Newswatch
Gov OKs $2.5 million to buy Aiea mill land
The state will spend $2.5 million to buy five lots at the former Aiea Sugar Mill to preserve the site for public use, including a possible library.Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday she is releasing the money for the purchase from Bank of Hawaii, the landowner.
Lingle said she appreciated the site's significance and wanted to ensure that it is put to public use, although the administration has not committed to building a library there.
The state Legislature had appropriated the money to buy land to relocate Aiea Library.
"This is a big win for the Aiea community and a positive sign that after years of hard work, we are one step closer to determining a suitable public use that might include a new library," said Rep. Lynn Finnegan (R, Mapunapuna-Foster Village).
New 'Click It or Ticket' drive starts Monday
County police departments around the state will kick off another "Click It or Ticket" campaign Monday, aimed at getting motorists to buckle up.Police will issue tickets to people who are not properly wearing their seat belts. They will also ticket drivers if children are not restrained correctly in child safety seats. The campaign will run until Nov. 30.
During a similar campaign from May to June, police issued 3,598 citations for seat belt violations and 60 citations for failure to use child safety seats.
State law requires drivers and front-seat passengers to wear seat belts. Children under 17 years old must wear safety belts while in the back seat, and children under 4 must be restrained in child safety seats. Violators of the seat belt law face a $77 fine, while violators of the child safety seat regulation could pay up to $500.
Call the Safe Community Office at 587-6300, or visit the state Department of Transportation's Web site at www.state.hi.us/dot/ publicaffairs.
HECO to use copters to repair Palolo line
Hawaiian Electric Co. officials said they will use a helicopter today to complete repairs to a 46-kilovolt transmission line in the back of Palolo Valley and Kalani Iki.Winds downed the Palolo line yesterday morning, knocking out power to roughly 4,500 customers in the Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kahala and Kaimuki areas for nearly an hour.
HECO officials said the helicopter is needed to transport equipment to and from the back of the valley until repairs are complete. Another helicopter will be used to inspect other lines in the area. The helicopter flights are scheduled from 9 a.m. to about 5 p.m.
Grant to help prisoners' kids
The Hawaii Youth Services Network has received $165,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families to develop a statewide program providing adult mentors to the children of prisoners.There are an estimated 5,520 Hawaii children who have a parent in a state prison.
"Traumatic separations between children and parents often occur when parents are removed from their homes through arrest and incarceration," U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka said. "We must do all we can to minimize the negative impact on these children and help them to live happy and healthy lives."
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
GRANTS
>> The Hawaii Women's Political Caucus has elected the following officers for the 2003 to 2005 term: Faye Kennedy, president; Allicyn Hikida Tasaka, vice president-government affairs; Nanci Kriedman, vice president-programs; Annelle Amaral, treasurer; Pua Au- yong-White, secretary.Directors of the multipartisan state chapter to serve two-year terms include Amy Agbayani, Julie Ann Bower, Diane Chang, Denise Hayashi, Gladys Gerlich Hayes, Alice Tucker and Carolyn Wilcox.
>> Honolulu Police Department Chief Lee Donohue has announced the following promotions:
Lieutenants: Alan Bluemke, Mark Ward.
Sergeants: Elizabeth Merrill, Gregory Osbun, Brian Wong, Patricia-Ann Heely, Albert Somera.
Detectives: Bernadette Terry, Noel Tenney, Steven Erler, John Chinen Jr., Steven Kim, David Nilsen.
Metropolitan Police Officer II: Paul Wood, John Rilling, Brian Tokita, Antonio Bustamente Jr., Dean Terakawa.
>> The Hawaii State Bar Association has appointed Lyn Flanigan Anzai its executive director. She most recently served as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Hawaiian Airlines Inc. She practiced law with Goodsill Anderson Quinn and Stifel before joining Kamehameha Schools as senior counsel of the Corporate/Investment Division.
>> Kehaulani Filimoe'atu and Blossom Feiteira, of Hawaiian Community Assets in Wailuku, are winners of the 2003 Leadership for a Changing World award from the Ford Foundation, worth $100,000 to advance their work and an additional $15,000 for supporting activities over the next two years. The team was one of 17 award winners, representing those who tackle some of the nation's most enduring social problems.
Filimoe'atu and Feiteira have addressed inequities suffered by native Hawaiians, such as returning Hawaiian Homes land, and problems caused by debt, mortgage qualifications and misunderstanding the system.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffCENTRAL OAHU
Honolulu fire and police officials are investigating a portable-classroom fire that was set early yesterday morning at Mililani High School.
Police investigating fire at Mililani HighPolice said that at 2:30 a.m., a security guard smelled smoke and discovered portable No. 8 on fire. Police are investigating the fire as a criminal property damage case.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police have arrested a 29-year-old man who allegedly entered a Kailua house while a 12-year-old boy was at home.
Boy, 12, home alone during suspect's entryThe boy was busy playing video games when his parents came home about 6 p.m. Tuesday and found the man in their kitchen, police said.
The suspect ran, but police apprehended and arrested him nearby on Kuukama Street.
The suspect faces a first-degree burglary charge.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island police said two fishermen on a crabbing trip discovered the remains of a body yesterday, just south of Lapakahi State Historical Park in North Kohala.
Big Isle fishermen find remains of bodyAccording to police, the remains were located amid kiawe trees about 200 to 300 feet from the shoreline. Police said the body appeared to have been there for some time, and because of the advance stage of decomposition, neither the identification nor the sex could be immediately determined.
Police have classified the case as a coroner's inquest and ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
They are asking anyone with information about the case to call the West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section at 326-4204 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311. Those who wish to remain anonymous may also call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
