Hawaii agriculture bill clears U.S. Senate
A U.S. Pacific Basin Agriculture Resource Center would be built at the University of Hawaii at Hilo under a bill approved by the U.S. Senate.The Senate approved $3 million to construct the center, which would house laboratory, quarantine and aquaculture facilities. Another $900,000 would go toward researching industry concerns in Hawaii and U.S. territories in the Pacific. In all, the Senate approved $15.8 million for Hawaii-related agricultural programs. In other proposals, more than $780,000 would go toward researching disease and pest control for tropical crops. Another proposal would give $250,000 to boost agricultural development and resource conservation projects on Molokai, according to Sen. Daniel Inouye (D, Hawaii).
The bill must be approved by the House before moving to the White House.
AIDS support group wants volunteers
The Life Foundation, a nonprofit AIDS service organization, is looking for volunteers to be client buddies, transportation aides, meals program assistants, receptionists and prevention workers.Training is provided, said Staci Tamashiro, the foundation's volunteer coordinator. The office is located at 677 Ala Moana, Suite 226. For more information, call 521-2437, ext. 240.
Tree blocks Nuuanu Pali; rain traps Kauai hikers
Strong winds downed a tree across one lane of Nuuanu Pali Drive yesterday while rain flooded Hanakapiai Stream on Kauai, trapping nine hikers.Honolulu city road crews were called at 8 p.m. yesterday to clear the downed tree, which was blocking the makai-bound lane of Nuuanu Pali Drive near Jackass Ginger Pool.
On Kauai's North Shore, nine hikers were trapped by Hanakapiai Stream, which rose about three feet due to rain. Acting Fire Capt. Sam Lee Jr. said four people were trapped near the mouth of the river, with five more trapped about four miles into Hanakapiai Valley.
Seven members of Rescue 3 and Hanalei's Engine 1 responded to the 1:15 p.m. call. The hikers, all visitors, were escorted across the stream with the aid of a safety line, Lee said.
"One gentleman is lucky to be alive," Lee said.
The man was swept away after trying to cross the stream, which had risen to chest level, he said. The man suffered minor injuries but required no medical attention.
Northwest isles culture to be topic of meeting
The cultural heritage of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands will be the topic of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Advisory Council meeting 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 5-6 at Bishop Museum's Atherton Halau.The council is an advisory body to the National Ocean Service regarding the recently created Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. The meeting agenda is available by calling 397-2657. The reserve Web site address is www.hawaiireef.noaa.gov
Girl Scouts to honor isle women leaders
The Girl Scouts will honor two executives at their Hawaii Woman of Distinction Dinner next month.Cha Thompson, executive vice president of Tihati Productions, and Myrtle Lee, former president of Island Holidays Tours and Amfac Resorts Hawaii, will be honored. The Girl Scouts selected Thompson and Lee as outstanding role models for Hawaii's girls because of their many years of executive service in Hawaii.
The dinner will be chaired by Stanley Hong and Gov. Ben Cayetano and his wife, Vicky. It will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom on Nov. 14. For reservations, call 595-8400.
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
Residents turn to police with suspicious mail
Fearing bioterrorism, some residents took suspicious mail to police stations Friday and yesterday, causing the stations to be shut down.On Wednesday, Fire Capt. Richard Soo asked the public to stop bringing suspicious packages to fire stations to be inspected for anthrax or other bioterrorism agents.
"Now they're taking them to police stations," he said yesterday.
Two calls came in yesterday from Wahiawa and Kaneohe police stations for hazardous materials units to pick up pieces of suspicious mail.
At Wahiawa, a woman brought in a magazine with powder. At Kaneohe, a woman who felt sick brought an opened envelope in a Zip-Loc bag to police. On Friday, someone brought a suspicious piece of mail to the Kailua station.
The stations did not allow anyone to exit or enter until it was determined the mail was anthrax-free.
Soo reminded people to leave suspicious mail where it is found and call 911.
Since Oct. 12, hazardous materials units have responded to 195 calls about suspicious packages, including five yesterday, Soo said.
Sharp-eyed postal worker helps catch sex offender
A fugitive convicted of a sex offense against a child in San Francisco was arrested yesterday at the main post office in Honolulu.A postal employee at the airport post office at 3600 Aolele Street recognized 41-year-old Shawn Thomas from news coverage of a CrimeStoppers bulletin earlier in the week, according to police.
Patrol officers responded and arrested the man without incident at 9 a.m.
Thomas was arrested for parole revocation for felony sex offense convictions and will face extradition to California, police said.
CENTRAL OAHU
Fire damages unoccupied commercial building
A fire Friday night caused a portion of a small, unoccupied commercial building in Wahiawa to fall into Lake Wilson, fire Capt. Richard Soo said.The two-story rear of the building overlooks the lake; the front is one story.
Five engines, a ladder company and a battalion chief responded to the fire and brought it under control by 1:04 a.m. yesterday, Soo said.
Police reported damage to the structure at $50,000.
The building had just changed owners. The last tenant, who ran a coffee shop, moved out more than a year ago, the owner of a nearby business said.
One firefighter sustained a bruised left ankle and was treated at Wahiawa General Hospital. The fire department is investigating the cause of the fire.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police hold 4 suspects on drug, firearm offenses
Police arrested two men and two women in Kahuku on numerous drug and firearm offenses and outstanding warrants Friday morning.Police made the arrests between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. at 56-318 Kekaunoha Street following an investigation.
A 52-year-old Waianae man was arrested for seven drug-related offenses, two firearm offenses and one illegal knife offense. A woman, 28, and a man, 44, were arrested for two drug offenses each. A 32-year-old woman was arrested for four drug offenses and a firearm offense. All three lived in the house, according to police. The four suspects remained in police custody yesterday, but had not been charged.
