Shark attack victim sees boost to musical career
WAILUKU >> The victim of a shark attack says the attention from the news media has helped to boost his career as a rock 'n' roll recording artist.Thomas Holmes, 35, who survived a shark attack in West Maui on New Year's Day, said he has been interviewed by several television stations on the mainland, including one that played his music.
"The people are hitting my Web site like crazy, asking for CDs," said Holmes, who was released after spending a night at Maui Memorial Medical Center. "Isn't that insane?"
Holmes said he and his girlfriend Monica Boggs were grateful to Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas for giving them three nights free and to United Airlines for giving them a discount on rescheduling their flight out of Maui.
"We feel fortunate to be alive," said Holmes, who received 50 stitches to his buttocks and thighs.
Holmes and Boggs, both from Los Angeles, are scheduled to leave Maui tomorrow night.
Holmes' Web site address is www.tommyholmes.com.
Gov releases funds for Kailua-Kona Pier repairs
KAILUA-KONA >> Gov. Ben Cayetano has released $3 million for repair of the Kailua-Kona Pier, Big Island Sen. Lorraine Inouye (D, North Hawaii) has announced.The governor also approved advertisement for bids on repairs, which are expected to total about $4.2 million.
The project previously received $800,000, and the governor will also seek an additional $600,000 in the upcoming legislative session, Inouye said.
William Chapman of UH off to Cambodia on grant
A University of Hawaii professor and director of historic preservation left this week to spend three weeks lecturing at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Cambodia under a Fulbright Senior Specialists grant.William Chapman is one of the first grantees under the program, which complements the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program.
Chapman, who will also be assisting with curriculum development in the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, will return to Cambodia for another three weeks in March to continue his project.
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>> Rod Antone wrote the "Editor's Scratchpad" on yesterday's Editorials page. The first edition incorrectly had his first name as Ron. 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
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HONOLULU
Fire that damaged home likely caused by candle
A candle was the probable cause of a fire that destroyed much of the interior of a two-story, two-unit house in Aiea yesterday afternoon, said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.Residents of both units were home at the time of the fire, though no one was injured.
A woman who lived in the downstairs unit was battling the blaze with a garden hose when the husband and wife who lived in the upper unit escaped after spotting the flames and smoke.
Fire trucks arrived at the house at 99-816 Kealaluina Drive four minutes after a 12:24 p.m. report of the blaze, Tejada said. By that time the bottom level of the house and two bedrooms upstairs had already been destroyed, Tejada said.
Eight fire units responded to the scene, and the blaze was brought under control by 12:49 p.m.
The rest of the house sustained extensive smoke damage.
Damage is estimated at $125,000 to the structure and $5,000 to its contents, Tejada said.
Medical examiner IDs teenager killed in crash
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office has identified Amanda W.F. Laulusa as the 17-year-old girl who was killed when her pickup truck slammed into a concrete pillar supporting the H-1 viaduct freeway, along Nimitz Highway near Lagoon Drive, on Dec. 26.
She was a student at the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy.
LEEWARD OAHU
Brush fire sweeps across 5 acres near golf course
A brush fire swept yesterday across five acres across from the Hawaiian Country Club along Kunia Road.Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said 11 units responded to the blaze, including a fire helicopter.
No buildings were threatened by the fire, Tejada said.
The cause of the fire and amount of damage are still unknown.
WAIKIKI
Stand-off suspect charged, has many prior arrests
Police have charged a 31-year-old man who barricaded himself and his girlfriend in a Waikiki hotel room Thursday for seven hours.Braze Kapeliela was arrested on a $30,000 felony contempt warrant for failing to appear for sentencing on an auto theft conviction, two $500 warrants and two $350 warrants.
He is also being held in lieu of $90,000 bail for three previous auto theft charges, a second-degree robbery charge and two criminal property damage charges.
He was not charged for any offenses in Thursday's incident.
Kapeliela surrendered to police about 4 p.m. Thursday.
Police had tried to serve outstanding warrants on him that morning at his Ohana Maile Sky Court hotel room.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man says he was injured while hunting lost puppy
A 55-year-old Punaluu man suffered a broken left arm, broken right hand, and leg and back pain after falling 30 feet off a ledge Wednesday behind the Ponds at Punaluu assisted-living facility.The man told police he was looking for a lost puppy at about 6:30 p.m. When darkness fell, he said, he tried to backtrack but fell off the ledge.
The fall left the man unconscious for about six hours.
When he awoke he yelled for help.
His calls were heard by employees at Ponds of Punaluu at about 12:30 a.m.
Police found the man off a cane haul road. He was taken to Kahuku Hospital for treatment.
Hit-and-run fatality is Oahu's third this year
A 79-year-old Waimanalo man died yesterday when he was struck on Kalanianaole Highway in a hit-and-run traffic accident.Police said the man was hit by a flatbed truck heading toward Kailua at about 7 a.m. yesterday, just west of where Humuniki Street intersects the highway.
The truck is black, with wooden cargo boxes on both sides of the bed, with plumbing fixtures and pipe racks with pipes in them.
Police said that if the man had been attempting to cross the highway, he was not in a crosswalk.
His death is the third traffic fatality on Oahu this year, compared with four at the same time last year.
