Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Haleakala park office closes for construction
KIPAHULU, Hawaii >> The headquarters of Haleakala National Park is closing today for two weeks of construction, though the visitors centers at the crater overlook and the summit will remain open.The headquarters closure will allow for repair and replacement of sidewalks and ramps and repavement of parking lots.
Haleakala's headquarters will reopen July 26.
State plan targets invasive water species
Salvinia molesta, which threatened to overtake Oahu's Lake Wilson this year, is only one of many aquatic invasive species in Hawaii.The state has recently completed a draft Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Plan to minimize the harmful ecological and economic impacts of invasive plants and animals in marine, fresh and brackish water.
The multiagency effort is being coordinated by the Nature Conservancy for the Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources. With approval of a state plan by the Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, federal matching funds for activities detailed in the plan may be available.
The draft plan can be seen at www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/index.html. Comments on the draft plan are being accepted until July 23 by Andi Shluker, Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan project coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, 923 Nuuanu Ave., Honolulu, HI 96817; 587-6245; ashluker@ tnc.org.
Lingle names advisers on West Hawaii issues
KAILUA-KONA >> Gov. Linda Lingle has named nine West Hawaii residents to serve on a new committee to advise her on citizens' concerns.The governor's West Hawaii Advisory Committee is one of six being established on the neighbor islands.
"I know firsthand the difficulty of having your concerns heard and addressed by decision-makers who live on another island," said Lingle, who is a former mayor of Maui.
The committee members are Kau community leader Beverly Byouk, photographer Glenda Bacon Carter, financial adviser Jason Ikaika Hauanio, physician Dr. Daryl Kurozawa, public affairs specialist Joanne Ralston, community planning executive John Ray, resort association executive Sharon Sakai, photographer Shirley Spencer and macadamia nut executive Rick Vidgen.
Sharron Ackles, the governor's West Hawaii liaison, will be an ex-officio member of the committee.
The first meeting of the committee will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ohana Keauhou Beach Hotel.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU
A 47-year-old Mililani man died early yesterday after his motorcycle was hit from behind by a car near Makaha. A medical examiner identified the victim as Curtis Cabral.
Biker dies, passenger hurt as car hits from rearPolice said an 18-year-old Waianae man was driving town-bound on Farrington Highway just past Keaau Homesteads Road in a 1992 white Toyota Corolla when he hit the rear of Cabral's silver 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Cabral and a 46-year-old female passenger were thrown from the motorcycle, police said.
The accident happened about 2:26 a.m.
Cabral was pronounced dead at the scene. The 46-year-old woman was flown to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and later upgraded to guarded condition. Police said Cabral was wearing a helmet but his passenger was not.
Excessive speed and alcohol are suspected to be factors in the collision, police said. The driver of the Toyota suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment. He was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Charges are pending.
This is the 44th traffic-related fatality on Oahu this year compared with 37 during the same period last year.
Gunman robs woman outside Kapolei Kmart
Police are looking for a male suspect who robbed a woman at gunpoint early yesterday at the Kmart parking lot in Kapolei.Police said the 30-year-old woman was sitting in her vehicle at 500 Kamokila Blvd. about 12:15 a.m. when she was approached by a man wearing a dark-colored, hooded sweatshirt.
Police said the suspect pulled out a black semiautomatic handgun and demanded the victim's bag. The woman gave the suspect her bag before he fled toward Consolidated Theatres in Kapolei.
Police said the suspect is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds.
HONOLULU
Police arrested a 31-year-old man after he allegedly broke his ex-girlfriend's leg in Makiki.
Fractured leg leads to boyfriend's arrestAbout 9:53 p.m. Friday the suspect and his ex-girlfriend were arguing when the suspect allegedly hit her several times. Police said the victim ran out of her home and into a parking lot where the suspect continued to hit her.
The suspect allegedly slammed her to the ground, breaking her right leg. Police said the victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of second-degree assault.
WAIKIKI
Police charged 18-year-old Mikael Mikami on Friday after he allegedly stole another man's skateboard and used it to hit two other teenagers in the face in Waikiki.
Homeless man charged in skateboard fracasMikami, with no local address, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.
Police said Mikami stole another 18-year-old's skateboard, money and compact discs behind the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. As he fled, he ran into two male teenagers and hit them with the skateboard, police said.
He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police arrested a 46-year-old man Saturday after he allegedly struck his wife and threatened her and his stepson with a machete at their Waimanalo home.
Police arrest husband after machete threatsPolice said the suspect came home intoxicated about 11 p.m. Friday and argued with his 18-year-old stepson. His wife tried to calm him down, but he allegedly punched her in the head several times.
Police said the suspect then got a machete and threatened the victims. Police were called and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and two counts of abuse of a household member.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
