Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Marine animal event is free to the public

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Hawaii will give a series of presentations tonight on Hawaii's marine mammals.

The free event, set for 6-9 p.m. at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, features hands-on activities and games.

Researchers from the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will discuss efforts to protect Hawaii's marine mammals.

Hawaii is the winter nursery and breeding grounds of about 5,000 humpback whales and is home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

First database for local scholarships is online

A local nonprofit has launched a Hawaii-specific scholarship search Web site.

The site, www.collegeconnections.org, is believed to be the first of its kind. It features college scholarships offered by Hawaii businesses, organizations and institutions.

The free search has more than 300 scholarships, ranging from $200 to full tuition. It was designed by College Connections Hawaii, a nonprofit aimed at helping Hawaii students.

The site's users can search for scholarships using several criteria, including college major, ethnicity, residence, high school and grade-point average. New scholarships are added on an ongoing basis.

CCH Executive Director Wren Wescoatt said it "is a great resource for students and parents worried about college costs."

"Local scholarships are the ones Hawaii students have the best shot at winning," he added.

[ TAKING NOTICE ]

» Aliiolani Elementary School, Hokulani Elementary School and Kahala Elementary School are the new Hawaii nominees for the 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

The schools were recognized last week by the state Department of Education, in partnership with Frito-Lay of Hawaii, at the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program awards ceremony. Each was awarded $3,000 from Frito-Lay.

Liholiho Elementary School and Momilani Elementary School, last year's winners in the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program, were recently selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2004.

» Chancellor Peter Englert of the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been elected to a four-year term on the administrative board of the International Association of Universities, which encompasses 90 countries. He is one of 20 leaders in higher education from all parts of the world, and one of only two representatives from the United States to be elected.

» John L. Tonry, Alexander Krot and Mark Q. Martindale have received the 2004 Regents' Medal for Excellence in Research at the University of Hawaii. Tonry is a professor with the Institute for Astronomy; Krot is an associate researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology; and Martindale is an associate professor with the Pacific Biomedical Research Center.

» Elaine Yamashita, associate professor and Human Services Program coordinator at Maui Community College, has been elected to the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children for four years. It is the nation's largest and most influential organization of early-childhood educators.

» A scholarship fund set up by Dottie Alapai to honor her husband, Samuel Kalua Alapai, a father of six and grandfather of 15, has been donated to Kamaaina Kids, a nonprofit organization of 11 preschools and 54 after-school programs. For more information about the programs, call 262-4538.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Mentally ill woman roves from Kalihi care home

Honolulu police are looking for a mentally ill woman who wandered away from her Kalihi care home this week.

Police said Vea Tartanian, 45, was last seen at 7 a.m. Thursday and might be suicidal. Her care home is on Waikahe Place, and police said she frequents the Kamehameha Shopping Center.

Tartanian is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 100 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue or green ankle-length dress with a "Tripler" hospital top. She was also seen carrying a bright red-orange purse.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call Missing Persons investigator James Vasconcellos at 529-3064 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 (*CRIME on a cellular phone).

EAST OAHU
Man accused in bank robbery in Kahala

Police charged a 47-year-old man with robbing the Star Market branch of Bank of Hawaii in Kahala earlier this week.

Phillip Nico allegedly presented a demand note to a bank teller on Sunday, then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police arrested and charged Nico for robbery yesterday after he was identified in a photo lineup by several witnesses.

LEEWARD OAHU
Waianae boy charged after escape attempt

A 14-year-old Waianae boy being held at Hale Hoomalu, the Alder Street detention facility, was charged with first-degree escape Thursday.

The teen was out with his probation officer Wednesday on a Family Court program just after 2 p.m. They were returning to the detention center when the teenager ran away, police said. The officer chased and caught the boy.

During the capture, the teen assaulted the probation officer, police said.

WAIKIKI
3 teens arrested in Galleria shoplifting

Police arrested three 16-year-old boys for allegedly shoplifting items worth $322 from a Waikiki store.

Police said the teens were seen concealing merchandise at the DFS Galleria Waikiki at 330 Royal Hawaiian Ave. at 1:20 p.m. Thursday.

One suspect allegedly took a hat and placed it in a backpack carried by another suspect, while the other suspect allegedly placed a bag in the backpack, police said.

The three suspects were arrested for suspicion of second-degree theft after leaving the store without paying for the items.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Clogged sewer pipe causes 200-gallon spill

Big Island fire crews blamed a clogged sewer pipe for a 200-gallon sewage spill into the KTA Super Stores parking lot in Hilo earlier this week.

Fire officials said that on Thursday at 6:18 p.m., sewage leaked from a manhole cover in the parking lot, prompting a store manager to stop all water use in the store's restrooms and its deli and meat department. Security guards sectioned off the contaminated area of the parking lot and diverted traffic. State Department of Health officials were notified.

Hawaii County fire officials said yesterday that the pipe clogging was due to a "design defect in the sewer system within the complex."

