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» Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc. has received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities, the highest level of certification offered, for its employment and community services.

» Keoki's Paradise restaurant in Poipu, Kauai, has given its Employee of the Month awards for the third quarter of 2004 to Raynette Paea, for July; Tony Brun, August; and Barbara Berezo, September. Aimee Antipala received the Aloha Award for going above and beyond the call of duty.

» Nineteen outstanding members of 4-H Clubs throughout the state received recognition by attending the 83th National 4-H Congress in Atlanta in November. They were Heather Hirata, Karisse Wakamatsu, Liane Nakamae, Ashley Deeks, Claire Fukuoka, Caitlin Shishido, Nicole Wachi and Carri Yap of Maui; Kasha Kim, Kimberly Manago, Chelsee Furukawa, Erin Kojima and Breanna Akama of West Hawaii; Kristen Bautista, Blaire Fujimoto and Lauren Seu of East Hawaii; and Kellyn Tanaka, Kristin Tone and Jenna Yamamoto of Kauai.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Defective fan deemed likely cause of blaze

A Makiki high-rise fire on Thursday was likely caused by an electrical problem stemming from a defective fan, fire officials said yesterday.

The 10:20 a.m. fire destroyed five apartments, left 11 homeless and killed two cats at the Consulate building at 1634 Makiki St. The building did not have a sprinkler system.

Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said the fan's components have been sent to a mainland laboratory for evaluation.

The appliance was found plugged into the wall in the master bedroom of unit 701.

The Fire Department urges residents to make sure any electrical appliances purchased have a certified lab stamp such as "UL" and to replace any appliances that are not working well.

"Ideally, you never want to leave any appliance on when you leave," Kane said. "The best thing is to unplug all appliances."

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle authorities seeking escaped felon

Department of Public Safety deputy sheriffs and Big Island police are looking for a pretrial felon who escaped yesterday during a visit to the Ponahawai Medical Clinic in Hilo.

Winston Hoapili, 31, was shackled and being escorted at 12:45 p.m. by two armed adult corrections officers to a doctor's appointment on Ponahawai Street in Hilo.

Hoapili distracted the corrections officers and dove into a white Nissan car in the clinic parking lot, officials said.

A corrections officer fired one shot at the car's tire as the car drove off, public safety officials said. No other shots were fired and no one was injured.

Hoapili is awaiting trial on numerous drug, theft and trespassing charges. His bail was set at $101,225. Hoapili is 5 feet 11 inches, 170 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.

His tattoos include a large green dragon and wizard on his right arm; a green tattoo of a spider web, lady, prison tower and faces on his left arms; a lady on his back; and the face of a devil on his left lower leg.

Hoapili does not have a record of violent crime. However, officials advise residents to use extreme caution if they come in contact with him.

The Department of Public Safety is conducting an internal investigation into the discharge of the firearm.

Anyone with information on Hoapili is asked to call Detective Richard Sherlock of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2379, the police nonemergency number at 935-3311, the Hilo Deputy Sheriffs office at 933-8833, or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.