Missing Chinese seamen turn themselves in to INS
Nine rescued Chinese seamen who disappeared after being put up in a Waikiki hotel are being held at the federal detention center and are being processed for removal from the country, said David Gulick, U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service Acting District Director.The men turned themselves in at INS headquarters at 595 Ala Moana about 3 p.m. Saturday, Gulick said.
Gulick would not say whether the nine seamen were dropped off by others or made prior contact with the INS before surrendering. The INS office is usually closed on weekends.
INS officials are taking statements from the seamen, who could be heading home by the end of the week, Gulick said.
The Norwegian Star cruise ship rescued the men, their captain and a badly burned crewmate April 2 from the disabled Indonesian tanker Insiko 1907. The tanker had been adrift for 20 days without power or communications following a fire that killed another crewman.
The captain reported the men missing April 3 when he went to pick them up for dinner.
The injured crewman and the captain flew home to Taiwan on April 6, with the nine remaining crew members scheduled to report to immigration offices last Tuesday to arrange their trip home to China. They failed to show up.
The body of the dead crewman was left aboard the Insiko, along with the captain's dog, Forgea, which became the subject of a $50,000 air-and-sea search organized by the Hawaiian Humane Society. The effort was abandoned April 7 when the drifting tanker could not be located.
However, a ship believed to be the Insiko was sighted by radar last Tuesday off Hawaii, and the society hoped it might be found by a fishing boat in the area.
Although the American Marine Corp. was working with fishing boats to try and find the Insiko, a written statement on Friday by Eve Holt of the HHS said, "It has not yet been confirmed that the radar contact is the Insiko."
Coast Guard Petty Officer Lauren Smith said that based on the drift, the tanker was estimated to be 439 nautical miles southwest of Oahu by 8 a.m. today.
Firm denies violations of hazardous-waste rules
Bonded Materials Co. President John Deer said the company denies allegations by the Department of Health of hazardous-waste violations.The Health Department has cited Bonded Materials on seven counts and fined it $265,144 for alleged violations at facilities at 150 Puuhale Road in Kalihi-Kai and 91-400 Komohana St. in Campbell Industrial Park.
The counts claimed treatment and storage of hazardous waste without a permit, failure to make hazardous-waste determinations at Komohana and Puuhale, mismanagement of containers, illegal transportation of hazardous waste and failure to provide appropriate training.
Deer declined to comment further. Bonded has 20 days from the date of the citation to respond.
Airport work means more noise for Big Isle areas
Residents of Keaukaha and Waiakea Houselots on the Big Island may hear additional aircraft noise for the next month due to runway work Tuesdays through Saturdays at Hilo International Airport.Runway 8-26 will be closed for grooving work during this time, and approaching aircraft will be diverted to Runway 3-21, taking them over the Keaukaha and Waiakea Houselots areas.
1 Kapiolani lane closed until May for cable work
One Ewa-bound lane of Kapiolani Boulevard between Mahukona and Date streets will be closed weekdays through May 15 while Hawaiian Electric Co. installs cable.The lane will be closed between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., but the businesses in the project area still will be accessible.
Motorists are asked to drive with caution.
>> National retailer Macy's recently donated $18,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii in conjunction with sales of Curious George plush toys at Hawaii stores. Macy's contributed $5 from the sale of each of the limited-edition plush toys, 3,600 of which were sold during Macy's grand opening in Hawaii on Nov. 23. [TAKING NOTICE]
>> Maisel J. Caliva has been awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., as winner of the 2001-2002 Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Scholarship. While in Washington, Caliva will compete for a national prize of $25,000. He will also travel to Valley Forge, Pa., in June. Sacred Hearts Academy student Ling Lu placed second in the scholarship competition. Byron J. Weaver and Jade M. Palomino, students at Hawaii Mission Academy and Seabury Hall, respectively, placed third. Winners of the VFW Youth Essay Contest include Renee Firing, first place; Daniel Park, second place; Jaclyn Park, third place; and Michael Hirae, fourth place. Firing's essay will advance to a national competition for a chance at a $10,000 savings bond.
>> Gladys K. Okada has been named Kauai HEA Outstanding Retired Teacher Volunteer for 2001. Okada was recognized at the HSRTA's annual convention held March 5 at the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort.
