SOUTH KOHALA, Hawaii >> Mauna Lani Resort was to dedicate a new solar electric power system today that will double its photovoltaic capacity, giving it the largest such capacity among resorts around the world. Solar power system to energize
Mauna Lani ResortThe resort installed a 250-kilowatt system, bringing its total solar capacity to about 500 kilowatts, system manufacturer PowerLight Corp. of Berkeley, Calif., announced.
Three previous installations also were built by PowerLight, the company said.
Mauna Lani Vice President Neil Bustamante commented, “These clean, reliable systems make sense both for our operating budget and the environment.” The systems are expected to save the resort $5 million over a 25-year period while reducing the need to burn fossil fuels for power, Bustamante said.
The 250-kilowatt system, which covers three acres, captures 30 percent more solar energy than fixed systems by tracking the sun through the day, the company said.
In 2000, PowerLight installed a 175-kilowatt combined solar and wind-powered system on Parker Ranch to pump water. That system has two acres of photovoltaic panels plus five wind turbines.
Previous installations at Mauna Lani included an 80-kilowatt system on the Mauna Lani Hotel & Bungalows and a 110-kilowatt system on the hotel’s golf facility.
The resort’s fleet of golf carts also is powered by solar systems installed on the roof of each cart.
Insurance company cancels no-fault policy for Big Isle cops
HILO >> The insurance company that provides no-fault coverage to Big Island police officers is canceling the policy because of too many auto accidents, officials said.Assistant Chief Lawrence Mahuna said the department received a notice earlier this month, saying the policy with TIG Crum and Forster Inc. will be canceled March 1.
"I guess there were too many claims against our officers driving subsidized vehicles in terms of either injuries to themselves or others," Mahuna said. "They referenced 39 cases that they had to pay out."
The county now must solicit bids for a new carrier.
The current $428,400 policy covers no-fault insurance on some 360 police officers driving on and off duty in their subsidized police cars. With 39 claims, that amounts to more than a 10 percent accident rate.
"When you accumulate that much, I guess the insurance company is saying, basically, 'You're not a good risk,' " Mahuna said.
No-fault covers injuries, but the officers must purchase their own collision insurance.
Mahuna said he doesn't think the high rate of accidents means the officers' driving is worse than the public at large.
"I just think that's just a nature of police work," he said. "The more times you respond in an emergency mode, the more chance you have of getting into an accident.
"But we do try ... to emphasize that you drive safely. Even if you get there a little later, you get there intact."
Mechanical problem halts bookmobile rounds
The Oahu Bookmobile serving Leeward and Windward areas will be off the road for a few weeks.The bookmobile, now stationed at Pearl City Public Library, is awaiting parts to repair an oil leak.
The bookmobile makes 11 stops in the Leeward area on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and eight stops in the Windward area on Thursdays and Fridays.
State officials will announce when the Oahu Bookmobile will return to its designated stops.
Carlisle taps top deputy to handle Harris inquiry
City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle has assigned one of his top deputies to handle his investigation of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign.Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee will head the high-profile case, which focuses on allegations that Harris' 2000 mayoral campaign helped launder political donations.
Lee, Carlisle's top prosecutor for white-collar cases, is well-known for his successful prosecution of former city housing official Michael Kahapea in the Ewa Villages relocation scam.
Last week, the state Campaign Spending Commission referred its yearlong investigation into the Harris campaign to Carlisle's office for a criminal investigation, saying campaign officials intentionally violated state campaign laws.
Harris, who plans to run for governor this year as a Democrat, has denied wrongdoing, saying he is the target of a smear campaign.
Land board chief critical of Maui tire-dumping
WAILUKU >> State land board Chairman Gilbert Coloma-Agaran has publicly criticized the recent dumping of scores of old tires on a Maui shoreline."If someone has tires on a lot they want to get rid of, they should work with us to dispose of them properly," he said.
"The ocean is not a public dumping ground. It is a public trust."
State conservation officials are asking the public's help in investigating the dumping of 56 old tires along several hundred yards of shoreline north of Maalaea Harbor.
Anyone with information may call the state enforcement office on Maui, 984-8111.
