Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Heavy Hawaii Kai traffic blamed on rain
Police blamed the rain for yesterday morning's rush-hour traffic jam in Hawaii Kai, but said there were no major collisions.Some motorists traveling on Kalanianaole Highway yesterday said the jam added nearly an hour to their commute.
Police Lt. Alan Anami said people were driving cautiously because heavy rains earlier this month caused many accidents. School is also back in session, compounding the problem, he said.
Rain also caused a delay in the paving of a contraflow lane at Castle Junction on Kalanianaole Highway. The work was canceled yesterday and has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tomorrow, weather permitting.
The left lane in both directions will be closed. The work is expected to back up traffic and drivers are asked to consider alternate routes.
The contraflow lane will run from Kapaa Quarry Road to just past the Castle Junction where Kalanianaole, Pali and Kamehameha highways intersect. The lane will be used when work begins on grading the hillside along Kalanianaole Highway to prevent further erosion and landslides.
Kaimana surf schools topic of public meeting
Public concerns about surf school operations off Kaimana Beach and at Tonggs surf break near Diamond Head will be the topic of discussion for a Department of Land and Natural Resources informational meeting tomorrow.Some residents have complained that large groups of student surfers and their instructors sometimes make too much noise and hinder others' enjoyment of the beach and surf break.
The meeting will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School cafeteria, 324 Kapahulu Ave.
Parking and cafeteria are on the Ewa side of the school, which is entered from Wai Nani Way. For more information, call Deborah Ward at 587-0320.
Samoan relief in need of nonperishable food
The organizer of a Hawaii relief effort to help victims of Cyclone Heta in Samoa is asking the public to donate only nonperishable food.Gus Hannemann said the relief effort is grateful for clothes and linen donated by companies, but now "we are overstocked" and have run out of storage space. "But thank you very much," he said.
Drop-off sites include fire stations in Hauula, Hawaii Kai, Kailua, Kalihi Kai, Kaneohe, Kapolei, Kuakini, Mililani Mauka, Moanalua, Waianae, Waikiki and Waipahu. They will accept donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Jan. 26
For more information, call Hannemann at 375-7800.
Workshop to help find ways to fund college
Free workshops to help Hawaii students pay for college will be held the first week of February at local high schools."We encourage all middle and high school students and their parents to attend the workshops," said Susan Kanagawa, project director of GEAR UP Hawaii, a federally funded initiative that is sponsoring them.
"We hope these workshops will educate the public about college admission and financial aid, but most importantly, raise college awareness in young teens so they may have an early start in preparing for college."
Gen and Kelly Tanabe, authors of the new book "1001 Ways to Pay for College" will lead the four meetings, all beginning at 6:30 p.m. The workshops are scheduled for:
>> Feb. 2 at Molokai High SchoolWith tuition at both public and private colleges rising at a record rate, students need to find new ways to pay for their education, but many Hawaii families are not aware of the broad spectrum of financial aid available, Kanagawa said.
>> Feb. 3 at Nanakuli High School
>> Feb. 4 at Moanalua High School, and
>> Feb. 5 at Campbell High School.The Tanabes offer a variety of tips. They urge families to apply for financial aid even if they don't think they qualify, and to seek out scholarships from organizations based in Hawaii. They also suggest pursuing state and federal loan forgiveness programs that encourage students to enter specific professions.
GEAR UP works to encourage more of Hawaii's youth, particularly low-income students, to have high expectations, stay in school, study hard, and take courses that will enable them to go to college. It also offers scholarships.
For more information, visit gearup.hawaii.edu or call 956-3879 or toll-free at (866) 808-4327. For more information about the Tanabes, visit www.supercollege.com.
Free legal advice offered at clinics
Members of Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii and the Waimanalo Health Center are providing free neighborhood legal clinics.The clinics will be held 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 21, April 17, June 19, July 24, Sept. 11, Oct. 16 and Nov. 20. Clinics will be held in the center's William Goebert Education and Training Center.
Those seeking advice involving family law or general legal matters can call the Intake Line at 528-7046 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffEAST OAHU
2nd suspect arrested in robbery in Kahala
Police arrested a second suspect in a burglary-turned-robbery in Kahala earlier this week.On Monday, police said, a 49-year-old Papu Circle resident came home to find two burglars in his living room at about 11:15 a.m., police said.
He chased the suspects through the house, until one of the men allegedly pulled a gun and threatened him.
Witnesses said the suspects ran across the street to a silver Dodge Intrepid and fled.
Less than an hour later, police stopped the car and arrested one of the suspects at the 900 block of 12th Avenue. The 28-year-old Waipahu man was arrested for first-degree robbery.
The other 27-year-old suspect fled on foot, but was found and arrested last night. Police said both suspects might be responsible for recent burglary cases in the East Oahu area.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kauai warehouse fire generates toxic smoke
Fire investigators are investigating the cause of a fire Monday at a Kauai carpet and flooring warehouse.Firefighters were called to Flooring Innovations and Interiors on Haleukana Street at 8:38 p.m. Monday. When firefighters arrived, flames from the second story could be seen. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters left the scene at about 3:30 a.m. yesterday, but were called back at 5 a.m. because the fire had rekindled.
The burning contents of the warehouse produced a lot of toxic smoke, said a fire official.
LEEWARD OAHU
Woman is charged in store theft case
Police charged a 36-year-old woman Saturday with second-degree theft after she and a partner allegedly took items off shelves at Sears Roebuck & Co. at Pearlridge Center and then hid them in shopping bags while in the store elevator.Police said Zan Cambra and a 32-year-old Aiea woman were seen working together to remove items from the display shelves and place them in a shopping cart at Sears shortly before 8 p.m. Friday.
The women then allegedly went into a store elevator and concealed the items by putting them in shopping bags, police said. When the women left the store, store security stopped them and found them with items valued at more than $400, police said.
The Aiea woman was released pending investigation.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
