Explosives alert shuts Honolulu Harbor
The Coast Guard closed Honolulu Harbor this morning because explosive-sniffing dogs alerted security officials that a pallet of packages may contain explosive devices or residue.The pallet was being loaded on to the cruise ship Crystal Harmony at Pier 2 this morning. It contained loosely packed Federal Express boxes from a shipment originating in Las Vegas.
"Because of the heightened security, we've shut down the port in order to enforce the security zone around the cruise ship," said Coast Guard public affairs specialist David B. Mosely.
"Hopefully there's no big emergency here, but we don't know at this time and that's what they're working on," he said.
The port was closed at 8:20 a.m. to incoming and outgoing traffic.
The police bomb squad and a military ordnance team were on the scene. The packages may be X-rayed, Mosely said.
Meeting to talk about Makapuu rockfall projects
The State Department of Transportation will be holding an informational meeting on the rockfall protection/road improvement projects near Makapuu Point on April 11.The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. at the Blanche Pope Elementary School cafeteria at 41-133 Huli St. in Waimanalo.
The hearing will address the department's plan to protect motorists from potential falling rocks and also repairing the portion of Kalanianaole Highway which runs past Makapuu.
For further information call the DOT at 587-2160.
Gov, lawmakers oppose HSTA health bill effort
Gov. Ben Cayetano said he would veto any bill allowing public employee unions to return to operating health plans for their members.The 13,000-member Hawaii State Teachers Association plans a move this week to get lawmakers to take extraordinary action to pull the shelved bill out of committee for a vote. The move is opposed by House and Senate leaders.
"I think the health fund reform bill that was passed last year was probably one of the most significant reforms that the Legislature has had the courage to bring about," Cayetano said yesterday.
"And it would be a shame if only one year later there are enough people down there who are intimidated into repealing what is in my view a very, very good law."
The 2001 law returned the public employee health plan to a single state-run system after 17 years of allowing the unions to set up their own plans.
The legislative auditor in 1999 said if the state continued the old system, providing public employees health insurance by 2013 would cost taxpayers more than $1 billion a year.
H-1 lane, Piikoi onramp to be closed for roadwork
State transportation officials are advising Oahu motorists that one lane of the H-1 freeway along with the Piikoi Street on-ramp will be closed today and tomorrow.The road closures will take place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and are urged to take an alternate route.
State Senate shelves plan to revamp hospital system
A Senate committee killed a bill yesterday that would have divided the state's community hospital system into four county regions and eliminate the quasi-private agency that now runs the system.Before agreeing to shelve the proposal which would have required $49 million to carry out, members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee scolded the executives running the system.
Sen. Jan Buen (D, West Maui-Molokai-Lanai), said the bill was propelled by frustration that the Hawaii Health System Corp. has failed to fund much needed expansion of Maui Memorial.
"What was brought out in all of this is that HHSC should be more fiscally responsible to the Maui hospital. That's the only hospital that is making money and yet HHSC is not giving it any subsidies and thereby not giving incentives to this hospital to make any kind of improvements it needs," she said.
Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Waianae-Makaha), repeated her concern about high salaries and bonuses paid to the corporation's executives with little accountability on their performance.
House resolutions seek honors for Kahanamoku
The House Tourism and Culture and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees passed two resolutions yesterday that seek to designate August 2002 as "Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Hoolaulea" month.House Concurrent Resolution 199 and House Resolution 142 both note that the U.S. Postal Service will release a Duke Kahanamoku commemorative stamp on Aug. 24, the 112th anniversary of his birth.
The stamp, which was sought for years by Kahanamoku's wife, friends and fans, was approved last year.
Kahanamoku is known as "the father of international surfing," a multiple Olympic medal-winner in swimming, a consummate Hawaiian canoe paddler, movie actor and all-around waterman. Then he served for years as Honolulu sheriff and the state's "ambassador of aloha."
"All who know him recall the famous photo of Duke dashing from the surf in the peak of fitness," Donald W. Gallagher of the Surfrider Foundation wrote to the state Legislature, in support of honoring Kahanamoku this August.
"His spirit lives on in all of us who love the ocean as he did."
