Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Attempt to recover plane set for weekend

WAILUKU >> A private company will attempt this weekend to retrieve the wreckage of the single-engine airplane that crashed on a remote Molokai ridge, killing the 17-year-old student pilot, federal investigator Nicole Charnon said yesterday.

Charnon plans to examine the wreckage as part of her investigation into the cause of the crash.

The wreckage of the Cessna 172, owned by George's Aviation, is in a steep area at the 1,500-foot level on the west side of Manuahi Ridge in northeastern Molokai.

Maui Police Lt. Brian Kaya said dental records confirmed yesterday the dead person found near the wreckage was Chezray Hayes, of Mililani.

Hayes, flying solo from Honolulu to Kahului, Maui, was last heard at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday when he made radio contact off Molokai, just north of Kalaupapa, the Coast Guard said.

Lawmaker cancels traffic camera hearing

With last year's public outcry over using cameras to catch speeders, "it's a little too soon" to ask lawmakers this year to approve use of similar technology to catch motorists running red lights, a key lawmaker says.

Rep. Joe Souki (D, Waihee-Wailuku), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, canceled a scheduled hearing on a bill he introduced to use an automated camera system that mails traffic citations to motorists who run red lights.

"I think we'll just sit back and see how it works out," he said Monday. Souki added that he might take up the proposal if it gets approved by the Senate and sent to the House.

Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he was surprised at Souki's decision not to hear the bill and said he plans to hear a similar Senate measure.

City capital projects leader leaves her post

Rae Loui is leaving as director of the city's Department of Design and Construction to take a position with the state Department of Education.

Mayor Jeremy Harris announced yesterday that Loui will assume the post of DOE assistant superintendent Feb. 12.

In her new post, Loui will be responsible for business support services for the state's public school system, including facilities, financial services and other programs, Harris said.

In her city position, which she took over in January 2001, Loui was responsible for all capital projects.

Pals say man who died in jump was on drugs

WAILUKU >> The 27-year-old man who jumped off a more than 150-foot-high cliff into a pool on Maui had been drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, friends told federal park officials.

The man's body was recovered Tuesday afternoon from a pool below the 184-foot-high Makahiku Falls in Oheo Gulch in Kipahulu. The waterfall is in the Kipahulu area of Haleakala National Park, above Oheo Pools and about a half-mile mauka of Hana Highway.

Chief Ranger Karen Newton said the man, a Kihei resident, jumped from a place below the top of the cliff into a pool that had a depth of 10 to 15 feet at about 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Newton said it appeared the man landed flat on his stomach and face.

Council OKs rezoning for new Waiawa homes

The City Council voted 8-1 yesterday to approve a bill to rezone 175 acres in Waiawa to allow landowner Gentry Investment Properties to develop the second phase of its Waiawa by Gentry project.

The second phase of nearly 3,000 residential homes includes single-family houses, townhouses, garden apartments and detached condominiums.

If approved by the mayor, the Kamehameha Schools-owned parcel, currently zoned agricultural, would be rezoned to residential, and low- and medium-density apartment districts. The latter has a 60-foot height limit.

Some community members have expressed concerns, saying there is a lack of adequate infrastructure including water, schools and roads to support such a large development.

Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, the lone "no" vote, said she was concerned about having a single access road, which was noted by the Department of Planning & Permitting in its recommendation to the Council. In case of emergencies such as a major brush fire, "there would be no way to get emergency equipment in or out," she said.

The first phase of the Gentry project received a zoning change in 1998 that allows for more than 3,000 homes, retail space and golf development, which has yet to be built.

Payment of legal fees in Felix case approved

The City Council approved an additional $35,000 yesterday to pay for outside legal fees to defend the city in appeals filed by former Councilman John Henry Felix's trust, which was cited for unlawfully conducting commercial wedding service operations in a residential area.

The Council has authorized a total of $105,000 in the city's effort to stop the wedding operation and successive appeals.

In the most recent court action, a circuit judge ruled in August in favor of the city that the commercial weddings held at Felix's Aina Haina home violated zoning regulations.

Early rubbish pickup ban passes first read

A bill prohibiting the pickup of rubbish in Waikiki before 6 a.m. passed first reading by the City Council yesterday.

Bill 1 says refuse collection generates noise that could be a nuisance to both visitors and residents in the densely populated area.

The measure will go to the Public Works committee for review.

March of Dimes walk participants sought

The March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter is looking for "heroes" to join the 33rd annual WalkAmerica and give babies a healthy start in life.

The walk supports March of Dimes research, community services, education, advocacy and programs that help to prevent birth defects and infant deaths.

Five walks are scheduled on four islands. The first two take place on April 5, starting at 7 a.m. at Hale Halawai, Kona, on the Big Island, and 4 p.m. at Lydgate Park, Lihue.