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

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Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire Marine animal event is free to the public Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Hawaii will give a series of presentations tonight on Hawaii's marine mammals. The free event, set for 6-9 p.m. at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, features hands-on activities and games. Researchers from the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will discuss efforts to protect Hawaii's marine mammals. Hawaii is the winter nursery and breeding grounds of about 5,000 humpback whales and is home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. First database for local scholarships is online A local nonprofit has launched a Hawaii-specific scholarship search Web site. The site, www.collegeconnections.org, is believed to be the first of its kind. It features college scholarships offered by Hawaii businesses, organizations and institutions. The free search has more than 300 scholarships, ranging from $200 to full tuition. It was designed by College Connections Hawaii, a nonprofit aimed at helping Hawaii students. The site's users can search for scholarships using several criteria, including college major, ethnicity, residence, high school and grade-point average. New scholarships are added on an ongoing basis. CCH Executive Director Wren Wescoatt said it "is a great resource for students and parents worried about college costs." "Local scholarships are the ones Hawaii students have the best shot at winning," he added. [ TAKING NOTICE ] » Aliiolani Elementary School, Hokulani Elementary School and Kahala Elementary School are the new Hawaii nominees for the 2005 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program. The schools were recognized last week by the state Department of Education, in partnership with Frito-Lay of Hawaii, at the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program awards ceremony. Each was awarded $3,000 from Frito-Lay. Liholiho Elementary School and Momilani Elementary School, last year's winners in the Hawaii Distinguished Schools Program, were recently selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2004. » Chancellor Peter Englert of the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been elected to a four-year term on the administrative board of the International Association of Universities, which encompasses 90 countries. He is one of 20 leaders in higher education from all parts of the world, and one of only two representatives from the United States to be elected. » John L. Tonry, Alexander Krot and Mark Q. Martindale have received the 2004 Regents' Medal for Excellence in Research at the University of Hawaii. Tonry is a professor with the Institute for Astronomy; Krot is an associate researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology; and Martindale is an associate professor with the Pacific Biomedical Research Center. » Elaine Yamashita, associate professor and Human Services Program coordinator at Maui Community College, has been elected to the governing board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children for four years. It is the nation's largest and most influential organization of early-childhood educators. » A scholarship fund set up by Dottie Alapai to honor her husband, Samuel Kalua Alapai, a father of six and grandfather of 15, has been donated to Kamaaina Kids, a nonprofit organization of 11 preschools and 54 after-school programs. For more information about the programs, call 262-4538. Police, Fire, Courts By Star-Bulletin staff HONOLULU Mentally ill woman roves from Kalihi care home Honolulu police are looking for a mentally ill woman who wandered away from her Kalihi care home this week. Police said Vea Tartanian, 45, was last seen at 7 a.m. Thursday and might be suicidal. Her care home is on Waikahe Place, and police said she frequents the Kamehameha Shopping Center. Tartanian is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 100 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue or green ankle-length dress with a "Tripler" hospital top. She was also seen carrying a bright red-orange purse. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call Missing Persons investigator James Vasconcellos at 529-3064 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 (CRIME on a cellular phone). EAST OAHU Man accused in bank robbery in Kahala Police charged a 47-year-old man with robbing the Star Market branch of Bank of Hawaii in Kahala earlier this week. Phillip Nico allegedly presented a demand note to a bank teller on Sunday, then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police arrested and charged Nico for robbery yesterday after he was identified in a photo lineup by several witnesses. LEEWARD OAHU Waianae boy charged after escape attempt A 14-year-old Waianae boy being held at Hale Hoomalu, the Alder Street detention facility, was charged with first-degree escape Thursday. The teen was out with his probation officer Wednesday on a Family Court program just after 2 p.m. They were returning to the detention center when the teenager ran away, police said. The officer chased and caught the boy. During the capture, the teen assaulted the probation officer, police said. WAIKIKI 3 teens arrested in Galleria shoplifting Police arrested three 16-year-old boys for allegedly shoplifting items worth $322 from a Waikiki store. Police said the teens were seen concealing merchandise at the DFS Galleria Waikiki at 330 Royal Hawaiian Ave. at 1:20 p.m. Thursday. One suspect allegedly took a hat and placed it in a backpack carried by another suspect, while the other suspect allegedly placed a bag in the backpack, police said. The three suspects were arrested for suspicion of second-degree theft after leaving the store without paying for the items. NEIGHBOR ISLANDS Clogged sewer pipe causes 200-gallon spill Big Island fire crews blamed a clogged sewer pipe for a 200-gallon sewage spill into the KTA Super Stores parking lot in Hilo earlier this week. Fire officials said that on Thursday at 6:18 p.m., sewage leaked from a manhole cover in the parking lot, prompting a store manager to stop all water use in the store's restrooms and its deli and meat department. Security guards sectioned off the contaminated area of the parking lot and diverted traffic. State Department of Health officials were notified. Hawaii County fire officials said yesterday that the pipe clogging was due to a "design defect in the sewer system within the complex." Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers*	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —

Marine animal event is free to the public

First database for local scholarships is online

HONOLULU Mentally ill woman roves from Kalihi care home

EAST OAHU Man accused in bank robbery in Kahala

LEEWARD OAHU Waianae boy charged after escape attempt

WAIKIKI 3 teens arrested in Galleria shoplifting

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS Clogged sewer pipe causes 200-gallon spill

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HONOLULU
Mentally ill woman roves from Kalihi care home

EAST OAHU
Man accused in bank robbery in Kahala

LEEWARD OAHU
Waianae boy charged after escape attempt

WAIKIKI
3 teens arrested in Galleria shoplifting

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Clogged sewer pipe causes 200-gallon spill

Text Site Directory:
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]