Box jellyfish influx forces closure of Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay was closed yesterday because of an influx of box jellyfish that was expected to continue through tomorrow.Lifeguards will decide whether to reopen the bay today after checking the area in the morning.
No other beaches were closed. But the influx also affected Waikiki and Ala Moana waters, where lifeguard Landy Blair counted 850 box jellyfish.
"It's the worst they've ever seen," said Rod Alderton, a dispatcher with the city Ocean Safety Division.
One lifeguard station at Kuhio Beach reported 12 stings by 11 a.m., he said. "Even though they had the warning signs up people were still going in the water," Alderton said.
He did not have the total count of stings reported.
Murakami appointed as new Family Court judge
Paul T. Murakami was appointed as judge of the District Family Court on Oahu, filling the position of Diana Warrington, who recently retired.Murakami has been a per-diem District Family Court judge since 1995. He has been in private practice as a sole practitioner since 1989 specializing in family law and criminal defense. He was a deputy public defender from 1984 to 1988. Currently, Murakami sits on the Medical Claims Conciliation Panel. He received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Murakami's appointment is awaiting confirmation by the state Senate.
Whale Foundation against carbon dioxide experiment
WAILUKU >> The Pacific Whale Foundation says it is against a proposal to put 20 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the deep sea three miles off Nawiliwili in Kauai.The proposal is part of a two-week experiment to see if scientists can reduce the buildup of global warming in the atmosphere.
Foundation education director Merrill Kaufman yesterday said high concentrations of carbon dioxide are toxic to marine life.
Foundation President Greg Kaufman said the agency should extend the comment deadline beyond April 14.
The proposal is being made by the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, representing a consortium that includes the U.S. Department of Energy and international partners.
La Pietra beefing up its technology program
La Pietra-Hawaii School for Girls, a wireless school that has a computer for every student, is beefing up its technology program starting next year with a diploma with an emphasis in technology.The degree requirements include completing three middle-school technology courses and at least four half-credit technology courses in high school with a grade of B or higher.
La Pietra's technology program started in 1992 and emphasizes both independent and group work.
Mid-Pacific Institute to award scholarships
Mid-Pacific Institute will be awarding two scholarships for four students entering the ninth grade.The Masaichi Imoto Memorial Scholarship is a full-tuition waiver and is renewable for four years. Potential recipients must demonstrate financial need, high academic ability, strong moral character and a positive attitude. The Carlier C. Wheeler Mathematics Scholarship is a renewable $3,000 award for a student who demonstrates, among other things, financial need and high aptitude in math.
Each scholarship will be awarded to two students. Students must apply by April 30. Call 973-5004 for an application.
100 colleges to take part in Honolulu college fair
More than 100 colleges will be represented at the Honolulu National College Fair on April 30. The free event gives prospective college students the opportunity to meet with admission representatives from local, mainland and international two- and four-year colleges and universities.The fair will be held at the Hawai'i Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5 to 8:30 p.m.
The workshop schedule is:
>> College essay writing: 9 and 10:30 a.m.
>> Test-taking strategies: 9 and 9:45 a.m.
>> Historically black colleges: 9:45 a.m.
>> College athletics: 10:30 a.m. and 7:45 p.m.
>> College planning: 6 p.m.
>> Exploring Canadian colleges: 6 p.m.
>> Scholarships and financial aid: 7:45 p.m.
For more information, contact Jean Fukuji at 421-4200 or e-mail questions to info@collegeconnections.org.
BACK TO TOP
|
>> The Honolulu Printmakers have been awarded a $7,480 grant from the Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation. The money will be used to support stipends for recently graduated printmakers and to bring Hawaii-born artist Lynn Yamamoto to teach a workshop this summer. [Taking Notice]
>> Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has named the following individuals as recipients of the organization's "Bigs of the Year" awards: Danny Davison, Big Brother of the Year; Richele Yacopino, Big Sister of the Year; Cliff and Danelle Cheng, Big Couple of the Year; Frederick Ing, Site-Based Adult Big of the Year; and Hilari Kawakami-Wong, High School Big of the Year.
>> Argosy University Honolulu has been awarded The Institutional Ethnic and Racial Diversity Award by the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology. The award was presented in recognition of Argosy University Honolulu's dedication and commitment to educating professionals to serve and work with diverse, underserved populations. This is the first time the award has been presented since 1999 and Argosy University Honolulu is only the fifth winner of the award in NCSPP's history.
>> UH-Manoa student Meghan Deagle has been awarded the first Kane Fernandez Scholarship. Deagle, a zoology major, was honored for her achievement during ceremonies Mar. 4 at the Outrigger Canoe Club.
>> Helping Hands Hawaii recently received a donation of Internet services software from Novell, Inc. The software, valued at over $38,000, will be used for education, critical community needs and cultural development.
>> David Pike has been named Employee of the Year for 2001 by Duke's Canoe Club Kauai. He was selected for exceeding expectations and outstanding demonstration of the Aloha spirit. As Employee of the Year, Pike will receive round trip inter-island airfare, a special plaque and dining certificates for Duke's and its sister restaurants on Maui and Oahu. Also, Employee of the Month awards were presented to the following employees: Lars Sjostrand, July; Monique Fergerstrom, August; David Pike, September; Chad Puni, October; Alan Kualii, November; and Angie Nollar and Napua Kealoha, December. Melissa Wasano and Andrea Slaski were honored with the Mea Ho'okipa award in recognition of their courtesy, friendliness and hospitality.
