State plans to acquire
land to widen freeway
The state has filed a court document saying it intends to condemn property to widen the H-1 freeway westbound before the Pearl City offramp.In documents filed yesterday in Circuit Court, the state said it plans to acquire properties below the freeway in the Waimalu Gardens subdivision off Moanalua Road, including portions of Ponohale, Kaahele, Ponokaulike and Pono streets in Waimalu.
The project is expected to widen 1.3 miles of the H-1 between the Kaonohi Street overpass to the Pearl City offramp -- adding a sixth lane of traffic and wider shoulders.
The proposal will extend the sixth Ewa-bound lane already in place between Halawa and the Kaonohi Street overpass.
Owner of dog that bit young boy faces trial
WAILUKU >> The owner of a dog that attacked a 5-year-old boy has been cited for allegedly violating a law concerning loose dogs. The law says a dog owner can be fined if the animal is left loose, resulting in an attack on a person or another animal.Robert Gaoiran, of Kihei, is scheduled to make an appearance in Wailuku District Court on March 13.
Trevor Sifton was walking on a sidewalk to his home in Kihei Villages condominium when a mixed-breed pit bull bit his left arm, right calf and the right side of his face on Jan. 27, family members allege.
The dog, which had been enclosed, jumped a 4-foot fence, Sifton's mother, Kellie, said.
The dog was destroyed by the Maui Humane Society on Jan. 29.
A violation carries a fine ranging from $50 to $500.
More families now able to join health program
The family income ceiling for state QUEST and Medicaid health insurance programs has been raised.The new guidelines, retroactive to Jan. 1, allow children in a four-member family to qualify for free health insurance if the family earns up to $42,336 annually.
"That's about $700 more than last year's limit," said Barbara Luksch, director of the Hawaii Covering Kids Project, which is trying to enroll children in the programs.
The new gross monthly
income limits range from $2,323 for a two-member household and $4,730 for a six-member household to $7,138 for a 10-member family. Add $602 for each additional person. For more information, call 211 free from all islands or see www.coveringkids.com.
Federal funds to help isle endangered species
Hawaii will get more than $1.73 million in federal grants to help private landowners in conserving and restoring the habitat of endangered species and other threatened plants and animals on their property.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants will fund partnerships with private landowners or nonprofit groups, which put up at least 25 percent of the cost of projects, to protect more than 60 wildlife species and 248 plant species.
The Interior Department is providing $34.8 million in grants across the country for the Landowner Incentive Program, part of President Bush's proposed $113.2 million Cooperative Conservation Initiative in his fiscal year 2004 budget.
The state Department of Land & Natural Resources will also contribute $721,276 to the program, funding 15 landowner projects on 105,140 acres on five islands.
The money will go to help defray the cost of habitat improvements such as building barrier fences, removing feral pigs and goats, creating on-site seed sources for endangered plant species, and the operation of a rotational grazing program to protect the nene, or Hawaiian goose.
>> The Honolulu Printmakers has received a $7,480 grant from the Laila Twigg-Smith Art Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation to support printmakers Joshua Tollefson and Iris Altamira. They were awarded material stipends, free studio space and an exhibition, scheduled for March 12 at the Academy Art Center. [ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> Pearlridge Center has donated $39,724.10 to the Hawaiian Railway Society to allow the society to construct a building to protect an engine car while it is under restoration.
>> Brandt Farias, senior vice president and manager of the Marketing and Product Management Division of First Hawaiian Bank, is the new corporate board chair of Catholic Charities of Hawaii.
Marianita Lopez was elected vice chair; I. Patrick "Paddy" Griggs, retired partner of Deloitte & Touche, treasurer; and Roger Wall, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Foodland Super Market Ltd., secretary.
New corporate board members include Robbie Alm, of Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc.; Stan Brown, of Marriott Hotels & Resorts; Beth Francisca, from Kauai; James Gonsalves, of St. Ann Parish, Maui; Jeffrey Loo, of J.W. Loo & Associates; and Rix Maurer, of the Queen's Medical Center.
