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Federal funds available for habitat programs

Making land a better habitat for native, threatened or endangered wildlife could qualify landowners and long-term lessees for federal matching funds.

Applications to participate in the current cycle of Wildlife Habitat Incentives Programs will be accepted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service through Dec. 17.

The program reimburses up to 75 percent of the cost of approved conservation practices such as alien invasive species control, native tree planting and waterbird habitat restoration. A wide variety of conservation activities in streams, wetlands, coastal areas, forests and agricultural lands can qualify.

For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ whip, or contact Gwen Gilbert at 541-2600, ext. 122.

Bird hunters protest added hunting days

HILO » Four bird hunters on the Big Island are challenging a decision by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that adds two days each week to the 2004-2005 game bird-hunting season in some areas.

A complaint by hunters Melvin Tanaka, James Watt, Masaichi Takaki and Dexter Egdamin alleges that the DLNR illegally changed rules without a public hearing.

It asks for an injunction against adding Wednesdays and Thursdays, alleging the expansion will deplete the brood stock in the Kaohe and Mauna Kea Game Management area, portions of Pohakuloa Training Area and some privately owned lands.

State officials say the days were added -- doubling the number of weekdays when hunting is allowed -- after biologists predicted more birds because of abundant rain during the breeding season.

At a hearing on the complaint, Circuit Judge Glenn Hara asked state attorneys to file legal documents supporting their argument that DLNR Chairman Peter Young has the authority to make the change without the approval of the state Land Board.

Attorneys have until Dec. 13 to file their arguments.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Alleged thief plummets from stadium

A man jumped over an Aloha Stadium railing and fell about 75 feet Saturday night after allegedly trying to rob a vendor, stadium officials and police said.

The man, described as being in his 20s or 30s, was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The extent of his injuries was unknown.

The incident happened about 9:50 p.m., near the end of the University of Hawaii game against Northwestern University.

Police had few details yesterday but confirmed the man had fallen and that a theft investigation was ongoing.

Stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard said police told him Saturday night that the man allegedly took a money bag from a vendor near Section HH.

A bystander grabbed the man and called for security, but the suspect allegedly wiggled free, Leonard said.

The man then jumped over a nearby railing, falling about 75 feet onto a concrete floor, Leonard said.

He said the man was conscious when he was being taken away by ambulance.

Leonard said he did not know which vendor was involved in the incident.

Kalihi fire damages recycling business

A Kalihi recycling business sustained heavy damage yesterday after an early morning blaze, fire officials said.

The fire happened at 922 Austin Lane about 1:40 a.m. Firefighters had the blaze under control within two hours.

Fire Battalion Chief Thomas Perkins said three businesses occupied the warehouse.

"The business that was mainly hit was a recycling business," said Perkins, noting the establishment recycled newspapers.

No injuries were reported. Officials are continuing their investigation into the cause.

Kailua man dies after canoeing off Kewalo

A 60-year-old man died after he was found slumped in his canoe near Kewalo Basin.

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Glenn H. White of Kailua.

Police said White was paddling in the Kewalo Basin area about 9:35 a.m. Saturday when he was found slumped over by a fellow canoe paddler.

Police said he was unresponsive and breathing heavily. White was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Alleged check forger leaves ID at bank

A 35-year-old man has been charged for stealing and forging checks that belong to a woman.

Police identified the suspect as Sherwood Nahinu of Honolulu.

At 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 12, police said, Nahinu attempted to cash a forged check from the victim's checking account at the Kalihi branch of First Hawaiian Bank.

Nahinu fled the bank as an employee went to verify the signature card and call the account holder. Police said he left behind the stolen checks and his Hawaii identification card.

An investigation revealed that Nahinu stole and forged four more checks from the victim's Bank of Hawaii account.

Crime Reduction Unit officers arrested Nahinu, who was charged Saturday for multiple counts of second-degree forgery, second-degree theft and attempted second-degree theft. He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

WAIKIKI
Man held in alleged knife threat to cabbie

Police arrested a 20-year-old Kaneohe man in Waikiki late Saturday after he threatened a cabdriver with a knife.

The cabdriver, 32, told police that he picked up three men at Kapiolani Boulevard and Kona Iki Street about 11:15 p.m.

The 20-year-old then allegedly brandished a knife and demanded the driver take them to their hotel for free, police said. Patrol officers and security at the Aston Waikiki Sunset hotel at 229 Paoakalani Ave. were notified of the incident.

Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree robbery and kidnapping.

WINDWARD OAHU
Drowning fatality ID'd as Kapolei woman, 39

A 39-year-old woman apparently drowned during the weekend while swimming at Kualoa Beach Park.

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the swimmer as Wanda Hashimoto of Kapolei.

Police said Hashimoto was swimming about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. She was taken to Castle Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Collision on Kauai leaves 1 driver dead

A 19-year-old man died yesterday after a two-car crash on Kauai's Kaumualii Highway.

The accident happened about 12:51 a.m. when the man crossed the center line and collided head-on with another vehicle while traveling westbound on the highway.

Police said the 19-year-old man was taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The other driver, a 16-year-old boy, was also taken to Kauai Veterans for treatment.

Police are investigating.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers