Philippine leader’s motorcade will slow traffic
Motorists should expect traffic delays tomorrow morning when Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrives in Honolulu and her motorcade heads to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a spokesman for the governor's office said.According to the Philippine Consulate General, Arroyo is scheduled to arrive about 8:10 a.m. at Honolulu Airport and will head for the hotel.
"There may be road closures. As to the specifics, I don't know which roads," said Cedric Yamanaka, the governor's press secretary. "Motorists can expect delays."
There will likely be further delays when Arroyo travels to the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu for a 2 p.m. visit and then back to Waikiki about 4 p.m. She leaves for Mexico on Friday morning.
Charity group is soliciting Christmas gifts for kids
Operation Christmas Child is accepting shoe box gifts Nov. 18-24 for needy children in 100 different countries, including Afghanistan.Shoe box gifts are wrapped shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, necessities and cards of encouragement. Lids must be wrapped separately so that the gifts can go through customs inspection.
Gifts can be dropped off at the Matson container at Joy of Christ Lutheran Church in Pearl City, 784 Kamehameha Hwy. Call 800-395-9698 for collection times and other information, including brochures and labels, which must be attached to the shoe boxes.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization.
Charity taking applications for holiday gift program
The Salvation Army will accept applications for the Angel Tree Program Nov. 4-15 from families who need assistance with providing their children holiday gifts.People can help others in need through the program by adopting "angel" tags that hang on Christmas trees in shopping malls.
Oahu families may fill out applications at any Salvation Army location. Applicants must have photo identification for themselves and their children to verify age, income and proof of address. Eligible families will receive a gift for each child under 12 years and a holiday meal.
Applications are being accepted at the following locations:
>> Honolulu, 296 N. Vineyard Blvd., 10 a.m. to noon.Families who are unable to apply during the scheduled times may call the Salvation Army nearest them.
>> Kaneohe, 45-175 Waikalua Road, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
>> Leeward, 98-612 Moanalua Loop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kona, Lihue airports get federal screeners
Federal airport security screeners took over checkpoint screening yesterday at airports in Kailua-Kona and Lihue.The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said 55 workers were deployed at Kona Airport and 45 at Lihue Airport.
Kona and Lihue were among 12 airports to deploy the new federal screeners yesterday, bringing to 192 the number of airports nationwide that have federal screeners.
The Transportation Security Agency is the federal agency created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The agency deployed federal screeners at Honolulu Airport on Oct. 1. Screeners took over at Kahului Airport, Hilo Airport and Antonio B. Won Pat Guam International Airport on Oct. 8.
Congress gave the agency until Nov. 19 to take over passenger screening at all commercial airports. The agency has until Dec. 31 to set up a system that will screen all commercial travelers' baggage for explosives.
UH opens campus for downtown students
The University of Hawaii is opening a new downtown campus today for UH-Manoa outreach classes.It is also holding an open house today following a private grand opening at 10 a.m.
Free one-hour classes and presentations will be held tomorrow and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The campus, in the lower lobby level of Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort St., initially will offer mostly noncredit courses but also will include an executive master's in business administration and a travel industry management program. Facilities include a computer lab and a classroom/conference room.
Big Island Press Club celebrating 35 years
HILO >> Honolulu media attorney Jeffrey Portnoy will be the featured speaker Friday at the 35th-anniversary party of the Big Island Press Club, the club announced.Portnoy will speak on the erosion of citizens' rights to information and continuing threats to the right to know about government activities.
A group of about 40 news professionals formed the club on Oct. 4, 1967. Over the years, the club has gone to court periodically to require open meetings. It annually recognizes instances of state and county openness while criticizing government secrecy.
Portnoy will speak during the 6-9 p.m. event at the University of Hawaii-Hilo Campus Center.
HFD to dedicate its new Wahiawa station
The Honolulu Fire Department will dedicate its new Wahiawa Station (Station 16) next Wednesday at 11 a.m.The station, originally built in 1941 for $33,594, was demolished in August 2001 and rebuilt at a cost of $1.8 million.
The building was designed to blend in with existing downtown Wahiawa buildings, reflecting the plantation era.
The station's improvements include enlarged sleeping quarters, locker rooms and bath facilities. A decontamination room, work storage area and air conditioning will be added.
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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
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Honolulu firefighters responded to a small fire in the Manoa branch of American Savings Bank last night. The fire appears to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
American Savings ATM is damaged by fire
Fire caused about $5,000 damage last night to an automated teller machine at the American Savings Bank in Manoa, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Kenison Tejada.Fire crews were called to the bank at 2855 E. Manoa Road about 6:18 p.m.
"It was just one of those freaky things," Tejada said. Firefighters used carbon dioxide gas to put out the fire, Tejada said.
3 Farrington students arrested in robberies
Police arrested three Farrington High School students, all girls ages 15 and 16, on Monday in connection with a series of robberies and hijacking of Kalakaua Middle School students in January and February.The girls allegedly preyed on the younger students on seven different occasions as they walked home on Kalihi Street over the H-1 freeway, police said.
2 men accused of breaking into club
Police are seeking burglary charges against two men, ages 19 and 24, for allegedly breaking into a Kapalama nightclub yesterday.Police said burglars broke into Club Vegas, 650 Kohou St., through the roof about 3:25 a.m. and triggered the alarm. An officer nearby heard the alarm and saw the suspects running from the roof. Patrol officers chased and caught the men.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man hurt after falling off forklift on truck
A 31-year-old man suffered head injuries yesterday afternoon when a forklift he was on fell backward off a flatbed truck in Campbell Industrial Park, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Kenison Tejada.The man was on one of two forklifts loaded onto the truck at American Machinery at 91-238 Kalaeloa Blvd. when the truck's operator began tilting the bed, Tejada said.
The operator noticed that the forklift's brakes were not working, but could not stop in time, Tejada said.
The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center, Tejada said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Alcohol, recklessness likely factors in crash
KAILUA-KONA >> Alcohol and reckless driving may have been factors in the head-on collision that killed a 58-year-old Kona woman and seriously injured a 42-year-old Waikoloa man Monday night on Queen Kaahumanu Highway, police said.The man, who was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, was arrested for investigation of negligent homicide, drunken driving and driving left of the center line.
He was released without charges but remains at the hospital in serious condition.
Witnesses reported that a Chevy S-10 pickup truck was swerving before crossing into oncoming traffic and colliding with a Geo sedan driven by the woman.
