Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Referral service can help with rain damage
Residents or business owners whose property sustained damage during recent heavy rains are being asked to report damages to Aloha United Way's referral service.The information will be forwarded to state Civil Defense officials, who will then aid those affected by the storm.
"What Aloha United Way is making available is a point of contact for people whose homes or businesses were damaged by the storms," said Civil Defense Vice Director Ed Teixeira. "This helps us direct assistance to people in need much more quickly and efficiently."
Those on Oahu, Maui and Kauai can report damage by dialing 211 for the United Way's referral service. Those on the Big Island are asked to call the Hawaii County mayor's office at 961-8223.
Builders endorse Hannemann for mayor
The Building Industry Association of Hawaii announced yesterday it would endorse Mufi Hannemann in the upcoming mayoral race.Officials with the trade organization interviewed Hannemann and the candidate's opponent, Duke Bainum, before making their decision.
"He (Hannemann) has a deeper understanding of the needs of the business community," said Scotty Anderson, chairman of the association's Political Action Committee. "We were also impressed with his sincere commitment and continual desire to give back to our island home through public service."
Hannemann said he was "very pleased" with the endorsement.
"They liked my proven leadership experience, the fact that I had been emphasizing many of the themes they had been concerned about," he said.
Hawaii County looking at shoreline property
HILO >> Big Island Mayor Harry Kim is considering an offer from the state for Hawaii County to take control of 40 acres of shoreline property in Hilo.The site called Puumaile Village has been a haven for the homeless for years. Currently, about 60 squatters live in shacks, which have no bathrooms, running water or electricity.
The county would like to turn the area into a beach park, which would necessitate the eviction of the squatters.
But Kim said there was no point in the county accepting the property if it cannot find the money needed to develop it. He said he needs about two months to decide.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has expressed interest in the land if the county refuses to accept it, according to DLNR land agent Wesley Matsunaga. The department owns property nearby.
The state has removed nearly 50 cars from the site and in January temporally placed 22-foot rubbish containers for the squatters to use, officials said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU
Police are looking for a 35-year-old woman who allegedly knocked down another woman with her station wagon Saturday in Waipahu.
Woman reports being knocked down by carPolice said the victim, 43, was attempting to drive out of a parking lot on Aniani Place at about 9:45 a.m. when the suspect parked her station wagon in the driveway and blocked the exit.
The suspect screamed and threatened the victim after being asked to move her car, police said. The 35-year-old woman knocked the victim to the ground with her car before she fled. The victim was treated at St. Francis Medical Center-West and released.
NORTH SHORE
A 49-year-old man was charged for allegedly threatening his younger brother with a fishing spear. Police identified the man as Adam Cambra, of the North Shore.
Police charge brother in alleged spear threatAt 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Cambra and his brother were involved in an argument at the 59-200 block of Kamehameha Highway, police said.
Police said the argument escalated when Cambra grabbed a fishing spear and threatened to kill his brother. The suspect later put the spear down and walked away.
Cambra was charged Saturday for first-degree terroristic threatening and is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.
HONOLULU
Police are asking residents to refrain from calling 911 for information on road conditions.
Road condition calls flood 911 phone linesLast week, emergency dispatchers fielded hundreds of calls daily from people asking about road closures.
Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said the calls are making it difficult for those with emergencies to get police services. Yu advised residents to monitor local media for information about road closures.
Police and fire radios go out for 5 minutes
Emergency responders, include police and firefighters, lost radio communication for about five minutes yesterday.No emergency calls were lost when the system went down at about 8:40 a.m. But firefighters, lifeguards and police were briefly unable to communicate with dispatchers.
By 8:45 a.m., police had switched to their backup system. Firefighters regained services in about half an hour. The main system was back in use at 3 p.m.
Police Lt. Robert Cravalho said the radio problems were tracked to a malfunction with the city's radio equipment at the Kahuku police station.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
