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UH's help is sought gauging aquifer yields

The state Water Commission wants the University of Hawaii to test and apply a model for estimating sustainable yields of 16 aquifer systems on Oahu, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island.

At its May 25 meeting, the commission authorized Department of Land and Natural Resources Director Peter Young to enter into a research agreement with the university, the DLNR said Wednesday.

Sustainable yield is defined as the maximum rate at which water can be withdrawn from a water source without impairing the utility or quality of the water source.

Free summer swim program begins

"Family Day" tomorrow at Ala Moana Beach Park will offer Jamba Juice smoothies, water-safety information and healthy-living tips to celebrate the start of the Annual American Red Cross FREE Summer Swim program of swim lessons for all ages.

The event will be held on the Magic Island side of the park near the showers and lifeguard station 1-E.

The keiki program for children 4 to 14 years old is held on Saturdays from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. The adult program for students 14 years old and older is held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:15 to 6 p.m.

>> Keiki Session 1: June 4 through July 9, with no class July 2

>> Keiki Session 2: July 16 through Aug. 13

>> Adult Session 1: June 6 through June 23

>> Adult Session 2: June 27 through July 21, with no class during the week of July 4

>> Adult Session 3: July 25 through Aug. 11

Registration is available on site on the first day of each session or online at www.hawaiiredcross.org. Direct any questions to Robbie Adams at 739-8109.

Local teacher wins cable television award

Local teacher Michael O'Connor is one of 20 people to receive the 2005 Time Warner Cable National Teacher Award for creatively utilizing cable television programming and interactive technology in the classroom.

O'Connor's project "I'm Just Like Everyone Else" gave students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a seven-week video production course in which they could conduct interviews, write scripts and storyboards, and create slide shows, public service announcements and short videos.

The Digital Media Arts Academy teacher will receive a $1,000 grant at an awards ceremony Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

O'Connor received the same award two years ago for his work on a fourth-grade Kapolei Elementary School project, "How Our Hawaiian Islands Were Formed," in which students were able to create movies that shared their knowledge of Hawaii geology.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Purse-snatching suspect is arrested

Police have identified a juvenile male suspect caught on surveillance video in a purse-snatching incident in Kapahulu.

Callers to police and CrimeStoppers provided valuable information, police said. Police arrested the suspect Wednesday.

The suspect allegedly stole a purse from a 78-year-old woman at about 3 p.m. April 28 in the back of Market City Shopping Center, 2824 Kihei Place. The boy was released pending investigation.

Missing man sought by concerned family

Police are asking for the public's help in locating an emotionally distraught 22-year-old Kalihi man missing since yesterday.

Police said Christopher K. Lee was last seen leaving his home on Kahanu Street in the Kalihi area at about 2 p.m. yesterday.

Lee left driving his white 1994 two-door Oldsmobile sedan, license number FWA-671. Police said his family arrived later that afternoon and found evidence Lee had injured himself. His family is concerned and has not seen or heard from him since.

Lee is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and is of Filipino-Hawaiian ethnicity.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 911, the Missing Persons Detail at 529-3394 or Investigator Phil Camero at 529-3115.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

4 people are charged in robbery of man

Big Island police have charged three men and a woman with offenses stemming from the Tuesday robbery of a 22-year-old Hilo man that range from sexual assault to theft near the Isaac Hale Beach Park in Puna.

Police identified the suspects as Robert Kozuki, 32, of Pahoa; James Rosales, 28, of Pahoa; Joshua Tucker, 24, of Mountain View; and Terra Blackford, 23, of Pahoa.

Police arrested the four at nearby Ahalanui Beach Park about an hour after the victim reported he was attacked and robbed.

Kozuki was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, assault, criminal property damage, sexual assault and theft and is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $5,250 bail.

Rosales was charged with assault, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, two counts of theft and robbery. Bail was set at $3,300.

Tucker was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and assault. He was released after posting $1,100 bail.

Police seek help to find missing teen

Big Island police are asking for help in finding a 16-year-old Hilo boy reported missing from his home since March 2.

Derek Rapoza Jr. is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call officer Peter Kualii of the East Hawaii Juvenile Aid Section at 961-2373 or the police non-emergency telephone number at 935-3311. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.