Engine catches fire on experimental plane
An engine on an experimental noncommercial Boeing 747 aircraft caught fire yesterday afternoon at Honolulu Airport, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials. There were no injuries.The GE Aircraft Express plane is owned by General Electric and was carrying 23 people -- mechanics and pilots -- when the fire started on engine 2 at 4:08 p.m., according to FAA spokeswoman Diana Joubert.
State firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, she said.
The fire started after the plane had completed a test flight and was on the ground.
"The aircraft had landed safely and had taxied to the end of the runway to do another test," said Joubert. "That's when it caught on fire."
The fire's cause was unknown.
Art sale will benefit cultural center
An art sale will be held at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii this weekend to help members save the Moiliili building from foreclosure.The sale will take place at the Japanese Cultural Center at 2454 S. Beretania St. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Artwork from the Robyn Buntin's Galleries in Honolulu will be available.
Money collected will go toward the cultural center to help pay off its $9 million debt owed to four banks.
To date, committee members have collected about $2.9 million.
"We believe this is an important institution in the community. We would like to see it continue," Buntin said.
Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese paintings and European engravings are some of the items that will be featured at the sale. Prices range between $20 and $180,000.
National conference to gather at Makaha
About 150 leaders of Pacific and mainland health centers and American, native Hawaiian, native Alaskan and Micronesian communities are meeting this week at an Oahu conference sponsored by the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.The National Conference on Primary Healthcare opens tonight at the Makaha Resort.
Keynote speakers through out the sessions will include Dr. Lupo Carlota, chairperson of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Claudia Gibson, executive vice president of the National Association of Community Health Centers.
The event will conclude Saturday with the 30th anniversary celebration of the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of the Native Hawaiian Healing Center. For more information, see: www.wcchc.com or call 696-11457.
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>> Robert Schoonmaker, federal security director for Lihue Airport, previously served as the special agent in charge of the Los Angeles Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security in the U.S. Department of Commerce, based in Irvine, Calif. While there, he led investigations of violations of national security- and foreign policy-related export control laws in a six-state area. Before that, he served as a special agent with the Office of Inspector General in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Chicago. An A1 story yesterday incorrectly said he had no experience with security, counterterrorism or felony arrests. Also, Wally Rezentes Jr. has a finance degree from the University of Hawaii; he is not a certified public accountant, as the story stated. Corrections and clarifications
>> Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. manages 13 properties in Hawaii. A story on page E1 Sunday incorrectly said the number of properties was two dozen.
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
Man sought in robbery of Ewa Beach eatery
Honolulu police are looking for a man who robbed an Ewa Beach pizza parlor Sunday night.Police said the robber entered the eatery at 6:20 p.m., pointed a handgun at a cashier and a manager, and demanded all the money in the safe. After the manager told him the safe had a timed lock, the robber demanded money from the cash register, police said.
The suspect was described as in his 30s, 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, with shoulder-length wavy black hair, brown eyes and a brown complexion.
Police sketch shows handgun-toting robber
Police have released a sketch of one of two suspects involved in the armed robbery of Video Warehouse at 98-019 Kamehameha Highway in Waimalu on Thursday night.Police said the men entered the store at 11:55 p.m. One man, armed with a handgun, demanded money from the cashier. The other man, armed with a shotgun and wearing an opaque mask, demanded car keys from a customer. The robbers fled in a stolen silver Grand Marquis, police said.
Police said the sketch is of the suspect with the handgun, who is described as in his mid-20s, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6, 140 pounds, with a slim build, brown eyes and a medium complexion.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Taro Nakamura at 529-3382 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Male suspect sought in robbery of market
Police want help identifying a man who robbed the Marujyu Market on Dec. 1.Police said the suspect walked into the market at 98-020 Kamehameha Highway in Waimalu at 8:45 p.m. and demanded money from the cashier after displaying the butt of a handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants.
