Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
FAA hopes to finish crash probe next week
WAILUKU >> The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to be finished within a week with its preliminary investigation into the cause of a helicopter crash on Molokai that injured the pilot.Tweet Coleman, the FAA's Pacific area representative, said the inspector, who arrived on Molokai yesterday, will be examining the engine and other parts of the helicopter wreckage at the crash site in Palaau in South-central Molokai.
The Windward Aviation helicopter, a Hughes 369-D, was being used to fight brush fires and had gone to get a bucket of water when it crashed about 1:15 p.m. Thursday, authorities said.
The pilot, Richard "Duke" Baldwin, 38, of Maui, was recuperating from back injuries at Maui Memorial Hospital yesterday.
Lingle speech 'offends' Democratic chairman
State Democratic Party Chairman Alex Santiago scolded Republican Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday for referring to the $3.6 million she vetoed from funding for 20 private social and health programs as "handing out money.""I don't consider the cuts she has made as handouts to anyone, and I'm very much offended by the term that she used. As a social worker, I know full well that lots of these cuts mean that many individuals in our state will not be receiving some very essential services," said Santiago, a former state representative.
"We are seeing fundamental differences between Democrats who found ways to fund these programs and a Republican governor who said they are not worthwhile," he said.
In talking to reporters on Thursday, Lingle made that same point, but in terms of Democrats finding it popular to "hand out money" even when there is no money to hand out.
Republican Party state Chairman Brennon Morioka dismissed Santiago's complaints as pure party politics.
"Now that we have a Republican governor and the shoe is on the other foot, they come out and criticize every little thing because they are having trouble in providing substance of their own to help solve our problems," he said.
Hawaii gets $700,000 to monitor isle waters
Hawaii's program to monitor water quality at swimming beaches statewide got the second installment of a $700,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant yesterday in a presentation at Ala Moana Park.The money will help pay for the weekly monitoring that the state Department of Health conducts at 40 sites statewide, said Denis Lau, head of the state Clean Water Division.
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
Academic Awards
>> Kevin Chaitin, of Moanalua High School, and Lorey Ishihara, of Kahuku High, have been awarded the Outstanding Teaching Awards by the Hawaii Council for the Humanities in the organization's April Hawaii State History Day competition.>> Hawaii Pacific University has given $2,500 scholarships to Rebecca Wunder, Wendee Murayama and Caine Jette, of Maui High.
>> Brigham Young University, Hawaii, has given a one-semester scholarship to Cecily Kaya, of Moanalua High.
>> Chaminade University has given a $5,600 scholarship to Jokke Kokkonen, of Kahuku High.
>> The Alexander and Baldwin Foundation has awarded cash prizes to Nicholas Pascual, Lahaina Intermediate; and Brienne Oshiro, Jessica Oxiles and Kelsie Pascual, of Waipahu High.
>> The Hawaii Labor Heritage Council has awarded cash to Kimberly Fletcher, Waipahu Intermediate; Nicholas Pascual, Lahaina Intermediate; Joann Rabanal, Jamie Pascual, Jake Raquel, Brienne Oshiro, Jessica Oxiles and Kelsie Pascual, Waipahu High; and Thomas Takemoto-Chock, Cory Kawabata and Nicholas Lum, Waiakea High.
>> Associated Chinese University Women Inc. has awarded cash to Terrence Kawano, Aiea High; Frances Won, Moanalua High; and Jovelyn Bolilla and Maria Sur, Maui High.
>> The Hawaii Association of School Librarians has awarded cash to Rafe Gaspar-Asaoka, Mililani Middle, and Carly Munekiyo, Baldwin High.
>> The Center for Oral History at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has given cash to Kiana Nip, of Lahaina, and Robert Omura, of Maui.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
WAILUKU >> A four-person crew of Maui firefighters was sent to Molokai yesterday to help battle several brush fires that continued to burn in the western section of the island.
4 Maui firefighters join effort on MolokaiAssistant Fire Chief Greg Chong Kee said yesterday that 15 county firefighters were battling the brush blazes in areas of Kaluakoi, Maunaloa and an area south of Molokai Airport.
Chong Kee said three helicopters from Maui were used to make water drops.
Several Molokai brush fires have been reported to authorities since Wednesday. The fires included three on Wednesday and two on Thursday.
Two fires were extinguished, but as of yesterday afternoon, several fires remained out of control, Chong Kee said.
Fire officials' estimates on burned acreage have ranged from 700 to 1,500 acres.
5 cars broken into in S. Kohala in 1 day
Big Island police are asking for the public's help in finding out who broke into five vehicles at different locations on Wednesday in South Kohala.The vehicles were parked in the areas of Puako Beach Drive, the Puako boat ramp and Wailea Bay. The break-ins involved similar methods of entry and appear to have taken place between 1 and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Anyone with information should call officer Clarence Yee, of the South Kohala Patrol, at 887-3080 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311. Callers who wish to remain anonymous should call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
HONOLULU
Honolulu police charged a man yesterday with stealing a woman's purse at a cemetery, then taking the keys from that purse to steal the victim's sister's car a few weeks later.
Suspect is arrested in purse and car theftPolice said that on March 2 the suspect allegedly saw the female victim drop her keys in the parking lot next to her vehicle. The suspect then allegedly used the keys to enter the woman's vehicle and steal her purse.
Weeks later, police said, the suspect used an extra set of keys in the victim's purse to gain access to her sister's vehicle.
The suspect was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
