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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Tax revenues in line with state's forecast
State tax collections last month jumped 32.2 percent over March of last year, putting the general-fund take through three quarters of the fiscal year up 5.5 percent over the same period last year, the state Department of Taxation said yesterday.The growth through nine months is in line with the 5.3 percent growth the state Council on Revenues had forecast and on which the state's $3.6 billion supplemental budget and financial plan, under the state Constitution, is supposed to be based.
However, because the last day in February fell on a Sunday, some $30 million in taxes for February were not due until March 1 and were counted as March revenues, the department said.
Fewer box jellyfish hit Oahu's southern shore
Lifeguards found 14 box jellyfish in Waikiki waters yesterday. That's far fewer than influxes in months past, in which hundreds of the creatures have been counted off Oahu's south shore."We got off easy this month," said Rob Miller, of the city's Ocean Safety Division.
The monthly influx of jellyfish peaks nine days after a full moon, which was yesterday. No stings were reported.
On Tuesday about 150 jellyfish washed onto beaches on Oahu's west side, including Makaha Beach and Pokai Bay. One person reported being stung.
Mikulina gets approval to sit on commission
Sierra Club Executive Director Jeff Mikulina won City Council confirmation yesterday to the Planning Commission.Concerns were raised over whether the outspoken environmentalist would be able to be give everyone who comes before the commission a fair shake. Mikulina said he would recuse himself from any cases the Sierra Club has taken a position on.
Members of the Council praised Mikulina yesterday for his strong background in land-use and planning issues and said they believed that he would be balanced.
"(His nomination) will fill out the body in a very wonderful and needed way," said Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, who leads the Council's Planning Committee.
Mikulina's term ends in 2007.
Broken water pipe affects Kauai service
LIHUE >> Residents and hotel guests in Poipu, Kauai's primary resort area, were faced with low water pressure and in some cases no water at all yesterday, the Kauai County Water Department said.The pipe between the Poipu well and the two water tanks serving the area burst about 6 a.m., said Kymm Solchaga, Water Department spokeswoman.
Repair crews were able to tap into wells in nearby Koloa to provide minimal water pressure to Poipu by midday. The ruptured pipe was repaired yesterday afternoon, but Solchaga said the storage tanks would not be full again until this morning.
'Soiree' aids patients of muscular dystrophy
"Vegas in Paradise," the fifth annual "Soiree" of the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawaii, will begin at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.Top Hawaii restaurants and beverage vendors will feature their specialties for tasting, and there will be entertainment and a silent auction.
Tickets to the black-tie event are available for $100 and limited to 600 guests.
For more information, to purchase tickets or donate an auction item, call the association's office at 548-0588.
The association is a national nonprofit agency that does not obtain government or United Way funding or take fees from clients.
All money raised at the "Soiree" will be used to help Hawaii children and adults living with one of the 43 neuromuscular diseases covered by the association.
Free weight program to meet Tuesdays
The Waimanalo Health Center's Weight Reduction Program is meeting from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday in the 'Ai Kupele Cultural Healing Center.Dorothy Conway, a dietitian who is part of the Waimanalo Women Infants and Children team, is coordinating the weight-loss program.
It began as Waimanalo TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly). Funding ended in 1998, but the group wanted to continue and Conway revamped it.
The free program features weekly weigh-ins, nutritional information, discussion on "how to" topics, help with individual diets, group support and problem-solving.
For more information, call Conway at 259-7948, ext. 141.
UH faculty and staff can get hepatitis shots
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B immunization shots will be offered to University of Hawaii faculty and staff today and tomorrow and again next Thursday and April 23 at the University Health Services building on the Manoa campus.The clinic is being held by the UH-Manoa Student Health Services and GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, which are providing vaccinations at low or no cost.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the University Health Services Center, 956-6221.
Doctor to discuss perinatal research
Dr. Kenneth Ward, chief of the Ob-Gyn Department, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, will discuss "Perinatal Genetics Research" at a Perinatal Providers/Advocates Network Meeting 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14.The meeting will be in Room 309 of the state Capitol. Perinatal providers with state Department of Health contracts will meet from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
For more information, call Nancy Partika at Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, 951-5805.
Kalihi-Palama center receives accreditation
Kalihi-Palama Health Center has received its second three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.The nonprofit clinic, at 915 N. King St., offers internal medicine, health and nutrition services.
"We are very proud of the quality care provided by our various program staff in serving our clients," said May Akamine, executive director.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Majken Mechling, formerly executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Hawaii chapter, has been named executive director of the American Diabetes Association's Hawaii area office.She has experience in managing nonprofit agencies, is a graduate of Georgian Court College and received training at Princeton University's Grantsmanship Center. She is a member of the National Association of Fundraising Professionals.
>> Mental Health Kokua has received three grants to support its community-based mental health programs.
They include $10,000 from the Mary F. and Walter D. Frear Eleemosynary Trust and $7,500 from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation for furnishings and equipment for a new transitional residential program in Wailuku, and $15,000 from the Samuel M. and Mary Castle Foundation.
The Castle grant will cover the cost of accreditation by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission for Mental Health Kokua's case management, community housing, crisis interventional and crisis stabilization programs.
"Taking Notice" also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
Robbery suspect held after victim spots car
Honolulu police arrested a robbery suspect after the victim recognized the car the suspect had been driving -- more than a month after the crime took place.Police said the victim was walking in the airport industrial area March 1 when he was robbed by a man with a handgun. The victim did not report the incident to police at the time.
Then on Tuesday, police said the victim recognized the suspect's vehicle while in Makakilo. The victim filed a police report and notified officers, who found and arrested the suspect for first-degree robbery.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man, 38, is accused of assault on girlfriend
Police arrested a 38-year-old Waianae man for allegedly assaulting his 22-year-old girlfriend with a machete yesterday morning.The suspect and victim were in an argument that escalated when the suspect allegedly struck the victim, then cut her arm with a machete. The woman was not taken to a hospital. Police were called to the scene and arrested the suspect for second-degree assault.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kona man charged in speargun attack
Big Island police have charged a 22-year-old Kona man for allegedly shooting another man with a speargun.Police said Markdean Kalalau Jr. was charged yesterday afternoon with first- and second-degree assault. Kalalau is being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Big Island police arrested him for attempted murder after he allegedly shot 28-year-old Wendell Kahaialii in the abdomen with a speargun Sunday. Kalalau was arrested after he turned himself in to police the next day.
Police said Kahaialii was last reported in guarded condition at Kona Community Hospital.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
