Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

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Grant helps Kalaeloa turn into civilian airport

Kalaeloa Airport -- formerly the Barbers Point Naval Air Station -- will receive $1.8 million for improvements to further its conversion to civilian use.

Kalaeloa was selected Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration to participate in the Military Airport Program, which provides funds to help accelerate conversion to civilian or joint-use airfields.

"Airfield, utility and hangar improvements will allow this general aviation facility to provide relief for Honolulu International Airport," U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said in a news release issued by his Washington office.

"These improvements are necessary to support the general aviation community in Hawaii," he said.

The state operates Kalaeloa's three runways, as well as its tower and support facilities.

Off-line turbine causes Big Island power failure

About 4,700 customers in Hilo, Waikoloa and Captain Cook were without power for seven minutes Saturday night, according to Hawaii Electric Light Co.

The power interruptions began at 6:38 p.m. when HELCO's Puna Combustion Turbine 3 tripped off-line, HELCO said in a news release.

Power was restored by 6:45 p.m. after other generators were brought on to the HELCO system. The Puna turbine remained out of service Saturday night while HELCO investigated the cause of the failure.

Gift to adult wellness center speeds opening

The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has presented $245,000 to the Waipahu Community Adult Day Health Center and Youth Day Care Center.

The city financed construction of the center through a $2.7 million community development block grant.

That grant, the Weinberg award, state funds appropriated by this year's Legislature and private donations will allow the center to begin operations in August, according to Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu-Pearl City), its volunteer executive director.

The combination adult wellness and intergenerational center, first of its kind in Hawaii, is expected to be a model for a community solution to the long-term care crisis, Kawamoto said.

Health for All Inc., a California corporation, will operate the adult care portion. Dr. Richard Ikeda, son of Waipahu's first dentist, is executive director of Health for All and principal advisor for the Waipahu center.

He operates four adult day health centers in Northern California.

[ BRIEFLY ]

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Comments sought on cable access plan

The Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs is inviting public comment to develop a statewide cable access plan.

Issues include whether the counties should have a greater role in regulating cable TV; how the board of directors of public, education and government access should be chosen; and the allocation of funding.

Meetings will be held as follows:

» Kahului, Aug. 12, 4:30 p.m., Maui Community College, Kaaike Building, Room 105, 310 West Kaahumanu Ave.

» Lihue Aug. 13, 4:30 p.m., County Building, Rooms 2-A and 2-B, 4444 Rice St.

» East Hawaii-Hilo, Aug. 19, 4:30 p.m.

» Honolulu, Aug. 25, 4:30 p.m., Queen Liliuokalani Building, 1390 Miller St., Room 404

» West Hawaii-Kona, Aug. 27, 4:30 p.m., Hale Halawai, 75-5760 Alii Drive

Copies of the discussion document may be obtained online at www.hawaii.gov/dcca or the Cable Television Division, 1010 Richards St., 2nd Floor, Honolulu 96813.

Sea project a finalist in engineering award

The Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park Seawater Supply Pipeline has been recognized as one of six merit finalists for the 2003 Outstanding Civil Achievement Award.

The award honors projects that best illustrate superior civil engineering skills and represent a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society.

The pipeline, which plunges from the shoreline to a depth of 3,000 feet along the Kailua-Kona Coast, is the world's deepest large-diameter sea-water intake pipeline.

It is 9,100 feet long, constructed of high-density polyethylene and provides 27,000 gallons per minute of nutrient-rich cold sea water to the park's research and commercial enterprises.

Installation of the pipeline required use of Global Positioning System receivers to track its exact location as it sank when deployed at sundown.

Engineers used computer models to predict the pressures that would occur inside and outside the pipeline as it was lowered.

USS O'Kane returns today from Iraq war

The Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer USS O'Kane returns home today from the war in Iraq. A story on Page A14 yesterday incorrectly reported that the ship was scheduled to arrive yesterday. The ship, with a crew of 235, left Hawaii on Jan. 17 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Single-car crash claims life on Maui

An 18-year-old man was killed yesterday in a single-car accident in Wailuku.

Police said the driver, Kenneth Agudo, of Kahului, was driving a white 1998 Honda sedan on Kahului Beach Road about 2:06 a.m. Police said he lost control of his car while passing another vehicle as he neared the intersection with Waiehu Beach Road. Police said the car veered off the roadway and overturned.

Agudo was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Two passengers in Agudo's car, 25-year-old Erjay Lagran and 18-year-old Lucille Fortuna, both of Kahului, were taken to Maui Memorial in serious condition. Police said Agudo and Lagran were wearing seat belts, but Fortuna was not.

CENTRAL OAHU
Soldier killed in wreck at Schofield Barracks

A 19-year-old soldier died of chest injuries Saturday after he was involved in a single-car accident at Schofield Barracks, Army officials said.

The accident occurred about 7:50 p.m. near the intersection of Lyman and Trimble roads when the four-door Honda the victim was driving struck a chain-link fence, officials said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. A 19-year-old male passenger, who is also a soldier, was treated and released at Tripler Army Medical Center.

HONOLULU
One dead, two injured in collision on H-1

A man died in a two-car collision yesterday near Honolulu Airport.

Police said a vehicle operated by a Kalihi man was "cutting in and out of traffic" while heading Waianae-bound on the H-1 freeway about 4:25 a.m. when it rear-ended another vehicle near Peltier Avenue.

Police said the second vehicle hit a barrier and rolled over, while the first vehicle hit a barrier.

Police said the Kalihi man suffered head injuries and died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, police said. Excessive speed and alcohol are suspected to be factors, police added.

The driver and passenger in the second vehicle suffered multiple injuries and were taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition but were later upgraded to serious condition. Police said they were wearing seat belts.

Suspect in aloha shirt heist collared by cops

Police arrested a 36-year-old man after he allegedly tried to steal $1,000 worth of aloha shirts Thursday from a retail establishment on the 1450 block of Ala Moana.

Police said a loss prevention officer saw the suspect putting aloha shirts into a bag.

The suspect then left the store without paying and was stopped and arrested, according to police.

Man nabbed in alleged screwdriver stabbing

Police arrested a 21-year-old Palolo man on Wednesday for allegedly stabbing another man through the cheek and into the palate with a screwdriver on May 30.

Police said the suspect also hit one of the victim's friends with a beer bottle.

The suspect is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

WINDWARD OAHU
Dazed and hurt hiker found on Kailua trail

A male hiker in his 30s slipped and fell along the Maunawili Trail in Kailua yesterday, causing him to become disoriented and break his ankle, according to fire and emergency medical officials.

Other hikers found the man near the stream along the trail to Maunawili Falls and used a cellular phone to call for help at about 11:23 a.m. yesterday, said fire Capt. Emmit Kane.

A fire rescue crew hiked in, and the man was airlifted to Maunawili Park.

He was taken by ambulance to the Queen's Medical in serious condition at about 12:23 p.m., according to Emergency Medical Services personnel.

LEEWARD OAHU
Driver mugging leads to arrest of teenagers

Police arrested a 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy yesterday after they allegedly stole a compact disc player and money from another man in Village Park.

Police said a 20-year-old man was sitting in his car on Kaaholo Place when he was approached by two male suspects about 12:45 a.m. One of the suspects pulled him out of the car, punched him and took his Sony compact disc player, police said.

The second suspect kicked the victim in the back and took money from his wallet, police said.

Police arrested both suspects on suspicion of second-degree robbery, then released them pending investigation.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers