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Pilot rescued off isles returns to Australia

CANBERRA, Australia » A pilot rescued twice in five years after ditching planes into the Pacific Ocean returned home to Australia yesterday, saying it might be time to quit long-distance flights in single-engine aircraft.

Ray Clamback, 67, arrived in the southern city of Melbourne 11 days after the P&O Nedlloyd container ship Los Angeles plucked him from a life raft, 600 nautical miles south of Hawaii.

The only engine on his Cessna 182 failed during a flight from the United States to Australia.

"I might quit the single-engine stuff and do twins only," Clamback told a press conference in Melbourne. "It's certainly great to be home. Of course, after that experience, it's good to be anywhere."

Clamback plans to return to work today instructing at his Sydney flying school.

Verizon sale hearings to be held on Big Isle

HILO » Big Island residents get their chance starting tomorrow to weigh in on the proposed sale of Verizon Hawaii.

Public hearings on the sale are scheduled tomorrow at Kealakehe Intermediate School and Wednesday at Hilo Intermediate School. Both start at 6 p.m.

The state Public Utilities Commission is soliciting comments as it considers whether to approve the sale of Verizon Hawaii to the Carlyle Group. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in August, and the U.S. Justice Department also is reviewing the sale.

Carlyle, a Washington, D.C.-based investment firm, announced plans in May to buy the Hawaii telephone operations of Verizon Communications Inc.

The purchase would include the local telephone business, long-distance and Internet services as well as Verizon's print yellow page business.

OHA disclosure forms available for review

The state Ethics Commission is inviting the public to review copies of financial disclosure forms for Office of Hawaiian Affairs candidates.

Twelve candidates filed disclosure forms for OHA trustee positions by last Wednesday's deadline.

The disclosures include information about candidates' sources of income, business interests, debts and real property interests.

The forms can be reviewed at the commission's office at 1001 Bishop St., American Savings Bank Tower, Suite 970, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Motorcyclist dies after 2 vehicles strike him

A 53-year-old Big Island man died yesterday after a collision at the intersection of Hawaii Belt Road and Old Mamalahoa Highway in Hakalau, police said.

The man was identified at Wayne Ortiz of Papaikou.

Police said the crash happened at 2:26 p.m. when Ortiz, who was traveling south on Hawaii Belt Road near the Hakalau Overpass on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, was struck by a Toyota van turning left from the road onto Old Mamalahoa Highway. The van was driven by a 64-year-old woman.

Ortiz was then struck by a Suzuki sport utility vehicle driven by a 32-year-old man traveling north on Hawaii Belt Road.

Ortiz was taken to Hilo Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 3:35 p.m. The woman in the van was taken to Hilo Medical Center and later released. The third driver was not injured in the collision.

Fire destroys house near coffee museum

Big Island firefighters worked for more than two hours late Saturday and early yesterday to battle a blaze that destroyed a single-story home in Kona.

No injuries were reported, and no one was home at the time of the blaze.

The fire started about 10:46 p.m. at a house near 83-5409 Mamalahoa Highway, just south of Royal Kona Coffee Museum. The blaze was under control at 11:31 p.m. and was out by 12:45 a.m.

Fire Capt. Anthony Guillermo said firefighters had to run hoses from the museum to the house because engines could not get close enough to the blaze.

The home was used by employees of Kona Queen Co. Damage is estimated at about $230,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

LEEWARD OAHU
Car seriously injures elderly couple on foot

An elderly man and woman were seriously injured last night after being hit by a car at a Kapolei intersection, officials said.

A fire dispatcher said the pedestrians were struck about 7 p.m. at the intersection of Farrington Highway and Papaiaulu Avenue.

An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said the man involved was 79 years old and had "very serious" hip and femur fractures. The woman's age was not available, but the supervisor said she was in serious condition.

Fire officials said speed might have been a factor in the incident.

WAIKIKI
Victim and friends foil knifepoint robbery try

A 21-year-old man and his friends turned the tables on a would-be robber early Saturday in Waikiki.

Police said that at 2:20 a.m. a 21-year-old man with a knife allegedly approached another 21-year-old man on Saratoga Road and demanded his wallet.

But the victim and his friends disarmed the suspect and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.

EAST HONOLULU
Restaurant stove fire forces evacuation

Firefighters extinguished a cooking fire at Panda Express restaurant at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center yesterday at about 10:18 a.m.

Honolulu Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said the cause of the fire was overheated oil on a stove.

People at other stores were told to evacuate the area while firefighters put out the fire, which was extinguished at 11:15 a.m.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers