Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Ebesuno wins election as president of HGEA
Members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association have elected Ann Ebesuno as their new president, the union announced yesterday.Ebesuno, the secretary for the union's board of directors and its Hawaii at-large director, begins her two-year term on July 1, the union said in a news release.
She defeated Helen Hamada, the union's treasurer and director of bargaining unit No. 8. No vote count was released.
Ebesuno also is a member of the union's political action committee and chairwoman of both its Hawaii Division Executive Council and Community Action Council.
The Hawaii Government Employees Association, the state's largest labor union, has more than 42,000 members.
Waianae experiences 90-minute blackout
Power was cut for about 90 minutes to 5,000 customers in Waianae yesterday.Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Bruce Benson said the power outage started about 3 p.m. due to a failed connector. Those affected live along Waianae Valley Road to Jade Street in Makaha. Fire Capt. Scott Lawson said three people at the Makaha Beach Cabanas were stuck in an elevator for about an hour as a result of the outage.
Power was restored at 4:30 p.m., Benson said.
Nevada scholar to lead UH School of Nursing
Julie Johnson, director of the University of Nevada Orvis School of Nursing since 1993, has been appointed dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, effective Aug. 1.The UH Board of Regents approved Manoa Chancellor Peter Englert's recommendation to appoint Johnson at its monthly meeting last Friday.
UH Manoa Professor Kem Lowry, who led the search advisory committee, said Johnson stood out among a number of good candidates.
A registered nurse and professor, she served as acting director of the University of Nevada's Graham and Jean Sanford Center for Aging while directing the school of nursing there. She previously was associate dean of the College of Nursing at Montana State University and directed the college's Office of Research Support. She earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in nursing at the University of Texas at Austin.
Johnson will succeed Rosanne Harrigan, now chairwoman of the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Wildlife project grants up for grabs
Projects that benefit public hunting and/or endangered plants and animals in Maui and Hawaii counties can apply for $700,000 in grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."The Fish and Wildlife Service has long been a supporter of hunting, and of course we have responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act to protect and conserve listed species," said Craig Rowland, conservation partnerships program leader.
Big Island projects from last year include work on a reservoir that improved its ability to provide water for wild-land firefighting and to provide habitat for endangered water birds.
"By working together toward a common goal of reducing conflicts, we believe we can benefit Hawaii economically, socially and environmentally," Rowland said.
Information about the grants can be obtained at public meetings to be held 7-9 p.m.:
>> Today at the Hana Community Center, Hana, Maui.
>> Tomorrow at Kula Community Center, Makawao, Maui.
>> Wednesday at Mitchell Pauole Hall, Kaunakakai, Molokai.
>> Thursday at Lanai Public Library, Lanai City, Lanai.
Grant applications are due by May 30. For more information, contact Rowland at 541-3441 or craig_rowland@fws.gov.
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>> Cameraman Christopher Skapik was videotaping scenes while standing atop the wire mesh rockfall prevention system on the cliff overlooking Makapuu Beach Park. In a Saturday photo caption on Page A3, his last name was misspelled. Corrections and clarifications
>> Jennie K Invitational golfer Lehua Wise is a senior at Kauai High School. A story and caption on yesterday's Page B5 incorrectly stated she is Kauai alumna and New Mexico State freshman.
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 NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle fire doused, residents return to homes
Big Island firefighters were keeping watch this morning over hot spots in Waikoloa Village where residents of about 50 homes were evacuated yesterday because of a raging brush fire that burned about 400 acres.There were no reports of injuries nor homes destroyed, officials said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The patio of one home was scorched, said fire Capt. Matthew Miyasato. Other homes may have suffered smoke damage. Residents from eight homes were evacuated because what appeared to be unexploded ordnance was found in the area where the fire began, officials said. The items were removed and turned out to be empty ordnance casings.
The fire was reported about 10 a.m. and was contained by 4:40 p.m. Residents were allowed to return afterward.
County and federal firefighters and military personnel from the Pohakuloa Training Area helped battle the fire.
Three helicopters and three bulldozers were used in fighting the fire while ground crews cut fire breaks, officials said.
Because the fire threatened homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency granted a state request for federal funds to fight the fire.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police try to identify body washed ashore
An autopsy is planned today to determine the cause of death of a man whose body washed ashore on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay Saturday morning.Police said the man had several bullet holes in his upper body.
No one has come forward to identify the body, police said yesterday.
Homicide Lt. Bill Kato said the body had been in the water at least two days. Police were trying to trace a card found on the body. Kato would not say what kind of card it was, but said it had no photo on it.
HONOLULU
Local singer arrested in Ala Moana shooting
Local recording artist Aziel Toeaina, 25, was charged last night with attempted murder in connection with a Saturday shooting at Ala Moana Center.Toeaina, of Kalihi, was arrested early Saturday morning after he was accused of firing a gun at a 31-year-old man during an argument, police said.
The intended victim told police that Toeaina and he had argued at a bar, and Toeaina aimed at his chest and pulled the trigger, police said. Toeaina fired two shots but both missed, police.
Toeaina fired a third shot, but the gun misfired, police said.
The intended victim then punched Toeaina, knocking the gun free.
Witnesses called police, and Toeaina was arrested a short time later near the Ala Moana Hotel.
Bail for Toeaina was set at $50,000.
Man apprehended in shotgun incident
A 25-year-old Honolulu man was charged last night with terroristic threatening, second-degree assault and a firearm violation.Bail for Roque Edward Lindow of downtown Honolulu was set at $50,000.
During an argument between two groups of people on Kona Street about 4 a.m. Saturday, police said Lindow removed a shotgun from the trunk of his car and pointed it at the opposing group.
A member of the opposing group grabbed Lindow from behind, and the two struggled for control of the weapon. Police said that during the struggle, the shotgun discharged, hitting a bystander in the foot.
The victim, a 20-year-old man, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in stable condition with a wounded left foot.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man loses control of motorcycle on offramp
A 27-year-old Honolulu man was in critical condition yesterday after a motorcycle accident at the Waipahu offramp of the H-1 Freeway.The Waianae-bound motorcyclist took the Waipahu off-ramp, lost control of the motorcycle and was thrown onto the roadway about 1:40 p.m., police said.
Police said speed may have contributed to the accident. Police also suspected the man was not wearing a helmet, although one was found nearby.
The man was taken to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, but later was reported in critical condition.
Collision victim ID'd as Ewa Beach woman
The Honolulu Medical Examiner has identified the woman who died Wednesday in a head-on collision on Fort Weaver Road as Mary Jane Cing, 31, of Ewa Beach.Cing was the front-seat passenger of a car traveling south on Fort Weaver Road. The car collided with another car that crossed the center median and veered into oncoming traffic.
