Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Hoolaulea lei, food vendors are needed
Aloha Festivals officials are looking for lei and food vendors for the 2003 Downtown and Waikiki hoolauleas.Every year, thousands of people fill Bishop Street and Kalakaua Avenue for the celebrations.
The Downtown Hoolaulea will be held on Sept. 12 from 6:30 to 10 p.m., and the Waikiki Hoolaulea will be held on Sept. 19 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Those who are interested in setting up booths at either event can e-mail info@alohafestivals.com or pick up an application at the Aloha Festivals office at Ward Warehouse above Nohea Gallery.
The deadline to reserve booth space is July 1.
For more information, call the Aloha Festivals office at 589-1771, or go to www.alohafestivals.com.
South Maui fire depot ready to open June 13
WAILEA, Maui >> A second fire station in South Maui is scheduled to start operation June 13.The Wailea Fire Station, at Kilohana Drive and Piilani Highway, will open with a staff of 33 firefighters and serve the southern end of South Maui, including Kamalii Elementary School, Makena, the Wailea Resort and Maui Meadows. Construction of the station cost $4.3 million, and equipment, $1.5 million.
The Kihei Fire Station, near the Kihei Library and about four miles north of the Wailea Fire Station, will generally serve communities north of Kee Alii Alanui Road, including Sugar Beach.
Hanohano is Hawaii's new federal marshal
Mark Moki Hanohano, a sergeant with the Department of Public Safety's Sheriffs Department, was sworn in yesterday as the new U.S. marshal for the District of Hawaii.The U.S. Senate confirmed Hanohano on May 25, and President Bush signed his appointment May 28.
The 42-year-old Hanohano will replace Michael Ferstl, who temporarily filled the position after Howard Tagomori resigned in October.
Hanohano was sworn in by U.S. District Judge David Ezra.
As U.S. marshal, Hanohano will supervise a staff of 45 employees covering Hawaii, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll, Canterbury Islands, Kwajalein, Midway Island, Wake Island and Antarctica.
Seniors' health fair to offer medical tests
A free seniors' health fair will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon next Thursday at the Manoa Grand Ballroom of the Japanese Cultural Center, 2454 S. Beretania St.The annual event is sponsored by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce's Charitable Corporation in partnership with the Manoa Grand Ballroom and Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
The fair will present participants with technology and information about health maintenance, trends and nutrition.
Also featured will be seminars by professionals on eye care, health care, retirement planning and other topics of interest to seniors. A cooking demonstration, medical tests and other activities are planned.
Complimentary bus transportation will be provided by the fair sponsor for senior citizen clubs and community sites throughout Oahu.
For more information, call 949-5531.
Council OKs Tanaka as first city auditor
The City Council approved the appointment of Leslie Tanaka as the new city auditor yesterday.Tanaka becomes the first person named to the position under a Charter change approved by voters last fall. Tanaka assumes his new role July 1 for a six-year term.
Tanaka has been deputy under state Auditor Marion Higa since 1995. He is a certified public accountant and has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Hawaii.
The Office of Council Services has historically conducted both financial and performance audits as the research arm of the Council.
But criticisms surrounding scandals such as the Ewa Villages relocation fraud and questions over costs of programs such as Sunset on the Beach led to a call for a more focused, better-funded and independent auditor's office.
The auditor will also have subpoena powers. Removal of the auditor can only be "for cause" and will require a two-thirds vote of the Council.
Council limits areas for motorized scooters
Legislation banning stand-up motorized scooters on public streets and sidewalks on Oahu gained final approval by the City Council yesterday.Many communities have complained that these devices are a nuisance and a hazard that has shattered the peace and quiet of neighborhoods, said Councilman Romy Cachola, who introduced the measure.
The bill, which restricts gasoline-powered devices, exempts motorized devices used by someone with a disability.