>> Cynthia Rankin has been named public relations director for the Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani hotels. Erica Neves has been named public relations director at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Hawaii. Neves' title was inaccurately attributed to Rankin on Page C3 of Hawaii Inc. yesterday. Corrections and clarifications
>> The Royal Order of Kamehameha I has proposed that all observatories on Mauna Kea pay a combined total of $45 million a year to state and private agencies. A story on Page A3 Thursday on a separate proposal by Clayton Hee, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, incorrectly said that the Royal Order wanted the $45 million annually to come from NASA alone. Also, the Royal Order proposal was made jointly with Mauna Kea Anaina Hou.
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
EAST OAHU
Police arrest boy after soda machine damaged
Honolulu police arrested a 10-year-old boy yesterday for allegedly damaging a Pepsi Cola vending machine at 435 Poipu Drive in Hawaii Kai.Police said the boy severely damaged the machine while trying to open it. He was arrested for alleged second-degree property damage and released pending an investigation.
HONOLULU
Infant girl hospitalized with bleeding in brain
Honolulu police have opened an assault investigation after a 1-month-old girl was admitted to Kapiolani Medical Center with bleeding in the brain.Police said the victim was admitted Saturday and that there are two suspects in the case, an adult male and an adult female. No further details were available, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui police helicopter quickly finds missing man
WAILUKU >> Maui fire rescue officials using a county helicopter found a man yesterday who was reported missing and suffering from Alzheimer's disease.Fire Capt. Frank Tam said the man was in good condition when he was found near a field of macadamia nuts, north of Malaihi Road about a mile mauka of Kahekili Highway in Waihee.
The helicopter flew overhead just as the man was walking in an open area, where he was visible. "If we'd passed by the place five minutes later, we wouldn't have found him," Tam said.
The man, who had wandered off previously, was reported missing at 3:30 p.m. and found by a helicopter crew at 4:15 p.m., Tam said.
Police ask public's help in solving safe burglary
Police are seeking the public's help in solving a burglary in which a safe was stolen from Harrington's restaurant in Hilo sometime between Sunday and Monday morning.Big Island police said between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., one or more thieves broke into the restaurant and bar, located at 135 Kalanianaole Ave. and stole a safe with cash inside.
Police said the total value of the safe and its contents was estimated at $15,000.
Responding officers determined that the thieves had broken into the restaurant through the men's bathroom window and left with the safe through the main entrance.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Hilo police at 935-3311.
LEEWARD OAHU
Medical examiner identifies crash victim
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has identified the man who died in a multiple-car collision on Farrington Highway Monday as Melvin K. Kunukau, Jr., 34, of Waianae.Kunukau was driving town bound at Maili Point about 5 a.m. Monday when a car traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line, collided with one car then slammed head-on into Kunukau's vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The 24-year-old man driving the car that crossed the center line was in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center. The driver of the other car involved in the collision, a 27-year-old man, was in guarded condition.
Woman killed in apparent diving accident
A 38-year-old Ewa Beach woman died yesterday while diving with friends in waters off the Kahe Point Beach Park.Her diving partners found her unconscious in the water about 1:30 p.m. The woman was taken to St. Francis Medical Center-West where she was pronounced dead.
Guitar sale goes sour, leads to robbery arrest
A deal between two men to buy a guitar hit a sour note in Nanakuli yesterday.Police said that the 20-year-old suspect had agreed to sell the guitar to a 51-year-old man and met to make the sale at Lualualei Naval Road.
Police said prior to the exchange, the victim began counting his money when the suspect grabbed the cash and fled to his parked vehicle. As the suspect drove off he pointed what was believed to have been a handgun at the victim, police said.
The suspect was later identified by the victim and police arrested him for alleged robbery.
Suspect arrested after he allegedly broke man's jaw
Police arrested a man yesterday for allegedly breaking another man's jaw with one punch in an assault that happened last month at 98-980 Kaonohi St. in Aiea.According to the victim, the suspect on Dec. 1, 2001, punched him for no reason. The victim and a witness identified the man, who was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.
The suspect was released pending investigation.