New community and immigrant services board members are the Rev. Gary Colton, of St. Theresa, and Thanh-Lo Sananikone, of TLS Corp.
New elderly services board members are Mark Yoshida, of First Hawaiian Bank, and Maria Smith, Linda Sakamoto and Loyola McKeague.
New family services board members are Stephen Kula; Maureen Lichter, of Finance Factors Ltd.; and Gabriel Lee, of American Savings Bank.
>> Planned Parenthood of Hawaii has elected Charlene Bliss as president; Linda Wheeler, vice president; Dorothy Morris, secretary; and Chiye Wenkam, treasurer.
New board members are Marjorie Au, Dana Alden, the Rev. Neal MacPherson, Suzanne Meisenzahl, Kathryn Nelson, Hamid Pourjalali, Bob Ramsey, John Spangler, Karen Taketa, Jan Tamura, Elmira Tsang, Jan Vernon and Sharon Yoshida.
>> The Hawaii State Bar Association has elected Douglas A. Crosier president for 2003. He is a partner at the law firm of Rush Moore Craven Sutton Morry & Beh, which he joined in 1995.
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>> People between the ages of 16 and 21 may apply for the Youth Employment Program. An article on Page A4 yesterday about the program at Susannah Wesley Community Center said applicants may be up to 21 years old. Corrections and clarifications
>> Tara Maka, who was arrested based on CrimeStoppers tips, is a woman. A story on Page A4 in yesterday's late editions incorrectly identified Maka as a man.
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
WINDWARD OAHU
13-year-old girl admits lying about kidnapping
A 13-year-old girl has recanted her story about being kidnapped Thursday morning near King Intermediate School, police said.She told police a man had stopped his car on Humu Street at about 7 a.m., grabbed her, pulled her to his vehicle and told her to get in.
She gave police a description of the man.
Police investigated the incident and determined it never occurred.
5 arrested in drug raid at Kailua home
Three women and two men were arrested Thursday in a raid of a suspected drug house in Kailua. Three women and one man at the home were arrested on drug charges. One man was taken into custody on outstanding arrest warrants.The suspects were arrested at 708-1 Kihapai Place when police went there to execute a search warrant.
HONOLULU
Police seek suspect in bank robbery
Police are asking the public to help identify a man who allegedly robbed the Liliha Branch of First Hawaiian Bank yesterday morning.The robbery occurred at 1420 Liliha St. at about 9:15 a.m.
The suspect is described as 5 feet 10, 200 pounds, with a medium build, red neck-length hair, red mustache and beard. He was wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, dark-colored T-shirt and shorts.
Police said the suspect entered the bank, waited in line and demanded money. The suspect was last seen leaving the area in a taxi.
This is the 10th bank robbery on Oahu this year.
Anyone with information about this robbery should call Detective Brian Johnson at 692-4602. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.
LEEWARD OAHU
Newtown Square robber flees on moped
Police are looking for a suspect who robbed a business in Newtown Square about 7:30 Thursday night.The robber is described as a man in his 30s, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 160 pounds, with a fair complexion, black hair, brown eyes and a black mustache. He was wearing a long-sleeve black-and-gray sweatshirt.
Police said the robber walked into the business at 98-1247 Kaahumanu St., brandished a silver-colored object and demanded money. He fled on a dark-colored moped.
Florita Dela Cruz
Missing woman last seen in Wahiawa
The Honolulu Police Department's Missing Person Detail is asking for help in locating 34-year-old Florita Dela Cruz.Dela Cruz was last seen on Alapio Road in Wahiawa last Saturday at about 5 p.m.
Dela Cruz is described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, with a heavy build, long straight black hair, brown eyes and a tan complexion. She was last seen wearing a light-blue tank top, blue shorts and black rubber slippers.
Witnesses to this case may call investigator Phil Camero directly at 529-3394. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cellular phone.
