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Iolani Palace observes birthday of Kapiolani

Queen Kapiolani's birthday will be observed with the annual holiday tradition of evening tours of Iolani Palace's first floor from 6 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow and Wednesday.

Robin Sutherland, keyboard principal of the San Francisco Symphony, will play on the square grand piano in the Blue Room, one of the few times each year that the piano is played.

Sutherland is a former teacher with the Ellen Masaki School of Music in Honolulu and now performs through- out the world. Sutherland is also co-founder and artistic director of the Telluride Chamber Music Festival.

No reservations are needed for the tours. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for ages 13 through 18. Children 12 and under are free.

Musicians on the front steps will greet and serenade visitors as they walk into the Grand Hall. Visitors will be guided through the State Dining Room and the Throne Room.

In the Galleries, visitors will be free to view the exhibit "Ka Halealii O Iolani, He Hoailona o Ka Lahui-Iolani Palace, Symbol of a Nation," and continue to the Ancient Regalia Gallery to see the cloak of Kiwalao, a procession of kahili, and the crown jewels and personal jewelry of the alii.

Isles No. 16 in growth among American states

Hawaii has dropped from being the 10th-fastest growing state in the nation last year and is now ranked No. 16 in growth, the U.S. Bureau of the Census said.

The federal estimate of the state's resident population on July 1 was 1,262,840, an increase from the previous year of 14,085 people.

In the four years since the 2000 census, Hawaii's population has grown by 51,303, the Census Bureau estimated.

Despite the changes in growth rate, the relatively small size of the actual number of people added has meant that Hawaii's population rank has remained constant over the years.

Hawaii ranked 42nd in the nation in population size in 2000 and retains the same rank today.

In growth rate, Nevada ranked first in the nation, the 18th year it has held that position, the Census Bureau said. It ranks 35th in size.

Nationwide, the population is now estimated at 293.7 million, an increase of 1 percent, or 2.9 million people, since last year, the bureau said.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
2 men stabbed in Kalihi on Christmas

Police are looking for a man who allegedly attacked two other males with a knife in Kalihi on Christmas night.

Police said a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy from Kalihi were attacked during a fight near the 600 block of North King Street at about 8:53 p.m. Saturday.

They said the suspect fled before police arrived.

The 21-year-old man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. The 17-year-old was treated and released.

Police said the knife was not recovered from the scene.

Man charged in theft, attack on store worker

Police charged a 20-year-old homeless man after he allegedly stole a pack of batteries at Longs Drug at Ala Moana Center and pushed a loss prevention officer on Christmas Eve.

Police identified him as John M. Drabczyk.

Loss prevention officers saw Drabczyk shoplifting batteries about 12:45 p.m. Friday.

An officer confronted Drabczyk outside the store, and he pushed her, police said. Drabczyk fled the scene, but the officer followed him and called police on her cellular phone.

Drabczyk was charged with second-degree robbery. He is being held in lieu of $11,000.

Crash victim charged with taking tow truck

Police arrested a 28-year-old woman after she allegedly drove off in a tow truck whose driver had tried to help her after she was in a car accident in Mapunapuna.

Police said a driver from Ace Towing arrived at the intersection of North Nimitz Highway and Ahua Street at 3:25 a.m. Friday to tow a car.

The car's driver, seated in the tow truck, became angry for no reason and started throwing items belonging to the tow truck driver out of the window, police said. When the tow truck driver stepped out to retrieve his belongings, she drove away in the truck.

Police later located the woman and arrested her on suspicion of operating a vehicle without the driver's permission.

LEEWARD OAHU
Pedestrian killed in Waipahu is ID'd

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office identified a 25-year-old woman who was killed in Waipahu last week while crossing Farrington Highway as Cecille Bugtong.

Police said Bugtong, of Waipahu, was crossing the street outside a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Farrington Highway and Awamoku Street on Thursday when a two-door Saturn driven by an 18-year-old Pearl City man struck her.

Police said the driver may have been speeding. Bugtong died at the scene from her injuries.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Resident dies after falling down stairs

A 71-year-old man died after he suffered a fatal fall down a flight of stairs at his Big Island home.

Police said the man fell while climbing the stairs on Saturday afternoon. He was taken to an area hospital with head injuries and flown to the Queen's Medical Center, where he died.