Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Second flight to test Helios' fuel system
KAUAI >> NASA will try again tomorrow to activate the experimental fuel cells on its solar-powered Helios flying wing.During the first check flight June 7, Helios was aloft for about 15 hours at altitudes up to 52,000 feet, but the fuel cell system was not turned on due to leaks in the coolant system and compressed air lines. The fuel cells create power using hydrogen carried in tanks aboard the Helios and oxygen from the air. The only exhaust is water vapor.
The second attempt is planned to lift off from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on the west tip of Kauai at 8:30 a.m. The shakedown flight could last up to 20 hours. Should weather or technical issues force a postponement, Friday and Saturday are backup flight days.
The overall goal of this year's flight series is to demonstrate the ability of the Helios Prototype to fly a long-endurance mission of about 40 hours, including at least 14 hours above 50,000 feet.
The Helios flies on electrical power derived from solar arrays during the day and from the experimental fuel cell system at night.
Helios is the third generation of solar-powered aircraft to be tested by NASA on Kauai. NASA hopes to create a solar plane that can stay aloft for weeks at a time providing the communications relay and photographic functions now accomplished by much more expensive satellites.
Water board changes telephone numbers
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has changed its phone numbers, effective June 19.The main number is 748-5000; fax is 748-5318.
For water emergencies, call 748-5010.
For general water information or conservation questions and water waste complaints, call 748-5041.
To reach community relations, call any of the following staff members;
>> Denise De Costa, 748-5311, news media inquiries and BWS employees complaints.
>> Wanda Yamane, 748-5315, for school education programs, calendars, Web site.
>> Tracy Burgo, 748-5313, for publications, advertising, Detect-a-Leak Week.
>> Arthur Aiu, 748-5312, public outreach activities, watershed tours.
>> Lisa Kim, 748-5311, administrative matters.
>> Jon Yoshimura, 748-5316, water waste hotline, neighborhood board representatives.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff[ POLICE / FIRE ]
WINDWARD OAHU
A man died after diving with his father in Waimanalo yesterday, according to Honolulu fire rescue officials.
Makai Pier free diving turns fatal for sonOfficials said both men were free diving at Makai Pier near Makapuu when at some point the victim's father did not see his son in the water. The father then donned scuba gear, found his son underwater, brought him to shore and started to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, officials said.
Rescue officials were called at 10:12 a.m. When they got to the scene they took over CPR duties and transferred the victim to ambulance personnel.
Fire officials said the victim later died at Castle Medical Center.
HONOLULU
Honolulu police arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly attacking a store manager with a utility knife that he stole from the store.
Store manager faces suspect with knifePolice said at 11:45 a.m. yesterday the suspect walked into an ABC Store on Ala Moana and started acting suspicious.
The store manager decided to follow the suspect around and saw him take a utility knife without paying for it, then leave the store, police said.
Outside, the manager confronted the suspect, who then allegedly lunged at him with the knife.
The manager persuaded the suspect to put the knife down on the sidewalk, according to police.
The suspect was later arrested for first-degree robbery.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island police said a 66-year-old man has died of his injuries he suffered in a traffic accident on June 13 in North Kohala.
Traffic victim dies after crash on Big IsleThe victim, Roy S. Warner, of Kapaau, North Kohala, died yesterday at the Queen's Medical Center. Police said Warner was on a moped that sideswiped a car at the intersection of Akoni Pule Highway and Omachi Road.
Big Island bank robber brandishes machete
Big Island police are looking for a male suspect who robbed the Waiakea branch of Bank of Hawaii in Hilo yesterday afternoon.Police said about 2:30 p.m., a masked man wearing a hat, a long-sleeved shirt and dark-colored pants entered the bank on East Kawili Street, brandished a machete and approached a teller.
Police said the suspect then climbed over the counter, opened a cash drawer and grabbed money from the drawer.
The suspect repeated the process with a second teller, opened a second cash drawer and grabbed more cash, then left the bank, police said. He was last seen fleeing on a bicycle going west on Lanikaula Street.
The suspect was described as a male, about 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-1, with a medium build.
Police also said that yesterday's robbery was similar to an attempted robbery last Tuesday at the Home Street Bank in Hilo.
In that case, police said a male suspect walked in to the bank shortly after 1 p.m., wearing a cloth over his head, a respirator covering his nose and mouth, dark-colored pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
The suspect brandished a knife and demanded money several times from the tellers. When the tellers ignored him, he climbed over the counter and tried to open locked drawers. Unable to obtain any money, the suspect climbed back over the counter and into the lobby area, where he again demanded money.
When he failed to obtain any money, he threw his knife down and ran out of the bank.
The suspect was last seen riding a dark-colored bicycle toward Kilauea Avenue and traveling in the Puna direction.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Greg Esteban at 961-2384, the police non-emergency number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
[ THE COURTS ]
Man testifies that he did not hurt infant son
A 33-year-old Waikiki man accused of striking and shaking his 6-month-old son testified yesterday that he did not harm the infant.Anthony Chatman is on trial in Circuit Court on charges of second-degree attempted murder for allegedly causing his son's injuries. He is also charged with bribing, extorting and abusing the baby's mother, Asahi Suzuki, allegedly to intimidate her into recanting her statements to police.
Chatman testified in Circuit Court that he did not harm the baby on two consecutive nights in April 2002, as Suzuki has alleged.
Chatman's defense blames Suzuki for the child's injuries, suggesting she was frustrated because he wouldn't commit to marrying her. The infant suffered severe brain damage, but survived and now lives with his mother in Japan.
If convicted of attempted murder, Chatman faces life in prison with the possibility of parole. The trial continues tomorrow.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
