>> The Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education has received a $5,000 national grant from the Americans for the Arts and Elefanten Children's Shoes. It will help support early arts education at Waiahole Elementary School, a demonstration site for ARTS FIRST. The arts integrated curriculum program is being implemented to improve learning for children ages 4 and 5 in the Head Start program. [ Taking Notice ]
>> The Hawaii Hotel Association has distributed about $780,340 in funds raised by the organization's annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk in May to statewide charities.
>> The Lyon Arboretum, a research unit of the University of Hawaii, has received funding for major improvements to its popular Beatrice Krauss Hawaiian Ethnobotanical Garden and the Native Hawaiian Collection Section. Funds came from the Garden Club of Honolulu, Malama o Manoa, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation and the G.N. Wilcox Trust.
Isle road closures suspended
The state Department of Transportation will suspend several lane closures on state highways on Oahu during the Thanksgiving holiday period.From Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 there will be no lane closures on:
>> H-1, H-2 and H-3 freeways.
>> Kalanianaole Highway (Kahala Mall to Lunalilo Home Road).
>> Kamehameha Highway (Acacia Road to Valkenburg Street).
>> Nimitz Highway/Ala Moana Boulevard (Valkenburg Street to Kalakaua Avenue).
>> Kalihi Street/Likelike Highway (Nimitz Highway to Kamehameha Highway).
>> Pali Highway/Kailua Road (Vineyard Boulevard to Kailua Town).
>> Vineyard Boulevard (Palama Street to Punchbowl Street).
>> Moanalua Freeway.
>> Kahekili and Kamehameha highways (Kaneohe to Kahuku).The rockfall prevention work on the mountain above Kalanianaole Highway at Makapuu will continue, meaning the highway will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. One lane of the highway will be open beginning Dec. 2 for a week to two weeks as crews install fencing and netting on the mountain.
City Lights celebration set to begin Dec. 7
The city will start the 18th annual Honolulu City Lights on Dec. 7 at Honolulu Hale, co-sponsored by the Friends of Honolulu City Lights.The city recommends arriving early to avoid traffic jams.
Entertainment will be provided from 3 to 5 p.m. by radio stations Krater 96, Hawaiian 105 KINE, KCCN FM-100, 104.3 XME, Oldies 107.9, 1420 KKEA and Pizza Hut. Kawaiahao Church will hold a special holiday service at 5 p.m.
This year's theme is "Na Mele Kalikimaka," or the songs of Christmas. The Honolulu Boy Choir will provide musical accompaniment for the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Jeremy Harris will light up the traditional 60-foot Norfolk island pine as the Public Workers Electric Light Parade marches in front of Honolulu Hale.
The parade will feature Santa Claus, marching bands and floats. The event ends with a concert featuring isle entertainers Jennifer Perri, Alea, Forte, Sistah Robi, Fiji, Jake Shimabukuro and Dita Holifield.
Admission is free but everyone is encouraged to bring a wrapped toy to the Marine Corps Reserves "Toys for Tots" donation box in the Honolulu Hale courtyard.
Honolulu City Lights will be broadcast live Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. on Olelo Channel 56.
For more information, call the mayor's Culture and Arts Hotline at 527-5666.
Waimanalo to get boost from TV ads
The state is spending $7,900 to let tourists know Waimanalo is still open for business despite the closure of Kalanianaole Highway near Makapuu.
The money, from federal highway funds, is being used to create television commercials to be shown on the Oahu Visitors Bureau channel, which is shown in 18,000 hotel rooms in Waikiki, Transportation Director Brian Minaai said in a news release Friday.
The highway is closed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily while a contractor clears rock above the highway near Makapuu to reduce the danger from rock falls.
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>> The Hawaii Paroling Authority considers commutation for prisoners who are not sentenced to life in prison without parole. A story on page A1 yesterday had incorrect information. 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 Police Department Crimestoppers
NORTH SHORE
High west, north surf keeps lifeguards busy
North and Leeward shore lifeguards are bracing for another busy day today as high surf pounded both shores yesterday."Waimea had multiple rescues and Haleiwa Alii Beach had a couple," said Ocean Safety Lt. Joe Golonka, who said there was a total of dozen rescues on the North Shore and "lots of prevention."
Golonka characterized all the rescues as "serious," but said there were no major bodily injuries. Most of the rescues were inexperienced bodysurfers who moved out of the safest corner of Waimea Bay on the Kahuku side, he said.
Waves were running 15 to 18 feet most of the day, he said. Had they increased to 20 feet, the beach would have been closed, Golonka said.
The swell is predicted to decrease slightly today, but a new, bigger swell may arrive tomorrow, the National Weather Service predicted.
North Shore lifeguards stayed an extra hour, until 6 p.m., to make sure people were in safely.
On the west side, lifeguards rescued three surfers about 1 p.m. who were unable to come in from the Ranches surf spot, north of Makaha Beach, said Lt. Kelly Krohne. One surfer had a cut foot that required stitches, he said.
Krohne said Leeward waves were running 8 to 12 feet yesterday. The National Weather Service predicted North Shore surf heights at 15 to 20 feet, decreasing slightly today.
CENTRAL OAHU
Waimalu man accused of sex assault on teen
Police are investigating a 39-year-old Waimalu man who is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.Police arrested the man at 9:15 p.m. Friday for first-degree sexual assault at his Waimalu home after responding to a harassment complaint.
During the investigation, the girl told police she had been inappropriately touched and sexually assaulted by the man.
Police said the victim was scheduled for a sexual assault examination at Kapiolani Medical Center.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui bank robber at large since Friday
A man robbed an American Savings Bank in Wailuku on Friday and remains at large, Maui Police Sgt. Randy Bell reported.A man entered the bank, at 69 N. Market St., at 1:37 p.m., brandished a black handgun and handed a teller a demand note, Bell said.
The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and the man fled the bank on foot. The suspect is described as 6 feet tall, with a slim build, and wearing a red sweatshirt and red sweatpants.