Walks will start at 7:30 a.m. April 12 at the War Memorial Gym at Kahului and at 7 a.m. April 26 at Kapiolani Park Bandstand on Oahu.

The last walk will begin at 5 p.m. May 3 at Mooheau Park in Hilo.

Leading sponsors of WalkAmerica 2003 are Bank of Hawaii and the Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Alton Kurioka, Bank of Hawaii vice chairman, is serving as this year's WalkAmerica chairman.

For more information or to register, call 973-2155 on Oahu or 800-272-5240 on the neighbor islands.

Star senior athlete to give vegetarian talk

Ruth Heidrich, Senior Olympics gold medalist and Ironman triathlete, will lecture at a Vegetarian Society of Hawaii meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park.

She also will speak at a Vegetarian Society meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kahului, Maui.

Heidrich will discuss the aging process and improving health and athletic performance through diet and exercise.

She has a master's degree in psychology and a doctorate in health management.

Heidrich is the author of "A Race for Life" book and video and "The Race for Life Cookbook."

She is a certified fitness trainer who has held two age-group world records for fitness at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. She has won more than 800 trophies and medals since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982 at age 47.

She is a founding member and past president of the Vegetarian Society.

Free food samples will be available at the Honolulu meeting.

CPR instruction workshop scheduled

The Honolulu Fire Department and American Heart Association will present "CPR Skills for Families and Friends" from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 15 at the Ward Warehouse, Kakaako Room.

The Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter is sponsoring the free workshop. Space is limited to 40 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. No CPR certificates will be awarded because there will be no formal testing.

To reserve a seat, call 591-2771. Participants are advised that some work will be held on the carpeted floor..

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[Taking Notice]

>> Macy's "More Community" campaign in Hawaii has raised $372,432 to benefit the Aloha United Way, American Cancer Society, Hawaii Foodbank Inc., the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii on Maui and the Big Island, and Guam's Catholic Social Services and the Salvation Army-Guam Corps.

>> An anonymous donation of $500,000 to the Kona Community Hospital will help the hospital add a Radiation Therapy Unit so patients do not have to make the trip to Hilo or Honolulu for treatment. The Kona Hospital Foundation, which is holding a three-year capital fund-raising drive, has raised more than $1 million in cash.

>> People Attentive to Children (PATCH) has been awarded a $30,000 Hawaii Community Foundation grant to increase awareness of the importance of quality child care.

>> The Mabel I. Wilcox Foundation Trust has presented the American Cancer Society with a grant of $1,500 in support of the "Look Good ... Feel Better" and "Reach to Recovery" programs on Kauai.

>> Cristobal Miguel Sisneros, of Kahuku High & Intermediate School, is one of 104 high school seniors nationwide receiving a $10,000 college scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc.

>> Ryan K.C. Yee, of Kaneohe, has been promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America.

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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.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

CENTRAL OAHU
Boy stabbed, another jailed in Mililani fight

One boy was stabbed and another was arrested last night in a fight between two groups of boys in the parking lot of Jack in the Box Restaurant in the Mililani Shopping Center.

The victim, 17, of Wahiawa, was taken to Queen's Medical Center where he was reported in guarded condition this morning.

Police said a group of boys taunted the victim and his friends and a fight broke out at about 8:50 p.m. Some of the boys fled before officers arrived, but about two hours later, a 17-year-old Wahiawa boy turned himself in to police.

He was arrested and being held for investigation.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
7 people held as police seize drugs and guns

Big Island police said they arrested seven people and seized $13,000 worth of street drugs in two separate investigations this week.

Three people were arrested Monday morning when Hilo vice officers raided a residence at 949 Kupulau Road. Officers seized 3.5 grams of cocaine, a handgun, $1,174 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

On Tuesday, four people were arrested after vice officers secured search warrants for two vehicles in the Puhi Bay parking lot in Hilo.

A drug-sniffing dog had signaled the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicles, police said.

Officers recovered 87.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 0.6 grams of crack cocaine, 19.7 grams of marijuana, $9,000 in cash and three handguns.

Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna said the arrests were part of the department's "ongoing efforts to curtail illegal drug activity in Hawaii County."

Police said they will seek federal prosecution of a man arrested Tuesday.

HONOLULU
Man allegedly struck co-worker with hammer

Police arrested a 56-year-old Liliha man Tuesday for suspicion of attempted murder in an alleged attack at a construction site that left a man with a fractured skull.

Police said the suspect and victim, 51, were working at an Aina Haina home on Jan. 2 when they got into an argument.

The suspect allegedly struck the victim in the head with a hammer.

The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center where he remained in guarded condition Tuesday.