Satellite city halls forced to adjust hours
Budget constraints have forced Oahu's satellite city halls to adjust hours beginning Monday, according to city Customer Services Director Carol Costa.Costa said the changes are a result of an "austere budget" and are the only way the city can keep its operating costs under control.
A major problem, she said, is the surge of people who arrive near closing, which has resulted in mounting overtime costs for city workers.
The end of the month is especially busy when many motorists wait until the last minute to renew their vehicle registration.
Satellite offices in Ala Moana, Pearlridge and Windward Mall shopping centers will close 45 minutes earlier. They will now be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Neighborhood city halls will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. People in line at closing will be served, Costa said.
"The new hours will allow us to serve everyone, including those who arrive as we close our doors," Costa said.
Surfers warned out of Diamond Head waters
State officials are advising people to stay out of waters along Diamond Head due to a fuel leak from a fishing vessel that ran aground Thursday.Mike Markrich, a spokesman for the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, said officials of the departments of Land & Natural Resources and Health said the leak poses a potential hazard and are asking that swimmers and surfers remain out of the area until the fuel dissipates.
The spill occurred after the 60-foot fishing vessel Kokea ran aground 800 yards off of Diamond Head on Thanksgiving Day. At the time, the ship was carrying about 900 gallons of diesel fuel on board.
State officials and the U.S. Coast Guard continue to monitor the grounded vessel.
EPA community grants open for applications
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering grants, up to $20,000 per project, to community-based organizations for environmental projects.Applications and further information are available at www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants.
The environmental justice small-grants program applications must be postmarked no later than Dec. 18. Selections are expected by early summer.
For more information, contact Willard Chin at 415-972-3797 or chin.willard@epa.gov.
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[ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> Allen Louis Zecha, a retired vice president of Union Carbide Japan, has been elected a trustee of Hawaii Pacific University.
>> Lynn Kaneshiro, president and CEO of Island Title Corp., has been appointed to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. She is a member of several community organizations.
>> Aloha Shoyu Co. will be awarding $1,000 in scholarships each year to students involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu.
>> The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center for Chinese Studies has awarded scholarships from the Chung-fong and Grace Ning Chinese studies fund to Roger Ames, a philosophy professor; Brian Bruya, a graduate student in philosophy; Song Jiang, an instructor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature; Frederick Lau, a professor of music; and Xiaodan Wang, a graduate student in political science.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Listings also appear online at www.starbulletin.com. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. |
>> Tessa Dye was never a director of the Assets School. An obituary published Wednesday on Page A11 incorrectly reported she had been a director. 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
LEEWARD OAHU
Car set afire in crash on the H-1 freeway
A car was set on fire yesterday morning during a four-car collision on the H-1 freeway.The accident occurred at 7:38 a.m. near the Waipahu offramp. The cars were heading west when the collision occurred.
HONOLULU
Police seek suspect in Pacific Heights robbery
Honolulu police are looking for a robber who hit a Pacific Heights Road home while someone was there.
Police said that on July 24 at about 11:30 a.m., the victim awoke and observed a male suspect entering her bedroom. The suspect then turned toward the living room and jumped out of a window with stolen items.
A witness chased the suspect in the makai direction on Pacific Heights Road and last saw the him on Booth Road. The suspect is described as a male in his 40s, standing 6 feet tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a skinny build; short, dirty blond-gray hair; light-colored eyes; and a pale complexion. He was also last seen wearing a camouflage shirt and pants, work shoes and carrying a crowbar.
Detective Walter Calistro asks that anyone with information about this case contact him directly at 547-7213. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
14-year-old boy missing on Big Isle
Big Island police are searching for a 14-year-old boy who has been missing from his Hilo home for more than two weeks.Police said Iokepa Kaikala was last seen on Nov. 12. He is described as being 5 feet 8 in height, weighing about 140 pounds and having a tan complexion, short orange hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about Kaikala's whereabouts is asked to call officer Peter Kualii of the Hilo Police Juvenile Aid Section at 961-2373 or the police nonemergency telephone number at 935-3311.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