Scholastic Honors
>> Professor Klaus Keil, director of the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology at the University of Hawaii since 1995, has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Friedrich-Schiller University's College of Chemistry and Earth Sciences in Jena, Germany. A native of Jena, Keil was honored for his "monumental scientific contributions," according to the college dean.>> Duke's Kauai restaurant has selected English teacher Dorothy Hoe as its "Educator of the Quarter" for her outstanding work at Kauai High School. A teacher there for 13 years, Hoe has also been advisor to the Mock Trial Team, currently a four-time defending state champion, for the past eight years.
>> Renee Firing, an eighth-grader at Sacred Hearts Academy, won third place in the national Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary Youth essay contest. Firing received a $5,500 savings bond and a plaque for writing on the theme "Is Freedom Really Free?"
>> Iolani's Nolan Chung, Bryce Lee, Kevin Sin and Mai Tsukikawa scored the highest in team competition at the 19th annual Hawaii Math Counts state competition in March, involving 10 middle schools. They also won the perpetual team trophy. Eugene So of Punahou qualified with Chung, Lee and Sin to represent Hawaii in the national competition in Chicago this summer. Punahou came in second in the team category, followed by Waiakea, Kaimuki, Kalama and Highlands.
Winners of the individual awards, from first through 10th place, included Chung, So, Lee, Sin, Collin Takasaki of Waiakea, Tsukikawa, Kimberly Heu of Kaimuki, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam of Punahou, Roydan Ongie of Highlands and Drew Robb of Punahou.
Officers
>> Thomas K. Kaulukukui Jr. has been elected chairman of the Queen Liliuokalani Trust board of trustees, succeeding David M. Peters. A trustee since 1998, Kaulukukui formerly was a vice president for the Queen's Health Systems, a public educator and a state circuit judge.>> John Landgraf has been named president of the board of directors of the Friends of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii for his third term. Other officers are Lila Johnson, vice president; James Wriston, secretary; and Michael Ching, treasurer. New directors are Jane Allen, Gary Galiher, Richard Humphreys, Melanie Matsui and Don Murphy.
Do you have items about Hawaii residents earning academic or professional honors, winning scholarships, awards or elections to professional or civic groups? Please send them in writing for "Taking Notice" to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWINDWARD OAHU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Work furlough escapee recaptured in Kailua
A 34-year-old man was back at Oahu Community Correctional Center on Friday after escaping from a work furlough program one month ago.Police said the man failed to return from the program at 5:30 p.m. March 5.
He was recaptured Friday about 11:30 a.m. by plainclothes officers who were investigating a separate incident at 227 Alala Road in Kailua.
HONOLULU
Pizza Hut worker robbed at gunpoint in Salt Lake
A Pizza Hut delivery woman was robbed at gunpoint Friday night after making a delivery in the Salt Lake area.The 22-year-old woman was approached at 9:09 p.m. by two men while she was stopped at Ala Napunani and Ala Ilima streets, police said.
One suspect stuck what appeared to be handgun to her neck, demanding she get out of the car. The suspect searched her pockets, took an undisclosed amount of money and ordered her to drive away.
The suspects fled on foot down Ala Ilima toward Moanalua High School. Police did not disclose descriptions of the two suspects, who remain at large.
The victim reported the incident after returning to work at Mapunapuna Pizza Hut.
There were no reported injuries.
NORTH SHORE
Rescue search comes up empty off Mokuleia
Honolulu Fire Department rescue crews and Coast Guard searched waters off Mokuleia Friday night after a caller reported seeing five flares ignited off Kaena Point.After two hours of searching, nothing was found and the search was called off at 10:30 p.m., a fire dispatcher said.
Responding to the 8:22 p.m. call, HFD dispatched its Air One helicopter, a rescue boat and a Boston whaler rescue craft and searched waters up to two miles out.
The Coast Guard assisted, searching waters beyond the 2-mile mark. Neither HFD nor the Coast Guard had resumed the search yesterday morning, and there was no word on whether the search would continue.
LEEWARD OAHU
Waianae car crash victim dies at Queen's hospital
A 58-year-old woman hit by a car in Waianae Friday morning has died at Queen's Medical Center.She has been identified by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office as Dolly Kunewa of Waianae.
Kunewa was flown to Queen's in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle just before 7 a.m. near Lualualei Homestead Road and Farrington Highway. She died 10 hours later.
7 men arrested in death of Kapahulu woman
Police said last night that seven men have been arrested in connection with the murder of 37-year-old Tracey Tominaga of Kapahulu.Police were also looking for an eighth suspect, a 30-year-old man.
The men were arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, kidnapping and hindering prosecution.
None of the men arrested had been charged as of 6:30 p.m. yesterday. But police said one suspect, a 48-year-old Honolulu man, was released pending investigation. However, he remained in custody for an unrelated incident.
Also arrested were two 23-year-olds, one 24-year-old and one 35-year old, all of Kailua; and a 23-year-old from Waipahu.
Police, tipped off by an anonymous caller, found her body Wednesday in a shallow grave in the mountains above Makakilo.
Tominaga was last seen Jan. 20 and reported missing by her family Jan. 25.
Tourist flown to hospital after injuries at Kaena
A woman was flown by helicopter to Queen's Medical Center about 6 last night after falling an unknown distance and suffering head injuries near Kaena Point.Waianae police said the woman was a passenger on a motorcycle that went over a 20-foot embankment beyond the end of Farrington Highway.
Honolulu Fire Department rescue crews sent out a helicopter and a quint and brought her out to Kaena Point State Park, from where she was flown by medical evacuation helicopter to Queen's.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo teenager found safe and sound
HILO >> A 14-year-old Hilo girl, reported missing Sunday, was found Thursday in good health at a home in Paradise Park, south of Hilo, police said.Kauimaeole Iopa had been reported missing by her mother after she failed to make an agreed-upon phone call and did not answer calls to her cell phone.
