Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Waste-water service asks for rate increase
Hawaii American Water, which provides waste-water service to Hawaii Kai, is seeking a rate increase from the Public Utility Commission that would average 18.6 percent for the average resident.In commenting on the rate increase request, the state Consumer Advocate's Office is suggesting the company decrease, rather than increase, its rate.
Hawaii American Water "will be providing additional information to the Consumer Advocate over the next few weeks, which we hope will cause them to modify some of their recommendations in the near future," the company said in a release last week.
The Public Utilities Commission is expected to rule on the rate increase next year.
H-1 resurfacing work will close lanes nightly
Two eastbound lanes of the H-1 freeway between Waiau and Kaimakani will be closed nightly for resurfacing work through Friday.Two eastbound lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.
Motorists are advised to use caution driving through the work area.
Agriculture agents inspecting Guam bags
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin conducting pre-departure baggage inspection of travelers bound for Guam beginning Sunday.Bags checked through to destinations other than the mainland or other U.S. territories will not be inspected for agriculture products. Carry-on bags will continue to be inspected at security checkpoints within the airport.
The additional security measure was authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill to safeguard against the movement of animal and plant pests and diseases.
UH nursing school gets $1 million grant
The University of Hawaii-Manoa's School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene has received a $1 million federal grant to support education for advanced practice nurses to work in rural and underserved Hawaii areas.Nurse graduates are expected to improve access to health care services for vulnerable residents and communities, especially native Hawaiian, Asian American, Pacific Island and special-needs groups.
The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has funded the Primary Health Care of Vulnerable People in Communities Project for three years, and the new grant will extend it to June 2005.
Registered nurses who have advanced education at the graduate level are advanced practice nurses who have prescriptive authority and are nationally certified in their area of specialty. They can perform assessment, prevention, medical, therapeutic or corrective measures.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
HONOLUA, MAUI >> A Maui man is recovering with 40 stitches after being bitten on the arm by what was believed to be a barracuda while swimming at Honolua Bay on Friday.
Barracuda suspected in attack off MauiDon Keener, 56, of Kula, said he did not see what hit him, but doctors who treated him said it probably was a barracuda, a predatory fish that grows up to 6 feet in length.
Keener said he was in knee-deep murky water and had just started to swim out to clearer waters offshore with a snorkel, mask and fins when the fish hit his arm, which he yanked away.
"I did about two strokes and it just grabbed my arm," Keener said. "It happened so fast and it hurt so bad."
One of his friends helped him out of the water and immediately wrapped her sarong around his bleeding wound. A Canadian couple on the beach used a beach towel to help stop the bleeding.
The streamlined, silver-colored great barracuda, or kaku, has been known to attack people, usually in water with poor visibility.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police arrested and charged a 23-year-old Waianae man Saturday after he allegedly attempted to stab his girlfriend with a knife.
Waianae man arrested in stabbing attemptErwin Kudoba Jr. was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening at 6 p.m. Saturday and held on $30,000 bail.
Police said Kudoba had returned to his Waianae home at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday and was upset with the woman, also 23.
He got a knife from the kitchen and tried to stab her legs as she was lying on the sofa, police said.
Police found Kudoba at a friend's house and arrested him.
HONOLULU
A woman who had trouble swimming refused help from members of the Coast Guard and spent more than an hour in the waters off Aloha Tower yesterday afternoon before coming on shore near Sand Island Beach Park.
Woman waves off help in Aloha Tower watersPersonnel at an Aloha Tower restaurant called the Coast Guard at 3:37 p.m. when they spotted the woman in the water.
The Coast Guard dispatched a small boat to help the woman, who had difficulty swimming but rebuffed their aid.
The woman came on shore at 4:22 p.m. and was met by police and paramedics. She was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in stable condition.
Woman allegedly grabs child from mom
Police arrested a 49-year-old Makiki woman for custodial interference after she allegedly took a woman's 2-year-old son Saturday morning.The child's mother, a 22-year-old woman, was walking home after shopping at Ala Moana Center with her son and a 9-month-old daughter when a woman unknown to her walked up and forcibly grabbed the boy and began walking away with him, police said.
The mother went after the suspect and grabbed her child back, police said.
The incident occurred sometime before 11:50 a.m. at Kapiolani Boulevard and Sheridan Street.
The mother walked home and called police. The suspect was arrested at 620 Sheridan St. and identified by the child's mother.
The case is pending investigation.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
