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Big surf is expected to get bigger

WWW.TOSTEE.COM VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS The National Weather Service issued a high-surf warning yesterday as 18- to 24-foot surf caused the postponement of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters. Spectators watched yesterday as waves crashed along the North Shore. A much larger swell is expected to arrive late today, with surf expected to reach 30 to 50 feet along north-facing shores. See more in Hawaii Beat in Sports.

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Maui pit bull owner sued in mauling case

WAILUKU » A woman has sued a Maui man whose pit bull dog mauled her at his residence.

The dog "mercilessly" attacked Sandra Sardinha on Nov. 16 while she was legally on the Pukalani property, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in Maui Circuit Court.

The lawsuit names dog owner Scott Barrie as a defendant. It says the attack left Sardinha with numerous bite wounds and a torn scalp.

The dog, "Faust," was released to the custody of Barrie by the Maui County Animal Control Board on Dec. 1.

But Faust was taken into custody again on Dec. 3 after an animal control officer alleged that Barrie had failed to abide by conditions of his dog's release and had an open window in the house where Faust was confined.

Barrie is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 11 in Wailuku District Court for allegedly failing to comply with the dangerous-dog law.

If convicted of the petty-misdemeanor charge, Barrie could face a maximum $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail.

Philippine official visits Hawaii bases

Philippine Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. toured two Hawaii military bases yesterday, the first day of a three-day visit to meet with U.S. military officials.

Cruz met with officials at U.S. Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith before touring Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay and Hickam Air Force Base.

It marked his first visit to Pacific Command headquarters since he was named secretary of the Philippines' defense.

Cruz is scheduled to meet with Adm. Thomas Fargo to discuss relief efforts for storm victims in his country, and security-related issues including the war on terrorism.

Volcanoes park fire reported contained

VOLCANO, Hawaii » A wildfire at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island was reported fully contained, although one helicopter continued patrols yesterday.

The fire, which began Dec. 5, scorched 654 acres of remote scrub land and destroyed an outhouse at Pepeiao Cabin, Fire Management Officer Joe Molhoek said.

No injuries were reported.

Molhoek said a fire investigator had determined the blaze was started by lightning that struck a tree.

A firefighting crew of 20 called in from the Eldorado National Forest in California spent yesterday gathering seeds to rehabilitate the burned area.

More than three dozen firefighters and three helicopters fought the blaze through last week, helped toward the end of the week by rain.

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» The Gemini North Observatory named Big Island science teachers Tom Chun, Roddy Floro and Sonya Carvalho as its StarTeachers for 2005 in a teleconference Thursday with other Gemini officials in La Serena, Chile, the main city near the Gemini South Observatory.

Chun is a physics teacher at the Keaau campus of Kamehameha Schools. Floro teaches several fields of science at Keaau High School. Carvalho is the middle-school science teacher at the Connections Public Charter School in Hilo.

Chilean teachers Dalma Valenzuela, Sonia Layana and Carlos Videla were named as 2005 StarTeachers from that country.

The StarTeachers exchange program calls for the Hilo-area teacher to go to La Serena for two weeks in April, followed by the Chilean teachers coming to Hilo in October.

This is the second year in which the twin Gemini Observatories have conducted the StarTeacher program.

The Gemini Observatories are a partnership of the Association of Universities for Research for Astronomy of the United States, as well as agencies of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Kalihi man is arrested for alleged sex assault

Police arrested a 28-year-old Kalihi man Sunday after he allegedly tried to sexually assault his girlfriend.

Police said the suspect and the 23-year-old victim were arguing when he started to physically abuse her at about noon.

The suspect then allegedly tried to sexually assault her, but during the struggle she was able to dial 911 and call police.

Officers responded and arrested the suspect for investigation of first-degree attempted sexual assault, domestic violence and interfering with the report of an emergency.

Palolo boy allegedly assaults foster sister

Police arrested a 15-year-old Palolo boy for allegedly threatening his two foster sisters with knives Sunday.

The incident started when the suspect and the victims, ages 15 and 16, argued at about 8:20 p.m., which led to the boy allegedly assaulting one of the girls, police said. The suspect then allegedly went to the kitchen, grabbed two knives and threatened both girls.

Police arrested the boy for suspicion of two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening and domestic abuse.

LEEWARD OAHU

14-year-old caught in alleged shoplifting

Police arrested a 14-year-old girl Saturday night after she allegedly attempted to shoplift more than $420 worth of merchandise from Kmart in Kapolei.

Through a surveillance camera, loss prevention officers saw the suspect place items into two bags, police said.

The girl was stopped about 10 feet outside the store after she left without paying for the items, police said. She was arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft.