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Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Group wins grant to promote child care

The Hawaii Community Foundation has given $30,000 to People Attentive to Children to increase awareness of the importance of good child care.

Karen Wong, PATCH executive director, said its goal "is to help parents choose qualified child-care providers in order to ensure that the children of Hawaii are receiving suitable care.

"Young children who are nurtured, loved and provided with learning opportunities will have improved cognitive ability and will also be better able to cooperate, share and follow directions," she said. "These skills are imperative for success later on in school and in life." The nonprofit organization is dedicated to increasing community awareness of children's needs and improving the quality and availability of child care.

For more information, see www.patch-hi.org

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Corrections and clarifications >> The City Council will hold a hearing Feb. 26 on a bill to charge fees for special events at city parks. An article on page A3 Saturday said incorrectly that the hearing was to be held today. 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

HONOLULU

UH football player charged with theft

Police arrested a University of Hawaii football player Monday after he allegedly asked a resident adviser of an on-campus dormitory to help him turn on a stolen laptop computer.

Police charged Sean Stennis, 18, with third-degree misdemeanor theft yesterday.

According to police, Stennis said he bought the computer for $200, but would not identify whom he bought it from.

Stennis is listed as a 5-foot-11, 153-pound freshman wide receiver from Fairfax High School in Inglewood, Calif.

He is considered a redshirt freshman because he sat out his first year, leaving him with four years of playing eligibility.

UH Athletic Director Herman Frazier said Stennis would be placed on suspension until a full "internal investigation is complete.

"The arrest is a violation under the UH student-athlete code of conduct," said Frazier. "The penalty is immediate suspension from practice and competition."

HPD arrests man for alleged destruction

Honolulu police arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly went on a mini-rampage in Moiliili earlier this week.

Police said the suspect was seen near 2648 Kuilei St. just before midnight using large rocks to smash through windows of two parked cars and knocking over two motorcycles.

Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second degree criminal property damage.

Officials ID pedestrian killed on School Street

The Medical Examiner's Office has identified the 76-year-old pedestrian who died after being struck by a pickup truck on North School Street last weekend as Young She Son.

Son apparently was just outside the crosswalk when she ran across North School Street against a red light and was hit Saturday evening, police said.

Son, a resident of the School Street area, died at 12:45 a.m. Sunday.

LEEWARD OAHU

Owner of gun used in suicide arrested

Police arrested a 44-year-old Ewa Beach man for investigation of a firearm violation after a pistol used in a suicide was traced back to him.

The person who killed himself on Dec. 19 used a Tec-9, a 9 mm pistol that was classified as an illegal assault weapon after a law change in 1992.

Police said the man arrested legally owned the gun because he acquired it before the law was changed.

However, because the suicide victim was in possession of the gun and not the registered owner, they considered that evidence that the suspect had transferred the weapon illegally.

According to police, the suspect could not legally transfer the gun to anyone other than a gun dealer.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Historic coconut grove saved from lava flows

Federal firefighters on the Big Island defended a group of historic coconut trees from advancing lava flows yesterday.

Officials with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said firefighters burned out five grassy acres between the lava flow and the 31-year-old coastal palm grove.

The grove was planted in 1972 and survived despite many environmental challenges including growing out of centuries old lava, living in the midst of vog and haze and being buffeted by tradewinds and sea spray.

Officials closed Chain of Craters of Road for about five hours during the burn.