Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Olinda resident reports big cat's departing tail
WAILUKU >> A catlike animal was sighted Friday evening on Maui in the lower Olinda area, state wildlife biologist Fern Duvall said. The sighting is the latest in Olinda, where there have been numerous big-cat sightings in recent months.State officials said a resident saw the tail of the big cat leaving a lower Olinda residential area. Deborah Ward, spokeswoman for the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, said state officials were still investigating the report and also working on a capture plan for the big cat.
A state Web site providing details is at www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/wild/index.htm.
Euthanized whale had heart and lung trouble
A melon-headed whale that had to be euthanized Sunday appeared to have a weakened heart and had fluid in its lungs, according to the preliminary findings of a postmortem exam.The second of the two male whales rescued earlier this month continues to swim freely and feed itself at a special area at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said Margaret Akamine, spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries protected-species program.
The whale that was put to death on Sunday was believed to be the older of the two males rescued from Hauula Beach last Tuesday.
Akamine said the whale was killed because he was suffering.
Kauai tour boat firms win 9th Circuit ruling
A federal appeals court upheld yesterday a lower court's ruling that the State of Hawaii violated the constitutional rights of three commercial tour boat operators by banning them from Hanalei Bay.A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco affirmed the ruling by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor in favor of Hanalei Sport Fishing & Tours, Na Pali Catamarans and Capt. Sundown Enterprises.
The tour operators filed suit on Dec. 1, 2000, the day after new laws went into effect banning motorized boats from the bay off Kauai's North Shore.
Operators, who had federal permits to do business in Hanalei, argued that the state was arbitrarily shutting down motorized tour boats and that the new law conflicted with the state's boating law, which promotes full use and enjoyment of state waters.
The state argued that it was exercising police powers to alleviate user conflicts at Hanalei.
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[Taking Notice]
HONORS
>> Tripler Army Medical Center's otolaryngology (surgical care of disorders of the head and neck) services department achieved the highest average score in the nation on a mandatory examination, including the highest individual score by Capt. Phillip Littlefield. Other residents in the section are Maj. Umesh Marathe and Capts. Jason Boole, Jennifer Bager, Tom Nowlin and Eric Purdom.>> The Bishop Museum is the recipient of the American Association for State and Local History's certificate of commendation for the traveling exhibit, "Hui Panala'au, Hawaiian Colonists, American Citizens."
>> Gae Bergquist Trommald has been appointed a commissioner of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Trommald is a senior financial advisor with the Saracco, Hochuli, Bergquist Trommald & Associates Group of Merrill Lynch.
>> Tanya L. Lee-Greig, of Kahului, Maui, is the winner of the Finance Factors $500 Home Improvement Shopping Spree. Her name was drawn from hundreds of entries at the Maui Contractors Association's 33rd Annual Home Show in June.
"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 staffHONOLULU
Knife-wielding incident brings woman's arrest
Police arrested a 48-year-old woman after she allegedly tried to steal another woman's backpack in downtown Honolulu.Police said the victim was walking on North Beretania Street about 8:40 a.m. Sunday when the suspect approached her and asked for money. Police said the victim, 40, walked away, but the suspect followed her and tried to grab her backpack.
Police said the victim told the suspect that she was going to call police. Soon after, the suspect pointed a small pocketknife at the victim and made a stabbing motion toward her, police said.
The victim ran into a nearby business and called police, who arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree attempted robbery. The victim did not suffer any injuries.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