The suspect is described as in his 30s, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet; 160 to 200 pounds; with an average build; brown, wavy neck-length hair; and a tan complexion. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a blue visor, a long-sleeved blue jacket and armed with a silver handgun.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Derrick Kiyotoki at 529-3392 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Police ask public's help in stolen auto case
Police want help finding Fua Sale, wanted on a $15,000 auto-theft arrest warrant.Police said Sale was arrested driving a stolen vehicle on Oct. 19. At the time, police said, Sale gave a false name and was released pending investigation.
Sale, 51, is described as 5-foot-9, 186 pounds, with a medium build, black-gray hair and brown eyes. Police said he is known to frequent the Waianae area.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Man arrested in threat and burglary probe
Police arrested a 24-year-old man this morning for investigation of terroristic threatening and burglary after he allegedly broke into his former girlfriend's home on Kohomua Street in Halawa and threatened her with a knife.The former girlfriend, 24, reported she was awakened by a noise about 2:45 a.m. She checked her daughter's room and discovered the child missing. She went outside and found her daughter with the suspect, who is the child's father, police said.
A confrontation followed, and the suspect allegedly pushed her down and threatened her. But she broke free, grabbed her daughter and ran inside the house to call police.
Suspect held in hitting of 92-year-old woman
A 29-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly punched a 92-year-old woman in the head and stole her purse at Salt Lake Shopping Center about 8:20 a.m. yesterday.Police said they arrested the suspect after finding the getaway car parked on Numana Road in Kalihi Valley. The suspect allegedly struck an officer while he was being arrested, police said. The officer had minor injures and was treated at Queen's Medical Center.
The woman, who fell to the ground from the punch, was taken to Kaiser Medical Center where she was reported in stable condition this morning.
The suspect was being held for investigation of second-degree robbery, assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Spear guns stolen in Big Isle store break-in
Big Island police are looking for a thief or thieves who stole more than $4,000 worth of diving spear guns in Kailua-Kona last month.Police said that on Nov. 24, burglars entered a window on the makai section of the Blue Water Hunter store in the Kaloko light industrial area and stole a number of wooden Riff spear guns.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Edwin Buyten at 326-4646.
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[Courts]
2nd man pleads guilty in federal payroll fraud
A second man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to submit false payroll records to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Labor, a federal offense.James "Kimo" Ryan, 37, entered his plea Monday before U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway.
Donald "Domenic" Murl Adkins, 58, had pleaded guilty to related charges on Nov. 25.
The two were co-owners of RAL Construction Services, a Hawaii-based company that had installed interior fixtures at Schofield Barracks on two Corps of Engineers construction projects in 1998 and 1999.
According to U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, RAL Construction paid carpenters $20 an hour, a violation of the Department of Labor wage scales and Corps of Engineers contract requirements. The federal Davis-Bacon Act requires they be paid $40 an hour.
According to court documents, RAL Construction carpenters were told by Adkins, with Ryan's agreement, to submit certified payroll records saying they were independent contractors receiving $40 an hour, when they were actually RAL employees and receiving only half that amount.
Ryan will be sentenced April 21 and Adkins on March 24, 2003. Each faces a maximum of five years imprisonment and fine of $250,000. Both have agreed to pay full restitution of about $40,000 to their former employees.
No violations found at state juvenile facilities
The Office of Youth Services found no detention violations at the state's two juvenile detention facilities during an annual monitoring visit, the state Judiciary has announced.This is the third consecutive year that Hale Ho'omalu and Home Maluhia, which are administered by the Family Court of the First Circuit, have been found in compliance, which is a requirement for the state to receive an annual allocation of $900,000 in federal funds.
The annual visit, which covers July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, is to ensure the state complies with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. The purpose of the act is to ensure the safety of children in the justice system, including no contact with incarcerated adults or detention in any adult facility.
"To have a finding of no detention violations, especially three years in a row, is truly amazing," said Senior Family Court Judge Frances Wong.
She credited Jeffrey Nishikawa, superintendent of the Detention Services Branch, and his staff for their good work in spite of the daily challenges.
The Office of Youth Services will submit its findings to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which determines the amount of federal funds for which the state will be eligible.