Friends of Heeia invite volunteers for cleanups
Friends of Heeia State Park have scheduled volunteer coastal and stream cleanups at Ke Alohi Point several times a month for the rest of the year. Individuals and groups are welcome. Work hours are 8:30-11:30 a.m. on the appointed day.For more information, contact Rochelle Smith, volunteer coordinator at 247-3156.
Coastal restoration dates are: April 6 and 20; May 4 and 18; June 1 and 15; July 6 and 20; Aug. 3 and 17; Sept. 7 and 21; Oct. 5 and 19; Nov. 2 and 16; Dec. 7 and 21.
Stream cleanup dates are: April 27; May 25; June 22; July 27; Aug. 24; Sept. 28; Oct. 26; Nov. 22; Dec. 28.
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>> Gov. Ben Cayetano has not endorsed Clayton Hee, Office of Hawaiians trustee, for lieutenant governor. A headline on a Page A8 story Sunday incorrectly said Cayetano endorsed Hee. Cayetano said his remarks noting Hee's qualifications were an observation but not an official endorsement. Corrections and clarifications
>> Tickets for the May readings of Gardner McKay's "Sea Marks" are available only by calling 732-1147. An item in Tuesday's Today section said incorrectly that they were also available at Manoa Valley Theatre.
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 staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
2 Big Island men sought for contempt of court
Big Island police are asking for help in finding two men wanted on separate arrest warrants.Gary Paul Vasconcellos, 36, is wanted for contempt of court and Oswald Kealoha Meyers, 38, is wanted on separate warrants for contempt of court and for a drug offense.
Police said Meyers, who is also known as "Ozzie" or "Ozzy," is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 190 pounds, with brown eyes, short wavy black hair and tattoos on both hands and his left ankle. Police said Meyers' last known address was in Hilo, and he is known to travel between Nanakuli on Oahu and the Big Island.
Vasconcellos is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, about 225 pounds, with brown eyes, and black hair, which is usually worn long and tied in the back. His last known address was in Volcano, Puna.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Greg Esteban of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2384, the police non-emergency number, 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
LEEWARD OAHU
Farrington traffic snarled by Verizon smoke alarm
Police shut down Farrington Highway for about an hour and a half last night as firefighters responded to an alarm at Verizon's Nanakuli Relay Station and Central Office at 89-195 Farrington Hwy.Honolulu firefighters received an alarm of smoke at the facility about 7:10 p.m. Verizon officials believe the smoke was from a back-up generator that turned on following a power surge at the station, said Ann Nishida, Verizon Hawaii spokeswoman.
There was no fire and no service interruption, she said.
Police reopened the highway about 8:40 p.m.
HONOLULU
Makiki man arrested in road-rage collision
Police arrested a 33-year-old Makiki man for criminal property damage and DUI following a traffic collision yesterday, which police believe was an incident of road rage.Police said the man was involved in a verbal confrontation with another driver on Kapiolani Boulevard near the Ala Wai Field about 4:20 p.m., then slammed his car into the other driver's vehicle. Neither driver nor the passengers in the second car reported any major injuries.
Man in custody arrested in Liliha bus-stop beating
An 18-year-old Honolulu man already in police custody was arrested this morning for attempted murder and robbery in connection with the beating of a 59-year-old man at a bus stop last month.Witnesses told police the victim was waiting for a bus near the corner of Vineyard Boulevard and Liliha Street on Mar. 22, when three large men started beating him. Police said the victim fled to the median on Vineyard, where the suspects continued to beat him. Witnesses said the suspects fled into Mayor Wright's Housing. Police said the man's briefcase was smashed open and his personal effects were scattered on the roadway.
The man was unconscious, bleeding and in critical condition when he was taken to Queen's Medical Center. He was discharged after his condition improved.
The suspect was originally arrested yesterday afternoon in Kalihi on a drug charge. Police are looking for the two other suspects.
WINDWARD OAHU
Errant paraglider finds safe landing in Olomana
A paraglider reported missing yesterday afternoon was found after landing on a ridge in Olomana.Police said paraglider James Roberts was last seen launching at Makapuu about 12:30 p.m.
Fire officials said Roberts got too close to the ridge area over the Olomana Golf Course due to strong winds and he landed on the ridge.
An Army helicopter recovered the paraglider sometime after 3 p.m. Fire Capt. Richard Soo said the paraglider refused treatment.
