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WELCOME BACK, IOSEPA
A voyaging canoe returns
from neighbor island tour
The voyaging canoe Iosepa returned to Hukilau Beach in Laie yesterday after completing a journey to the neighbor islands that started in late May. At right, Iosepa captain Chadd Pashion greeted Laie kupuna Ahi Roland Logan with tears of joy during a traditional Hawaiian welcoming ceremony.
The Iosepa crew joined hands, flanking Pashion, fifth from left, on the shore after swimming from their vessel to the onshore reception.
Some flooded firms not eligible for loans
Federal low-interest disaster loans for small businesses that suffered losses because of severe weather are not available to the Mapunapuna businesses that were flooded last December, officials said yesterday.The Small Business Administration said this week that nonfarm businesses on Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island were eligible for the loans if they lost sales and services to farmers and ranchers hit by heavy rains, high winds and flooding from Dec. 7 to March 26.
Only agriculture-related businesses are eligible for the loans.
That means the businesses in Mapunapuna near Honolulu Airport and some residential neighborhoods that were flooded during the December rains are not eligible, according to Ray Lovell, spokesman for the state Civil Defense department.
"These loans are not for the storm damage, but for the economic losses caused by the loss of revenue to the farmers and ranchers," said Karl Whittington, a spokesman for the SBA in Sacramento, Calif. "They have to tie their loss to the lack of income to farmers and ranches."
Bloodmobile heads to Dixie Grill in Aiea
The Blood Bank of Hawaii's Bloodmobile will be at Dixie Grill, 99-016 Kamehameha Highway in Aiea, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.All donors will receive a complimentary pork lunch and sweet tea from Dixie Grill for supporting the blood bank. Volunteers must provide a picture ID with date of birth.
For more information, call the blood bank at 848-4721 or Dixie Grill at 485-CRAB.
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
» The Freeman Foundation has awarded grants to undergraduates at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to study in Asia. The students are Brian Chan, Ben Jansen, Steven Lee, Martina Mazik, Marklowie Supnet, Hai Tiet, Elizabeth West and Lori-Ann Wong, of Honolulu; Christine McConaughey, of Palmdale, Calif.; Micah Wallin, of Waimanalo; and Jon Yamaoka, of Kaneohe.
» The University of Hawaii Women's Campus Club has awarded its 2004 grants, totally $21,583, to nine departments, including:
Kennedy Theatre and Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre, $9,120.
Kennedy Theatre and dance program, $950.
Department of Art, $2,488.
Department of Botany, $850.
Department of Hawaiian Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures, $1,212.
Hamilton Library, $1,522.
Lyon Arboretum, $3,000.
Center for Biographical Research, $2,435.
» The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has awarded two grants to Windward Community College through the University of Hawaii Foundation, including $200,000 for construction of the Lanihuli Observatory and $225,000 to support the Pacific Initiative for Environmental Studies.
» Hawaii Family Services was awarded $50,000 through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide support services to needy families. The money will be used to implement a Tutu Support Group Services project on the Waianae coast to serve 100 native Hawaiian grandparents who raise their grandchildren.
» The Mutual Housing Association of Hawaii has been awarded a $20,000 grant from First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank. The funds will be used to construct a community meeting room at Kekaulike Courtyards, a low-income rental property in Chinatown.
» U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D-Rural Oahu, Neighbor Islands) has announced the awarding of $140,000 in matching National Endowment for the Arts federal grants to three arts organizations. They are:
Maui Community Arts & Cultural Center on Kahului, Maui, $60,000.
Hawaii's Volcano Circus in Pahoa, Hawaii, $25,000.
Hula Preservation Society in Kaneohe, Oahu, $25,000.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy and are looking for a second suspect after two males beat and robbed a 57-year-old man early yesterday in downtown Honolulu.
Teen arrested, male sought in robberyPolice said the victim was walking on North Beretania Street near Aala Street about 1:10 a.m. yesterday when a male approached him and demanded his wallet and money. The suspect and a second male then beat the man, police said.
The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were undisclosed.
A witness called police, and responding officers saw two men running from the scene. One of the suspects, who police said had the victim's watch, was caught and arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery.
Last MidWeek fugitive caught in California
The last of the 11 fugitives featured on the cover of MidWeek in June 2003 has been arrested.Delphine Abbott was arrested earlier this week in California and will be extradited to Honolulu, CrimeStoppers Detective Letha DeCaires said yesterday.
Abbott was wanted on sexual assault charges and is set to be sentenced Monday. She faces up to 20 years in prison, DeCaires said.
Police had received tips on Abbott's whereabouts for months before finally catching up to her in Los Angeles earlier this month.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police said a man who witnessed a burglary at his neighbor's home in Waianae helped find the culprit, who returned the stolen property.
Witness to burglary helps find suspectThe witness saw a man leaving his neighbor's house about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. Later that evening, he spotted the suspect at a convenience store, according to police.
When the witness and his neighbor confronted the suspect, the 20-year-old man admitted to the burglary, police said.
The suspect took the witness and his neighbor to a nearby campsite and returned the stolen property. Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
