Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
HSTA contract means more health insurance
Members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association ratified a partial contract settlement yesterday.The HSTA was one of three public worker unions that agreed last month to extend their contracts without pay raises in exchange for more money from the state for health insurance. In HSTA's case the state agreed to increase its share to 66 percent for its 13,000 members.
"This settlement maintains teachers' rights and professional development incentives and in fact expands upon them in several areas," said Karen Ginoza, HSTA president.
The union agreed to a one-year contract extension, through June 30, 2004, without the right to strike.
Maui boy sees second round in spelling bee
Maui Waena Intermediate school eighth-grader Nathaniel Jay Salazar was eliminated in the second round of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., yesterday.In the first round, he correctly spelled the word cordillera, meaning a system or chain of mountains.
But the 13-year-old did not advance to the third round after misspelling more than 10 words during the second round's written test.
The spellers heard 25 words and had 30 seconds to write them.
The test included words such as "pervicacious," meaning stubborn, and "mycetisum," or mushroom poisoning.
Honolulu gets federal money for security
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said the city will receive $6.87 million in federal grants for homeland security costs.The money is part of $500 million the Department of Homeland Security is granting cities across the country for operations conducted during heightened alert levels earlier this year, security provided for critical infrastructure, training, exercises, equipment, information sharing and other purposes.
At the start of the U.S.-led war against Iraq in March, the terrorism alert level in Hawaii went up one level to yellow from blue.
The heightened alert cost the Honolulu Police Department an additional $100,000 in overtime per week to provide added security at city facilities and to increase its public presence.
Kona YMCA will host camps this summer
Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society and the Kona Family YMCA are hosting several camps for youth and families this summer on the Big Island.During three-day to one-week sessions at YMCA Camp Ke'ei, "Hawaii Ambassadors of the Environment" will stay in platform tents on a beach, explore coral gardens, go snorkeling, kayaking, hiking and learn about connections between the land and sea and humans and nature.
There will be nine sessions for ages 10-18, two for families and two for teachers. Prices range from $250 to $415, with scholarships available.
For more information, contact the Kona Family YMCA at 808-329-9622 or hawaii@aote.org.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Kamehameha Schools has won the Grand Championship Sweepstakes trophy at the Hawaii Speech League State Forensic Championships.Team sweepstakes trophies went to McKinley, Iolani, Kahuku, Iolani, Baldwin and Sacred Hearts Academy.
Individual winners from the competition include Diana Wan, Anthony Lui and Channpreet Singh, of McKinley; Thomas Burling, University Lab; No'u Revila and Anderson Dun, Kamehameha; Chantilly Mers, Baldwin; Jennifer Ong and Currun Singh, Punahou; Alan Wu, Jennifer Saito, Antonio Baclig, Kelly Nakamura and Ravi Patel, Iolani; Jonathan Dang and Forrest Richmond, St. Louis; and Linda Ichiyama and Alison Kadesch, Moanalua. They will compete in the national contest in Atlanta in June.
Other first-place winners are Mike Lee, of McKinley; Jace Hieda, University Lab; Krista Mathews, Punahou; Coda Hensarling, Kamehameha; and Michael Dannemiller and Bradley Pang, Punahou.
>> The Hawaii Civil Rights Art Contest's first-place winners are Adayna Wong-Sagiao, fourth grade, Kauluwela Elementary School; Charlene Malapitan, fifth grade, Jefferson; and Shearamie Esteban, sixth grade, Kapalama.
Second-place winners are Kristen Santos, fourth grade, Pearl City Highlands; Zachary Smith, fifth grade, Wheeler; Melodie Shuler, fifth grade, Lehua; and Kristina Kam, sixth grade, Nuuanu.
>> The 10 Oahu semifinal winners of "Kaha Ki'i: An Artistic Discovery," a 2nd Congressional District arts contest, are Lisa Ballesteros, Brandon Eum and Amanda Vaughan, of Leilehua High School; Kyle Takiguchi, Kira Enoki, Sean Connelly and Chelsea Maeda, Castle; and Tiarre Tenorio, Michele Decierdo and Corby Plumb, Kapolei.
>> Heald College in Honolulu has awarded merit scholarships, worth $12,400 each, to Darcie Lee Yamauchi, of Aiea High School; Kai'ulani McKeague, McKinley; Maryellen Navalta, Campbell; Jodi Uchida, Castle; Douglas Hoomanawanui, Pahoa; Jay Parinas, Waimea; and Angelo Bolo, Lanai.
