Biologists aim to catch rare birds on Maui
A team of biologists plans to venture into a dense rain forest on the slopes of Haleakala to try and capture the last three po'ouli birds in an effort to save the rare species from extinction.Six eight-day trips into the state's Hanawi Natural Area Reserve have been scheduled for February and March to locate the birds -- a male and two females.
The birds, each at least 6 years old, have been captured at least once previously and live in separate home ranges within 1 1/2 miles of each other, officials said.
"We have no guarantees we can save the species, but we have to try," said Paul Henson, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific islands office.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Zoological Society of San Diego are working together to try to save the po'ouli.
AUW hits $13.2 million fund-raising goal
The state's largest United Way chapter has achieved its $13.2 million fund-raising goal for 2002.Last month Aloha United Way projected it would fall short by $480,000, but a matching offer of $240,000 from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation helped the charity meet its goal, officials said.
"It was an aggressive goal considering Hawaii's economic condition," said Irv Lauber, president of Aloha United Way.
The charity had to contend with a sluggish economy, and competition from spending on political campaigns in 2002, said T. Michael May, who co-chaired the fund-raising campaign with his wife, Carol Ai May.
United Way chapters in Hawaii support more than 150 service agencies in the state, including the Hawaii Foodbank, the Salvation Army, the Boys and Girls Club, Child and Family Service and Catholic Charities.
Car hits pole, knocks power out on Big Isle
WAIMEA, Hawaii >> A car that hit a utility pole on Kawaihae Road shortly after midnight yesterday knocked out power to 3,100 customers in Waimea and North Kohala, the Hawaii Electric Light Co. said.Power to customers was restored by midmorning following the 12:15 a.m. accident.
Police said Esther Elder, 47, of Puako was charged with drunken driving in the case and released on her own recognizance.
Night lane closures set for Nimitz Highway
The state Department of Transportation will close lanes on Nimitz Highway tonight and tomorrow night for survey work.Two lanes of traffic in either the Ewa-bound or Diamond Head-bound direction will be closed from Sumner to Kekaulike streets from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Biologists aim to catch rare birds on Maui
A team of biologists plans to fly into a rain forest reserve on the slopes of Haleakala on Monday to try and capture the last three po'ouli birds in an effort to save the rare species from extinction.Six eight-day trips into the forest have been scheduled during February and March to locate the three birds -- a male and two females.
All the birds, who are at least 6 years old each, have been captured at least once in the past, officials said.
"Saving the po'ouli bird is without a doubt a tremendous challenge," said Paul Henson, field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific islands office. "Our hopes and prayers go with this team into some of the roughest terrain in Hawaii. We have no guarantees we can save the species, but we have to try."
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Zoological Society of San Diego are working together to try to save the po'ouli.
The three birds live in separate home ranges within 1 1/2 miles of each other in the dense rain forest of the state's Hanawi Natural Area Reserve on the northeast slopes of Haleakala on Maui.
Ward Avenue lanes to close for road work
Repair work by the Gas Co. on an underground pipeline is closing lanes of traffic on Ward Avenue and Beretania Street.Through Friday, a contra-flow lane will be set up on Ward Avenue between Kinau and King streets, requiring the closing of the center mauka-bound lane on Ward.
Also closed will be the two far right lanes of Beretania Street fronting the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
The work will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
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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
WAIKIKI
Man allegedly stabs ex-girlfriend's beau
Police are looking for a 55-year-old man who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend in Waikiki yesterday.Patrol officers were sent to Kaiulani Avenue near Tusitala Street at 2:40 a.m. on a report of a stabbing. They found a 46-year-old man lying on the sidewalk fronting 248 Kaiulani Ave., bleeding from the abdomen.
The victim told police he was sitting in the passenger seat of his girlfriend's car when the suspect approached the vehicle and began yelling at him.
He said the suspect hit him in the head, and when he got out of the car, the suspect stabbed him several times and then fled on Tusitala Street. The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.
Soldier turns himself in in Waikiki stabbing
A second suspect in a stabbing Saturday turned himself in to police Monday. He was arrested, then released without charges pending investigation.The suspect, a 36-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier, turned himself in at the Wahiawa Police Station.
Police said the victim, a 29-year-old man, was stabbed in the neck during an argument between four males on Seaside Avenue near the Waikiki Trade Center. The victim was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, but improved and has been released.
Police arrested a 30-year-old man at the scene, but released him without charges.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police arrest suspect in multiple car thefts
Kaneohe patrol officers arrested Oahu's second-most-wanted auto theft suspect yesterday.Ryan You was arrested near Puohala Street and Kaneohe Bay Drive about 12:45 p.m. Police said You was wanted in several auto theft cases and had $50,000 in warrants for his arrest.