Councilman Nestor Garcia, chairman of the Transportation Committee, said his panel left out scooters powered by electricity, such as the Segway Human Transporter, pending a decision by Gov. Linda Lingle on whether to sign a bill that allows the high-tech scooter on sidewalks and bike paths.
His panel could take up legislation regulating the electric scooters should the state bill not become law, Garcia said.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Michael Loui, a Punahou graduate, has been named a Carnegie Scholar by the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. A professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois, Loui was one of 26 university faculty members across the nation selected for the award.>> The Oahu Retired Teachers Association has awarded scholarships for the 2003 to 2004 school year to University of Hawaii students Karen Oshiro, Michele Sasaki and Melissa Tosoto; and community college students Roseanne Cannell, Dustin Chang and Thuc Le.
>> Lillian Cunningham, a member of the language arts faculty of Windward Community College, has been honored by the Windward Arts Council for nurturing writers for 18 years. She is adviser to "Rain Bird," the college's literary magazine.
>> The University of Hawaii Alumni Association has given Distinguished Alumni Awards to Allan Ikawa, president of Big Island Candies; Howard Karr, retired vice-chairman of First Hawaiian Bank; Francis Oda, chairman and CEO of Group 70 International; Puongpun Sananikone, president and CEO of Pacific Management Resources; and Patrice Tanaka, CEO and creative director of PT & Co. Supreme Court Chief Justice William S. Richardson is named recipient of the UHAA 2003 Founders Lifetime Achievement Award.
>> Teachers Ignacio Arcas, of Maui High School, and Cindy Mochida, of Mililani High, have been given the Heald College Excellence in Career Education Teaching Award. The student-nominated award recognizes teachers who have contributed to the growth of career education and left positive influences on students. Richard Esteron was named Outstanding Instructor.
Heald also named the Pagoda Hotel and Restaurant Employer of the Year for providing internships and jobs for graduates.
>> An Iolani School team is a West Regional division winner in the 2003 National Council on Economic Education/Goldman Sachs Foundation. Members include Yuan Gao, Christopher Iraha, Jerrene Takeuchi, Christine Tasato and advisor Richie Kibota.
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.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Molokai sees second auto death in 2 weeks
WAILUKU >> An 18-year-old Molokai man has died from injuries he received in a single-car accident earlier this week. He is the second person killed in a traffic accident on Molokai in two weeks and the seventh in Maui County this year.Forrest N.S. Alcain was injured when the car he was driving hit a tree on the north shoulder of Kamehameha V Highway near Kilohana Elementary School at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, police Sgt. Stacey Yamashita said.
Jordan Florendo, 28, of Kalae, died in a vehicle crash in Hoolehua between May 23 and 24, according to a police.
Three people died in traffic accidents in Maui County during the same period last year.
CRIMESTOPPERS
A surveillance camera took this image of yesterday's bank robbery suspect.
HONOLULU
Police hunt suspect in Makiki bank heist
Police are looking for a man who robbed the Makiki branch of City Bank yesterday afternoon.The suspect waited in line at the bank at 1338 S. Beretania St. about 1:45 p.m., handed the teller a demand note and said he was armed, police said.
He was last seen running in the Koko Head direction on Kinau Street.
The man is described as in his early 20s, 5 feet 10, 140 pounds with a slim build, medium complexion, clean-shaven, wearing a dark baseball cap, black-and-white checkered long-sleeve shirt, dark pants and dark shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Robbery Detective Michael Ogawa at 529-3357 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or dial *CRIME on a cell phone.
Suspicious $10 note leads to teen's arrest
Police arrested a 16-year-old boy yesterday after he allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit bill at a Kalihi Valley convenience store and gas station.The teen allegedly presented a fake $10 bill at about 7:30 a.m. to buy gas, police said.
The cashier had the teen wait and called police after a check of the bill with a special pen indicated it was counterfeit, police said.
The boy was arrested for first-degree forgery and later released pending investigation.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