>> Kaanapali restaurant Leilani's on the Beach has named its honorees for Educator of the Month for November, December and January. Winners of the monthly award, which honors the outstanding work of teachers at Lahainaluna High School, are Harridean Ambrose, Michael Sado and Joann Yamamoto. Each teacher will be recognized on a plaque in the restaurant and will also receive a gift certificate to dine at Leilani's on the Beach.
>> The Hawaii Medical Service Association recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. The money will make it possible to continue operations of the ACS to defeat lung cancer, inform the public about the dangers of smoking and provide smokers with tools to help them quit. The Great American Smokeout celebrates its 26th year of existence on Nov. 21.
>> Helen Chapin, Ph.D., has been re-elected president of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Oahu. Other newly elected officers include David Berggren, vice president; Diane Fujio, secretary; Charlotte Boyd, treasurer; and Jeffrey Akaka, M.D., Mike Durant, Ann Emura, Randolph Hack, Brian Oishi, Jeanne Robertson, Shu-Po Tang, Betty Tsukiyama and Scott Whitney, board members.
>> Angela S. Yip has been selected 2002 Hawaii Cherry Blossom Princess and will represent the state in the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, March 31 to April 6 in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of Punahou and Princeton University with a B.A. in economics. Yip was chosen by the National Conference of State Societies.
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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 staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
CENTRAL OAHU
Police seek Toyota driver after motorcycle cop hit
A solo motorcycle police officer received minor injuries after a driver tried to run over him this morning in Wahiawa.Police said the officer was attempting to pull the car over for a traffic stop at 4:05 a.m. on Mango Place when the driver turned the car around and rammed the officer's motorcycle. The officer, 32, was not hit but suffered scratches to his right knee when he jumped off his motorcycle. He was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital where he was treated and released. Police are looking for a white, 1986 Toyota.
WAIKIKI
Queen's Beach victim ID'd as Waikiki man, 63
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has identified the man who died Saturday after being pulled from the ocean at Queen's Beach as Daniel Bures, 63, of Waikiki. He died of cardiac arrest.Bures was found floating about 20 yards off shore. He was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital where he later died.
WINDWARD OAHU
Waimanalo man dies after crashing into tree
A 24-year-old Waimanalo man was killed early yesterday when his pickup truck hit a tree on Kalanianaole Highway near Sea Life Park.The man had been traveling west in a Ford Ranger when he drifted off the highway and hit a tree fronting 41-479 Kalanianaole Highway at 2:15 a.m., police said. A Fire Department rescue crew removed him from the truck.
According to police, the man was pronounced dead at the scene from head injuries. It is unknown whether speed or alcohol were factors, but the man had been wearing a seat belt, and his airbag had deployed, police said.
The collision closed the highway from Makapuu to Kaiona Beach Park until 5 a.m., police said.
Suspect sought in Kailua service-station robbery
Police are looking for a man who allegedly robbed a Kailua service station at gunpoint this morning.The cashier at Corey's Kailua Shell at 434 Kuulei Road told police the robber showed her the nose of a gun from his pocket and fled with an undisclosed amount of money at about 6:30 a.m.
The suspect is described as 6 feet tall, slim build, and wearing a hooded jacket, jeans and white sneakers.
HONOLULU
Pizza delivery man, 31, reports robbery in Makiki
Police are looking for two suspects who allegedly robbed a pizza delivery man last night in Makiki.The 31-year-old delivery man told police he was accosted by a man with a knife who demanded money about 11:15 p.m. at 1655 Liholiho St. He said the man grabbed him around the neck and pulled him toward the street where a second man was waiting.
Police said the victim fled on foot after he was able to break free. When he turned around, he told police, he saw the two suspects also fleeing on foot in the other direction.
One suspect is described as 6 feet 2 inches, 160-170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a long-sleeve flannel jacket and blue jeans. The other suspect is described as 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with straight, black hair. He was wearing a blue and black hat, dark short-sleeve shirt and dark jeans.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui police seek suspect in attempted sex assault
Maui police are looking for a man who allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a 23-year-old woman at her Kahului home about 1:20 a.m. yesterday.Police said the woman reported that the suspect came to visit a man who rented another room in the home, and she let him in because he had come to visit before.
According to police, the man grabbed the woman by the waist once he was inside and wanted her to go into the bedroom. She was able to break free, but the man blocked her way and she fell to the floor. The man dragged her into the bedroom and attempted to assault her.
She was able to break free again after kicking the man in the groin, at which time the man left, police said.
The roommate was not home at the time, and police attempts to interview him later were hampered by the man's intoxication and a language barrier, police said.
