Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
MAILING IT IN
PHOTOS BY CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
According to the U.S. Postal Service, yesterday was the busiest mailing day of the year, with an estimated 850 million cards, letters and packages being shipped nationwide. Antoinette Proveaux, above, sent out a combination birthday and Christmas gift yesterday at the Ala Moana post office, while below, Don and Agnes Vargo were lined up outside with their packages to mail. Many post offices will stay open late, and the Ala Moana and airport locations will be open for business on Sunday. For more postal information, call 800-ASK-USPS or visit www.usps.com.
Furushima to lead Kauai Fire Department
LIHUE >> Dennis Furushima is coming out of retirement to become the Kauai Fire Department's new chief.Mayor Bryan Baptiste announced yesterday that Furushima will replace Charlie Hiramoto, who retired Sept. 30.
Furushima was a 29-year veteran of the department when he retired in 2002. His last assignment was as captain at the Kalaheo fire station.
Furushima, who begins his duties today, is a former training officer at the department. He wants to update the Kauai department's training program in areas such as response to weapons of mass destruction.
Roberts Hawaii offers Hawaii Bowl shuttles
Roberts Hawaii is offering round-trip shuttle bus services to football fans who are planning to attend the Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium on Dec. 25.Shuttle service will be available for $5. A bus will pick up fans at Koko Head Elementary School at 1 p.m., Hawaii Kai Park 'n' Ride at 1:15 p.m. and Bank of Hawaii at Kahala Mall at 1:30 p.m. before heading to the stadium.
Another bus will pick up fans at Mililani Mauka Park 'n' Ride at 1:30 p.m., while a third bus will pick up fans at Keolu Elementary School at 1:15 p.m. and Windward Mall on Alaloa Street facing Sears at 1:30 p.m.
Reservations are required. For more information, call 832-4886.
Nona Beamer honored for her cultural work
Hawaiian cultural authority Nona Beamer has been honored for her contributions to the traditions of Hawaii.Duke's Waikiki restaurant presented its annual Duke's Ho'okahiko Award to Beamer on Thursday during a ceremony at the restaurant. General Manager Ross Anderson said the award recognizes that "Aunty Nona" has dedicated her life to preserving and perpetuating ancient Hawaiian traditions.
The award is presented each year to an individual who "exemplifies the finest traditions of Hawaii." Previous winners were Pualani Mossman, Genoa Keawe, Violet Lilikoi, George Kanahele and Wright Bowman Sr. Beamer was presented proclamations from Gov. Linda Lingle and Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Beamer, who turned 80 in August, is an educator, author, composer, musician, hula teacher and dancer. She is the matriarch of the musical Beamer family.
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[Taking Notice]
>> The J. Walter Cameron Center, which houses health and social service agencies in Wailuku, has been awarded $5,000 from the First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank, to repair the center's air-conditioning system.>> The Nanakuli Housing Corp. has received $21,500 from the Compassion Capital Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation to support the upgrading of computers and technology systems at the base-yard facility at Sand Island. The corporation, established in 1989, provides homeownership training and surplus reusable construction materials to low- and moderate-income families.
>> Parents and Children Together has received $10,000 from the George P. & Ida Tenney Castle Trust to support its Community Teen Center at Kuhio Park Terrace.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
HPD arrests suspect in robbery of Honolulu woman
Honolulu police arrested a 35-year-old man who allegedly threatened to kill a woman in her home unless she gave him money.Police said that around noon on Dec. 3, the suspect allegedly entered the woman's Honolulu residence, grabbed a steak knife and demanded money.
Police said the victim gave the suspect money but that he was not satisfied and broke things in her house.
After he left, the victim locked the door and called police. Police located the suspect yesterday, and he was arrested for suspicion of first-degree robbery.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man, 26, allegedly shoots at neighbors
Police charged an Ewa Beach man with terroristic threatening for allegedly shooting at his neighbors Saturday morning.Police said Somali Brown, 26, was speeding into his apartment parking lot at about 2:30 a.m. and almost hit two parked vehicles. A 37-year-old man and two women, ages 28 and 18, who live in the building, confronted him about his driving, police said.
Brown then went into his apartment where he was heard arguing with his girlfriend, police said. Upon hearing the argument, the residents approached his apartment, police said.
Brown allegedly came out with what appeared to be a handgun, and fired a round at the three residents as they stood on the sidewalk, police said. The neighbors fled and called police.
Police said Brown left the area but returned at about 4 a.m. and was arrested. He was charged with a firearm violation. His bail has been set at $75,000.
HPD arrests woman in check forgery
Police arrested a 27-year-old woman Sunday for allegedly using stolen checks to buy more than $600 worth of merchandise at a Pearlridge Center store.Police said the woman used checks from an auto body repair shop and an altered version of another person's Hawaii state identification card to buy items at two cashier stations in the same store at about 4:30 p.m.
Police said a store cashier recognized the woman as having been involved in a separate forgery case from Nov. 29. The suspect, who police said has no local address, faces forgery, attempted theft and identity theft charges.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui officials look at Kula fire's cause
WAILUKU >> Maui fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a two-story, unoccupied wooden home in the Chinatown area of Kula.Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Cordeiro said the house at 1288 Middle Road was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at 11:06 a.m. Sunday, 14 minutes after receiving the alarm.
Cordeiro said the fire caused an estimated $275,000 in damage. He said the owner was fixing the house for his son and had just left the two-story structure for 10 minutes when he noticed there was a fire.
Big Isle man, 59, dies after being hit by SUV
Big Island police said a 59-year-old Mountain View man died after he was struck by a sport utility vehicle while he was riding a mo-ped Saturday evening in the private Eden Roc Estates subdivision.Police said Michael Spens was riding his mo-ped east on Palainui Street when he collided head-on with a westbound SUV prior to 7:22 p.m. Spens was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. Sunday.
Police are continuing an investigation into the collision and have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call Officer Norbert Serrao of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
