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COURTESY PHOTO STEVE SIVULKA
Steve Sivulka, of San Diego, was on vacation on Maui when he took this photograph of a shark in waters off Kaanapali beach. Sivulka said that at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, he saw the shark come within three feet of the beach, then swim off. Sivulka thinks the shark may have been feeding on fish. State aquatics official Russell Sparks saidthat based on the photograph, the shark appeared to be 5 to 5 1/2 feet long.
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Civil Defense siren test will run on Monday
The state Civil Defense monthly test of sirens and the Emergency Alert System will be performed Monday. It is normally done on the first working day of the month.The siren test is the "Attention/Alert" signal, a steady 45-second tone, used to alert the public to any emergency which may threaten life and property.
When the signal is sounded in an emergency, the public should turn on any radio or television for emergency information and instructions broadcast by civil defense agencies.
In addition to natural and technological hazards, the system could be used to warn of terrorist incidents or acts of war.
Civil defense disaster information is in the front section of the white pages telephone directories in all counties.
Fewer gallons of water were utilized last week
Honolulu Board of Water Supply customers used an average of 2 million fewer gallons a day for the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3 than the week before, the board reported yesterday."If you compare that to end of July, when we announced the voluntary water conservation measures, it's almost a 7 percent decrease," Deputy Manager Donna Kiyosaki said. "I think our customers are really trying to help with the conservation effort."
Customers used 166.54 million gallons a day, compared with 168.51 during the week of Aug. 21-27.
The board's goal is a 10 percent reduction from the 178 million gallons a day averaged in the week ending July 23.
Last month, the board asked all water users to voluntarily water lawns only on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. because of a prolonged drought.
Cardiovascular unit is first of its kind here
Cardiovascular patients admitted to the Queen's Medical Center starting next week will enter a new $13 million Cardiac Comprehensive Care Unit.A blessing was conducted yesterday for the new unit, which has 40 private rooms for patients. Each is equipped for intensive care, and nurses are being trained for all levels of care required by cardiac patients.
Nurse manager Sharon Yamauchi said the unit is the first of its kind in Hawaii.
Cardiac patients, who have been moved an average of four times, will remain in one room from arrival to discharge.
House panel OKs rise in migrant impact aid
The U.S. House Resources Committee approved an amendment yesterday to double the federal impact aid to $30 million from $15 million to Hawaii and U.S. Pacific territories to help offset costs for services provided to Marshallese and Micronesian migrants.The funds would provide for costs for education, health and human services incurred by Hawaii, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Hawaii spent more than $32 million for services to migrants from the Freely Associated States of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.
"We're very pleased the amount is doubled," said state Human Services Director Lillian Koller. "We still are concerned about the manner in which it will be allocated."
Koller said a Department of the Interior representative told state officials the allocation will probably be based on where migrants are located rather than on the amount the state or territory is spending on them.
DeSoto fined for abuse of campaign funds
The state Campaign Spending Commission plans to fine former City Councilman John DeSoto $4,000 for misusing campaign funds, according to Executive Director Bob Watada.The fine, agreed to by De-Soto, requires the approval of the commission at its meeting next week, Watada said. De-Soto's campaign paid for $4,000 in noncampaign costs, including parking tickets and costs to attend a union dinner function during his last campaign in 1998.
The commission also plans to issue a $19,000 fine to local engineering firm NTW Inc., Watada said. NTW admitted to making more than $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and former Gov. Ben Cayetano over several years.
Library bookstore reopens on Saturdays
The Friends of Kailua Library's bookstore will resume its Saturday hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting this weekend.The bookstore, which is at the library, had suspended its Saturday operations earlier this summer, when the library stopped opening on weekends. The store sells used books, comics, CDs and videos to raise money for the library. It is also open on weekdays.
"Saturday is a good day for people to shop and also to donate books, as we have a large staff on hand to help out with unloading and shelving," said Patrick Welch, a spokesman for the Kailua Friends group.
Registration deadline for ACT exam nears
The deadline to register for the Oct. 25 ACT assessment is Sept. 19.The late registration deadline is Oct. 3. Students can visit their high school counselor for registration materials or register online at www.act.org.
The test's fee is $26. The exam is accepted by many colleges around the nation, including all Ivy League schools.
ACT officials say the test is based on the curriculum taught in high school. Free sample tests are available from high school counselors, and sample questions can be found on ACT's Web site.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWINDWARD OAHU
15-year-old escapee caught in Maunawili
A 15-year-old boy escaped from the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility at 3:15 p.m. yesterday but was apprehended by a staff member in a nearby neighborhood.Police said the teenager was on a work line when he jumped over a razor-wire fence and fled the Kailua facility.
A youth facility staff member discovered the escapee in the Maunawili area and returned him to the facility, where he was arrested for escape.
Punaluu man allegedly strangles his girlfriend
A 48-year-old Punaluu man was arrested yesterday for felony abuse of a household member after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend Tuesday.Police said the couple got into an argument about 8:35 p.m. Tuesday at their home on the 53-000 block of Kamehameha Highway.
The man allegedly strangled the 48-year-old woman, causing her to lose consciousness.
After regaining consciousness, the woman reported the incident to police.
Police did not arrest the man until yesterday at his place of employment, after learning he had been convicted of two prior abuses within a two-year period.
Ex-wife allegedly attacks ex's new wife
A 36-year-old Kailua woman was arrested after allegedly trying to break into her ex-husband's Kailua house and throwing a knife at his current wife.The woman called her ex-husband Wednesday and allegedly threatened to harm his family.
Police said the woman arrived at his house at 10:50 p.m. Wednesday, broke through the kitchen window and grabbed a knife. While she was trying to squeeze through the window, she threw the knife at her ex-husband's current wife and threatened to kill her.
The 36-year-old ex-husband subdued the woman and called police.
Police arrested the woman on first-degree burglary and violation of a temporary restraining order.
HONOLULU
HFD tackles brush fire at Kalihi mountainside
A brush fire scorched four acres of a Kalihi mountainside yesterday evening.Wind pushed the fire up the mountainside behind Kamehameha IV housing, and the fire did not threaten any homes, said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Firefighters battled the blaze, pulling 800 to 1,000 feet of hose up the steep mountainside, Tejada said.
The firefighters from six companies and the Honolulu Fire Department helicopter brought the fire under control about 6:30 p.m., within an hour after the fire was first reported.
LEEWARD OAHU
Firefighters control Waianae blaze in hour
Firefighters brought a Waianae brush fire under control in a little more than an hour yesterday afternoon.Eleven fire companies were at the scene on the mauka side of Paakea Road near Mailiili Road.
A fire official said no homes appeared to be threatened by the blaze.
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