Oahu power failures blamed on gusty winds
Nearly 4,000 customers experienced power failures for several hours yesterday due to gusty winds, said HECO spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.Affected areas included Waimalu, Waialua, Waipahu, Wahiawa and Diamond Head. Power failures occurred between 4 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. About 1,500 customers in Waialua, 1,500 in Waipahu, 730 in Waimalu and 230 in Diamond Head were affected.
Power was restored to most customers by 6 p.m., however there were some intermittant outages to individual customers, said Kobashikawa.
Gusty wind was blamed for a brush fire at the end of Hapaki Street in the Newtown area of Aiea. Kobashikawa said a downed 138,000-kilovolt power line ignited brush in the Punanani Gulch around 11:44 a.m. Firefighters battled the fire until 5 p.m., when they left because the fire was inaccessible, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo. Wind damaged roofs at three homes in Pearl City and Wahiawa between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., said Soo.
Jeff Powell, lead forecaster of the National Weather Service, said gusty winds are expected to continue through tomorrow.
OFFICE TOWER PANEL FALLS INTO STREET
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Ill boy who sold buttons takes $5,146 to New York
An 11-year-old boy who has sold buttons for the Sept. 11 relief effort left for New York yesterday to appear on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."Rochan Pinho, who suffers from terminal brain and spinal cancer, has designed, pressed and sold hundreds of patriotic buttons, raising more than $10,150 to help the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
He previously sent $5,006 to New York with visiting state trooper Dave Bast, who delivered the check to New York Gov. George Pataki. Pinho will deliver the remaining $5,146 personally.
Pinho said the show will be taped tomorrow but aired as a Christmas special on Dec. 24. Three other children who have done extensive fund raising will be on the show as well. The four children will have the opportunity to meet with some of the victims they have helped.
Bast is trying to arrange for Pinho to meet with Pataki during this trip, but before he left yesterday, Pinho said, "We might have to come back and fly to New York again."
>> Two photos taken by staff photographer Dennis Oda were miscredited in recent Sports sections. His photo of Prince Brown taken during Friday's St. Louis-Kailua game appeared yesterday on Page B1, and his photo of Ashley Lelie taken during the University of Hawaii-Air Force game Saturday ran Monday on Page B10. 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 Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
CENTRAL OAHU
Police officer injured during scuffle at store
A 43-year-old police officer broke an ankle last night in a struggle with a Schofield Barracks soldier at a convenience store in Wahiawa.Police said the officer went to H-Market at 43 S. Kamehameha Hoghway about 8 p.m. when he observed a store employee in an argument with an intoxicated man. The officer intervened and was assaulted, police said. The officer was hurt as he and the intoxicated person fell to the ground, police said.
William Simmons, 26, of Wahiawa was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. The officer was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where he was treated and released.
WEST OAHU
Water-main break slows traffic to Ewa Beach
A water main break near the corner of Fort Weaver Road and Renton Road shut down one lane of traffic heading into Ewa Beach this morning. The 16-inch main broke about 10:30 p.m. Board of Water Supply crews hope to have the line repaired in time for afternoon traffic. No homes were affected by the break. The main carries treated non-potable water used for irrigation.
HONOLULU
Motorist dies after Jeep hits tree on Pali Highway
A motorist was killed yesterday when his car hit a tree in Nuuanu.The motorist was driving along Pali Highway just past Nuuanu Pali Drive in a tan 1993 Jeep Cherokee when he crashed into a large tree around 5 a.m., police said.
The victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in the vehicle when police and fire officials arrived, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Witnesses are asked to call the Traffic Vehicular Homicide Division at 529-3499.
Fire at Neiman Marcus damages loading dock
Fire caused $25,500 damage to the loading dock of Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Center yesterday, fire officials said.At about 2:50 a.m., smoke was coming from a pile of soiled linens from Mariposa Restaurant left on the loading dock, said fire spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
Sprinklers contained the fire before it was extinguished by firefighters at 3:25 a.m., he said. Soo said the fire does not appear to be maliciously set.
NORTH SHORE
Veteran parachutist hurt in rough airfield landing
A parachutist was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition yesterday after suffering injuries in a rough landing at Dillingham Airfield on Farrington Highway.The man was described as a professional parachutist with 20 years of experience, Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo said. Windy conditions were a factor in the accident, Soo said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Pineapple truck blocks robbery suspect's escape
WAILUKU >> Police arrested a Maui man suspected of holding up a bank Saturday morning after his car was held up in traffic. Officers caught up with the man while his sport utility vehicle was stopped at Kaahumanu Avenue and Kahului Beach Road, according to witnesses.As a police officer moved in to make the arrest, the suspect was not able to move his car because of a pineapple truck that had pulled up behind, Nelson Albino of Honolulu said.
The intersection is located two blocks from the Kahului branch of First Hawaiian Bank, which was robbed just a few minutes earlier.
Kauai police seeking suspect in hotel assault
LIHUE >> Police want help in finding a man who assaulted a housekeeper with a pocket knife Friday at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club.Police said the housekeeper, who suffered minor hand injuries, saw the suspect in one of the rooms. The suspect, carrying a Wal-Mart bag, told the housekeeper he was lost and left the room, police said.
Around 12:55 p.m., police said, the suspect returned with a pocket knife, closed the door and tried to assault the woman. Police said the victim grabbed the knife and kicked the suspect before he fled the room.
The suspect is a male in his mid-to-late 50s with a slim build. He was wearing a dark blue shirt, brown shorts and slippers. Anyone with information about the assault can call the Kauai Police Department at 241-6711.
