Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Maui budget hearing planned for tomorrow
WAILUKU >> The state Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a budget hearing on Maui tomorrow, in preparation for the 2004 Legislature.The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center in South Maui. State Sen. Rosalyn Baker said the committee wants testimony about what residents want funded on the Valley Isle, including repairs for schools and harbors.
Baker (D, Honokohau-Makena) said Maui residents unable to attend the meeting may e-mail testimony to senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov or fax a copy to 808-586-6071.
New Maui post office tops construction list
Construction for a new post office in Kahului will begin next year, U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced.Case also said the U.S. Postal Service has placed the construction of the new post office "at the top of its priority list for Hawaii construction projects" in 2004.
"The need for a larger post office for Maui closer to Kahului Airport has been growing exponentially every day," he said last week.
The Postal Service has already relocated principal mail operations for the island to a facility closer to the airport for efficiency's sake, he said.
Public meetings' focus is on education reform
An education reform advisory committee formed by Gov. Linda Lingle is scheduled to hold 10 public meetings throughout the state this month.The Citizens Achieving Reform in Education, or CARE, committee is focusing on decentralizing Hawaii's public education system, including placing more decision-making authority at the school level. It also wants to direct more resources into classrooms and to promote community involvement.
The committee is to make recommendations to Lingle regarding education reform legislation for next year's session of the Legislature.
The 5:30-7:30 p.m. meetings are scheduled for Maili Elementary School on Nov. 13, Koko Head Elementary Nov. 17, Enchanted Lake Elementary Nov. 18, Mililani Waena Elementary Nov. 19, Washington Middle School Nov. 20.
Neighbor island meetings are scheduled for Nov. 12 at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai, Nov. 24 at Kahului School and King Kamehameha III School on Maui, and Nov. 25 at Kealakehe High School and the University of Hawaii-Hilo.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui police are investigating a couple found dead in their Kahului home yesterday as a possible murder-suicide.
Kahului couple found dead in their garageThe two, a man and a woman, were found dead in their garage, according to police, who were still investigating last night.
EAST OAHU
Police are looking for a 25-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and infant son Saturday night.
Man allegedly kidnaps ex-girlfriend and sonThe man went to the home of his former girlfriend, a 21-year-old Aina Haina woman, at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday and tried to force her to give him custody of their child.
Police said the man allegedly threatened the woman and forced her to ride with him in his vehicle with the baby. Police said the man assaulted the ex-girlfriend, but she escaped with her son.
The case is being investigated by the police domestic violence detail.
LEEWARD OAHU
An 81-year-old Makakilo man riding his bicycle was critically injured Saturday night when he was struck by a white 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass in Ewa.
Hit-and-run driver critically hurts bicyclistThe driver, a 60-year-old Ewa Beach man, fled the scene of the accident. Police later found and arrested him.
The bicyclist suffered head and internal injuries and was transported by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, police said.
Both the car and the bicycle were traveling north at about 7:12 p.m. on Fort Barrett Road near Kapolei Parkway when the accident occurred.
The bicycle had no lights on it, police said. The street, however, was lit.
Police said alcohol and speed did not appear to be factors.
NORTH SHORE
A man in his 30s died after an assault in the parking lot of Haleiwa Joe's Seafood Grill on the North Shore early yesterday morning.
Man dies after falling during parking lot fightThe suspect in the incident allegedly struck the victim during an argument at about 1:45 a.m., making him fall to the ground and hit his head, according to police.
The victim was flown to the Queen's Medical Center, where he later died. Police are looking for the suspect.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