The college also gave $3,200 quarterly scholarships to Joy Kathleen Glascon, Aiea; Edison Munoz, Moanalua; Crystal Cabico and Caroline Laulusa, Farrington; Jason Ramos and Justin Una, Pearl City; Ali Gudon and Brandon Tabios, Castle; Jacilyn Basque and Promise DePeralta, Hilo; Stacy Battulayan, Waimea; and Hiapo De Jesus, Kauai.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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>> An article Tuesday on Page A6 about the financial disclosures of Gov. Linda Lingle's Cabinet members included numerous errors. In some cases the income, holdings and/or job title of an administration official's spouse was incorrectly attributed to the official. Corrected information appears in a story today. 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 Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWINDWARD OAHU
Kailua school fire is arson, fire officials say
An early morning fire at Kailua Intermediate School was intentionally set, fire officials said.Firefighters from the Kailua Fire Station put the fire out in about 10 minutes, said Capt. William Andrade, Kailua Station Commander. The fire was reported at 12:55 a.m.
Andrade said tables were stacked up outside the school's industrial arts building next to a wall and set on fire. He estimated the damage caused by the fire at no more than $20,000.
HONOLULU
Police seeking witness to fatal park shooting
Police are trying to locate the witness to a fatal shooting at Ala Wai Community Park in December.
They said Don Ilga, 18, witnessed Odin Ortiz being shot in the head on Dec. 28, at 2015 Kapiolani Blvd.
They arrested Anibal Ortiz, no relation to the victim, on a charge of murder.
Police said all three men were believed to be homeless and sleeping at the park at the time of the shooting.
Ilga is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 230 pounds, with a heavy build, black hair and brown eyes.
Police said Ilga is known to frequent Ala Wai Community Park, along with the Waikiki and Diamond Head areas.
Anyone with information may call Detective Ted Coons at 529-3053 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
2 suspects charged in beating of visitor
Honolulu police have charged two men in connection with a beating last weekend that left a man in a coma.Solomon Kahalewai Jr. and Christopher Hicks were charged last night with attempted murder.
Both men are being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
A third suspect in the case has been arrested but not charged.
According to a police affidavit, Kahalewai, Hicks and the third suspect chased down a 21-year-old California visitor on Saturday night and punched and kicked him as he lay on Atkinson Drive.
The affidavit stated that an earlier altercation between the victim, his friend and the suspects outside of the Blue Tropix Nightclub, at 1700 Kapiolani Blvd., led to the assault.
A physician's report included in the affidavit stated that the victim, Ivan Kaloyanov, was in a coma and had a significant, closed head injury, and it was unknown if he would recover.
Detectives said last night the victim was still in a coma but had been upgraded to stable condition from critical.
Homeless man bites finger off another man
A 27-year-old man was arrested for assault this morning for allegedly biting off the finger of another homeless man.Police said the suspect, who lived in a vehicle with his girlfriend on Mary Street in Kalihi, was intoxicated when he got into an argument with the girlfriend about 12:15 a.m. The suspect then attacked the victim, a 41-year-old man living in another vehicle at the corner of Mary and Mokauea streets.
During the attack the suspect allegedly bit off the tip of the victim's left index finger, which was recovered and sent with the victim to Queen's Medical Center in hopes of reattaching it, police said.
Woman with knife arrested at airport
A woman on her way to Hilo was arrested at Honolulu Airport yesterday after security screeners found a knife hidden in her bra, authorities said.The woman, 58, was stopped at a checkpoint in the interisland terminal where the weapon was discovered by screeners, said Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Sidney Hayakawa, the Transportation Security Administration security director in Honolulu, said the woman was carrying a small knife.
She was arrested on a weapons charge and taken to the airport cellblock around 2:45 p.m., Ishikawa said.
Also yesterday, a woman entering the commuter area of the terminal was arrested after security screeners discovered she was carrying drugs, Ishikawa said.
She was arrested by sheriff's deputies and taken to the airport cellblock, he said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
New fires burning on edge of lava flows
HILO >> A new set of fires is burning along the edge of lava flows in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but park officials said they are not a cause for concern.Some of the fires are re-burning areas that were partially burned last year, a park announcement said.
The fires are also burning in open forest where the dominant vegetation is uluhe fern, the park said.
Smoke from the fires may be seen in the Volcano village and Glenwood areas, but no structures or visitors are threatened.
The trail to Napau Crater, in the upland area near the lava flows, has been closed, but Chain of Craters Road to the coastal area remains open.
Park firefighters are preparing to contain the fires and prevent their spread to "species-rich" forests, the park said.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
