened witnesses who chased him, police said. The man was caught by Pearlridge Center security. He was arrested for first-degree robbery and terroristic threatening
LEEWARD OAHU
Victim of single-car crash ID'd as Pearl City resident A 22-year-old Pearl City man killed in a single-car crash early Saturday has been identified as Kristoffer Ibera, the Medical Examiner's Office said.Ibera was entering the H-1 freeway eastbound from the Campbell Industrial Park onramp when he lost control of his car after making several lane changes at high speed, police said. His car went off the shoulder and up an embankment, throwing him from the vehicle.
A 19-year-old Ewa Beach man, a passenger in the car, remained in fair condition yesterday at Queen's Medical Center.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Body of Maui man, 23, recovered off Waiehu
WAILUKU >> The body of a 23-year-old Maui man was found offshore of Waiehu Beach Park yesterday morning.The man was reported missing 7 p.m. Saturday after he failed to return from diving for fish. The Maui Fire Department began a search by air, sea and along the shoreline shortly thereafter and resumed at first light yesterday.
His body was recovered after being spotted around 9:30 a.m. yesterday near shore.
Biker who died in Maui crash identified
LAHAINA >> The motorcyclist who died in a crash in Lahaina has been identified as Maui resident David M.I. Oishi.Oishi, 20, was traveling north on Honoapiilani Highway about 4:11 p.m. yesterday, when he entered an intersection at Kupunakea Street and struck the side of a pickup truck, police traffic investigator Ericlee Correa said.
Oishi is the 15th traffic fatality this year on Maui, compared with 14 at the same time last year.
WINDWARD OAHU
Fatality in motorcycle crash Aug. 11 identified
A motorcyclist who died Friday after an Aug. 11 accident has been identified as 21-year-old Chad Tanabe of Honolulu, the Medical Examiner's Office said.Tanabe was taken to Queen's Medical Center after losing control on a curve and hitting a cement culvert on Auloa Road, south of Pali Highway.
