Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Maui council plans to cut mayor's budget
WAILUKU >> The Maui County Council is moving forward with plans to pass a $318.8-million budget, $13.7 million less than the one proposed by Mayor Alan Arakawa.The budget, which passed first reading yesterday, is scheduled for final passage at 9 a.m. on May 23 in the Maui Council Chambers in Wailuku.
The proposed budget calls for a number of tax increases, including an 18.9 percent hike in property tax rates for apartments, improved residential, and unimproved residential.
The proposed budget would also raise refuse collection to $12 from $6 and the county gasoline tax to 18 cents from 13 cents.
Sakaguchi will help plan UH Kona campus
HILO >> University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle has named Hawaii Community College provost Sandra Sakaguchi to help facilitate planning and design of a new Kona campus of the UH.Sakaguchi is leaving her position as provost, a post she has held since 1991.
As provost, she has also been responsible for the UH Center at West Hawaii, which specializes in undergraduate and graduate distance education programs.
Dobelle praised Sakaguchi's knowledge of the Big Island as an asset in creating the new Kona campus.
Sakaguchi has worked for the university for more than three decades in a variety of administrative posts.
She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from California University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree in educational administration from UH Manoa.
Sakaguchi's interim replacement will be appointed at Friday's meeting of the University Board of Regents in Honolulu.
Postal Service here fined $1,500 by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii $1,500 yesterday for violating federal underground storage tank regulations.The Waikiki and the downtown Honolulu post offices were cited for failing to monitor their tanks at least every 30 days for petroleum leaks and for neglecting the required annual maintenance on their leak-detection systems. The Postal Service has 30 days to pay the fine and correct the violations.
State conservationist officially gets the job
Lawrence Yamamoto has been named state conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Honolulu.Yamamoto has been acting state conservationist since Jan. 3 when Kenneth Kaneshiro retired from the agency. Yamamoto has worked for the service in Maui, Molokai, Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The service provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners on how to conserve soil, water and other natural resources.
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>> State Sen. Brian Kanno's wife gave birth to the couple's first son on Friday. A Political File item on Page A2 Monday incorrectly said the baby was born Thursday. Corrections and clarifications
>> Vincent Martinez, 78, of Kalihi, was injured in a car accident on March 10 and died Friday. A brief on Page A5 in Monday's late edition incorrectly said he died two months ago in the accident.
>> Tom Papandrew is a consultant with Belt Collins working on the Young Street bikeway project. His last name was misspelled in a story on Page A-13 Sunday.
>> The host of the morning show at KUMU radio is Mandy Suganuma, not Mandy Armstrong as reported in TheBuzz column yesterday on Page C1.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers HONOLULU
Kalihi Office Depot robbed at knifepoint
Police are looking for a man who robbed Office Depot at 1505 Dillingham Blvd. at knifepoint Sunday.Police said the robber entered the Kalihi office supply store about 4:45 p.m. and stole a digital projector. Police said an alarm attached to the $200 projector caught the attention of the assistant manager who then confronted him.
The robber brandished a 12-inch knife, swung it at the assistant manager, then fled, police said.
The robber is described as in his 30s, 5 foot 10 inches, 160 pounds with a thin build, black hair, brown complexion and a mustache. He was wearing a black beanie cap and a black or navy blue jacket with the word "GAP" on the back.
Police seek boy, 16, who escaped detention
Police are looking for a 14-year-old boy who escaped yesterday from the youth detention facility at 902 Alder St.The boy was brought to the facility about 7 p.m. but a worker mistakenly placed him in an unsecured area and left him, police said. The boy then walked out.
2 arrested in assault of man in Chinatown
Police arrested two men after they allegedly assaulted a 58-year-old man in Chinatown about 12:20 a.m. today.Police said an acquaintance of the victim confronted him on Smith Street, accused him of stealing, grabbed his knapsack and struck him.
Another man punched the victim and took the knapsack, police said. Both men then fled. Police later arrested two men on suspicion of second-degree robbery.
The victim suffered bruises on his arm and was not seriously injured, police said.
WAIKIKI
Man sought in robbery of boy, 17, in Waikiki
Police are looking for a man who robbed a 17-year-old boy at knifepoint in Waikiki yesterday.The victim, who's from Kauai, was walking out of the restroom with a friend at the International Marketplace at 2330 Kalakaua Ave. at about 7 p.m., when the robber brandished a knife and demanded money, police said.
The suspect took money and fled. He is described as in his early 20s, about 5 foot 7 inches, 160 to 170 pounds, with muscular build, dark complexion, brown hair and eyes. He also had a slight mustache and a tattoo on his right forearm. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and denim shorts.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMIA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Firefighters walked into a house at 94-125 Pahu St., where a fire early yesterday caused about $90,000 in damage. Investigators say the blaze was intentionally set.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police investigate fire at house in Waipahu
Honolulu police have taken over the investigation of a fire that damaged a Waipahu house about 12:50 a.m. yesterday.Fire investigators said the blaze at Unit 63, 94-125 Pahu St., was intentionally set. "There was evidence of flammable liquids," said Fire Capt. Emmit Kane.
Damage to the four-bedroom home was estimated at $90,000. No one was home, fire officials said.
Victim hospitalized after Maili Beach theft
A 23-year-old man was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition with injuries inflicted during a robbery at Maili Beach Park at about 3:45 a.m. Monday.A woman in the park heard the "sound of hitting" and looked back and saw a man lying on the ground, police said. She saw another man taking the victim's backpack and fleeing, according to the report.
Details about the victim's injuries were not available.
Boy, 14, charged in sex assault of sister
A 16-year-old boy was charged yesterday with two counts each of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault for allegedly assaulting his 14-year-old sister.Police said the girl reported that her brother sexually assaulted her in their Waipahu home on April 2.
6-year-old in Makaha reports assault by boy
A 6-year-old at Makaha Elementary reported that another 6-year-old boy sexually assaulted him Monday in a school restroom, police said.Police opened an investigation and questioned a boy but did not arrest him.
Police seek suspect in pizza parlor robbery
Police are looking for a man who robbed Papa John's Pizza at 94-1021 Waipahu St. about 11:45 p.m. yesterday.Police said two employees were closing the pizza parlor when the robber came in, brandished a knife and demanded money. He fled after taking cash from the register.
The robber is described as in his late 20s, 5 foot 8 inches, 150 pounds, with medium build, dark complexion, a pony tail and tattoos on his forearms. He was wearing a dark green tank top and dark shorts.
NORTH SHORE
Sunbathing woman allegedly attacked
Police arrested at 17-year-old boy Sunday after he allegedly assaulted a woman at Sunset Beach.The woman, 28, was sunbathing face down at an isolated beach about 10:30 a.m. when the boy pounced on her, twisting her neck, police said. As the woman struggled, the boy shoved a towel in her face, police said.
Police later arrested the boy on suspicion of attempted homicide and kidnapping.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Pickup truck injures 9-year-old boy on bike
LIHUE >> A 9-year-old Kauai boy was flown to Queen's Medical Center on Oahu Monday night in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck on a street in Wailua.Police said the boy rode a bicycle out of a driveway between two parked cars into the path of the truck driven by a 52-year-old man at about 6:20 p.m. He initially was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Lihue.
The driver, who police said apparently had no chance to avoid the collision, was not injured.
Hilo girl missing since May 7 found unhurt
Police have found a 12-year-old girl who had been missing from her Hilo home since May 7.Erica Rapoza was found about 11 p.m. yesterday after police sought public help in a search for her. Police said she was in good condition but offered no other details.