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[Courts]
Musicians get 10-year terms for sex assault
Two members of rap music group Abyss that authorities say is involved in prostitution and drug trafficking were convicted yesterday of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in October 1998.This was a retrial for Marlo Crawley, 31, and Habib Shabazz, 25, accused of participating in what prosecutors characterized as a "gang rape" at a Waikiki hotel room.
Following a jury-waived trial that began Jan. 13, Circuit Judge Sandra Simms found Crawley guilty of second-degree sexual assault and attempted second-degree sexual assault, and immediately sentenced him to 10-year terms to be served at the same time. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for a firearms offense.
Shabazz was also convicted of second-degree sexual assault and received a 10-year term to be served at the same time as a 10-year term he is already serving for a burglary conviction on the Big Island.
Simms said Crawley was not credible and that his and Shabazz's version of events were "preposterous." The defendants had argued that the sex was consensual.
The girl had testified she met the defendants and accompanied them to the hotel room, where they sexually assaulted her with five friends cheering on and passing out condoms.
The two were previously tried and convicted of similar charges in March 2001, but they successfully appealed the conviction on the basis that the prosecutor had prejudiced them by referring to the woman as a "local" girl.
9/11 fallout allegedly led to wife's killing
A Kalihi man who fatally stabbed his wife more than a year ago apparently was despondent about losing his job during the economic fallout of the Sept. 11 attacks and was envious of his wife who continued to work, prosecutors say.Florencio Garperio, on trial for second-degree murder in Circuit Court, also accused his wife Mercy of fooling around.
At trial, there will be no evidence that she was fooling around, said Deputy Prosecutor Maurice Arrisgado during opening statements yesterday.
The evidence will show that Garperio stabbed his wife in the presence of their 6-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, he said. And Garperio, in unsolicited remarks to police, admitted that he had stabbed her, asked if she was dead and said that she had been fooling around, Arrisgado said.
Defense attorney Dale Bennett reserved opening statements until after the prosecution has rested its case.
Lawsuit by Akebono alleges defective cycle
Chad Rowan, known as Akebono, the first foreign sumo wrestler to reach yokozuna, or grand champion, has filed suit against a California motorcycle manufacturer and local distributor for selling him what he alleges was a defective bike.The lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court yesterday, names Indian Motorcycle Hawaii and Ultra Motorcycle Co. and seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
On Feb. 5, 2001, Rowan purchased a 2001 Black Ultra Avenger motorcycle manufactured by Ultra Motorcycle from Pacific Rim Motorcycle, dealer for Indian Motorcycle. Three days later, Rowan was riding the motorcycle on the H-1 Freeway when he was involved in a crash headed west on the Middle Street offramp.
The suit alleges the crash was caused by the "failure of the steering and/or other parts and mechanisms of the subject motorcycle to respond." Rowan alleges he sustained numerous injuries in the crash, including extensive cuts, bruises and scarring. One of his toes was nearly severed. He also claims he incurred substantial medical expenses.
Bill van den Hurk, owner of Pacific Rim, said he hasn't seen the complaint, but called it erroneous and frivolous.
"We've known about this for a long time and we've been back and forth," he said. "There's more to it than meets the eye."
Van den Hurk said Rowan likely filed suit because they refused to settle not long ago after their attorneys determined the evidence was on their side.
Woman charged with carrying gun at airport
An Aiea woman who allegedly attempted to carry a loaded firearm onto a United Airlines flight leaving Honolulu on Friday has been charged via complaint in U.S. District Court.According to court documents, Princess K. Samonte admitted she had also carried the same gun previously on a trip to San Antonio from Jan. 9 to 17 without being stopped at any airport checkpoint.
In the complaint, she said she didn't know it was illegal for anyone to carry a concealed weapon through any airport checkpoints without a permit. She claimed she believed she could carry the handgun since it was registered under her name.
Samonte was scheduled to board a flight to San Antonio, Texas, via San Francisco on Friday when she was stopped after setting off a metal detector.
After Samonte also activated a handheld metal detector, a screener patted her down and discovered the loaded handgun hidden in Samonte's sock, according to the documents.
Samonte told the screener she was "licensed and registered" to carry the gun. A check revealed the loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic was not registered by anyone, the complaint said.
Samonte later told FBI agents that the gun was given to her by her fiancee for protection and that she had been carrying it since November, according to the documents.
