Company seeks tanker drifting with dog aboard
Marine salvage crews said they would likely find out today if they are chasing the right ship in efforts to rescue a 2-year-old dog.Forgea is believed to be on board the burned-out hull of the tanker Inisko 1907, which may be a drifting ship spotted Wednesday about 370 nautical miles south southwest of Honolulu.
"It's still apparently drifting due west at about 1 knot," said Coast Guard public affairs spokeswoman Lauren Smith. "At that rate it would be approximately 390 nautical miles southwest of Kauai by tomorrow (today)."
"We are in contact with a fishing boat that is the closest known ship," said Rusty Nall, spokesman for American Marine Corp. "The fishing boat, that wishes to remain anonymous, is heading at all possible speed and is expected to arrive in the area tomorrow."
The Hawaiian Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States hired American Marine Corp. to retrieve Forgea April 5.
Airport guard duties will change on Monday
The Hawaii National Guard will withdraw on Monday from security duty at Honolulu Airport, turning its duties over to the newly formed Transportation Security Administration, Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday.National Guard personnel will remain on duty at neighbor island airports until mid-May, when additional civilian security personnel are phased in, the governor said in a statement.
Cayetano ordered National Guard troops to help secure the airport on Sept. 11 after the terrorist attacks.
Since then more than 200 part-time Army and Air National Guard troops were called to full-time duty to provide added security at seven Hawaii airports. Currently, more than 150 remain on duty.
Hotel deal to close next week, buyer says
Local businessman Bert A. Kobayashi plans to close the purchase of the leasehold Queen Kapiolani Hotel in Waikiki on Monday, according to a state filing by the seller, Sports Shinko Group of Japan.The sale of the 314-room hotel marks the end of a string of properties Kobayashi bought from Sports Shinko while the firm was pressured by Japan's loan collection agency to enter bankruptcy. On Jan. 25, Kobayashi completed a $12.4 million package purchase of three Hawaii golf courses owned by Sports Shinko: the Kiahuna Golf Club on Kauai, the Mililani Golf Club on Oahu and the Pukalani Country Club on Maui. Shortly after, Kobayashi also bought Sports Shinko's leasehold 451-room Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki.
Driver in fatal accident could get 20 years in jail
A 20-year-old driver charged with manslaughter in connection with a traffic death in Waimanalo pleaded not guilty Thursday in Circuit Court.Kam Williams was indicted April 3 by an Oahu grand jury for allegedly causing the death of Lorrie-Ann Wiley, 32, in a head-on collision on Kalanianaole Highway near Olomana Golf Links on Jan. 2, 2001.
William's bail was confirmed at $100,000.
He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
At the time of the collision, Williams' license had been suspended for a prior drunken-driving conviction, and he had failed to comply with the conditions of his probation.
According to police, Williams tested above the legal blood alcohol limit after the crash.
Trial is set for the week of June 10 before Judge Michael Town.
Man pleads not guilty in the death of his wife
A 43-year-old Kaneohe man accused of murder by omission in his wife's death pleaded not guilty Thursday in Circuit Court.Darren Yokotake was indicted for second-degree murder for allegedly causing the death of his wife, Lisa Yokotake, 38, by failing to seek medical treatment.
Lisa Yokotake had been bedridden for several years after she suffered a stroke.
Darren Yokotake remains free on supervised release.
Trial is set for the week of June 10 before Judge Karl Sakamoto.
Teddy bear donations to help fight child abuse
Anyone concerned about preventing child abuse in Hawaii may show their support by donating a new or slightly used teddy bear today at the Ala Moana Center main stage from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Local entertainers, Winnie-the-Pooh and other cartoon characters will be at the Fifth Annual Teddy Bear Roundup. The event is sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii and Partners for Prevention, part of an educational series to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month. Everyone who donates a bear will receive a bookmark, a blue ribbon and child safety information. The entertainers will include Jesse Rivera, Imua and Honolulu.
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>> Blanche Pope Elementary School was the site of a state Department of Transportation public meeting Thursday night. A Page A3 story yesterday incorrectly referred to the school's name. 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 Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HPD reports progress in Punahou burglary case
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are asking the public for more information about a $50,000 theft at Punahou School two months ago.Though detectives said they have come up with more leads, they would like any witnesses to come forth to confirm what they have learned.
"We have information and we're looking at suspects, and we'll be making an arrest in this case in the near future," said Detective Clinton Sukekane.
Police said that on Feb. 3, one or more people entered the Sullivan Administration Building, located at 1601 Punahou St., in the early morning hours and cut the wires to an alarm system. Police then said the burglar or burglars entered the office, opened a safe and stole about $50,000 of cash that was raised at the annual Punahou Carnival, as well as dozens of movie theater tickets and jewelry.
Anyone with information about this case may call Sukekane directly at 529-3369. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
WINDWARD OAHU
Kailua man allegedly tries to run over neighbor
A 33-year-old Kailua man was arrested Thursday for attempted murder for allegedly trying to run over his neighbor with a vehicle.Police said the man saw his neighbor, a 44-year-old man, in the parking lot of a gas station on Kailua Road about 11:30 a.m. and tried to run him over.
The neighbor was not injured.
Police said the men, neighbors on Auwai Street, are involved in a long-running feud and have injunctions filed against each other citing harassment.
More skeletal remains found off H-3 in Kaneohe
Police recovered more skeletal remains yesterday from the site where a hiker found a human skull last Saturday. The site is near the H-3 freeway in Kaneohe.
Police turned over the bones to the Army's Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii to determine whether the skull is ancient or modern, said officer Joe Self of HPD's Missing Persons Detail.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Bicycle accident injuries prove fatal for Kona man
A 52-year-old Big Island man died Wednesday at Queen's Medical Center from injuries he suffered Monday in a traffic accident in Kailua-Kona.Kona police said Raymond Rosenthal, 52, of Kalaoa was riding his bicycle on Alii Drive about 8:50 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a boat and trailer being towed by a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup truck was in the process of overtaking Rosenthal when the trailer struck the bicycle. Rosenthal was taken to Kona Community Hospital in critical condition, then flown later to Queen's.
U.S agents raid Big Isle marijuana patch, arrest 1
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK >> A 45-year-old Big Island man is in custody at the federal detention center in Honolulu for allegedly growing dozens of marijuana plants on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park land.Laron Kortgaard made his initial appearance in federal District Court yesterday on a charge of cultivating 50 or more marijuana plants.
According to a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent's affidavit in support of the charge, Kortgaard was arrested yesterday following a stakeout of two marijuana patches found near a power-line road parking area off Mauna Loa Strip Road in the national park.
Park rangers with the National Park Service discovered the marijuana growing operation last Dec. 27. One patch contained 80 marijuana plants 2 inches tall, and the other patch contained 10 larger plants, according to the affidavit. Rangers also found watering jugs, fertilizer, soil moisturizer and a hand trowel nearby.
The rangers set up electronic sensing and remote video camera equipment that recorded a man harvesting flowering buds from the plants on March 9.
Yesterday, the rangers staked out the patches and arrested Kortgaard. They also recovered 65 marijuana plants 18 to 34 inches tall. They also recovered soil moisturizer from Kortgaard's vehicle and potting soil, fertilizer and plant germination starter trays from his Mauna Loa Estates home.
