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Case introduces invasive-species bill

Shipments into Hawaii should be inspected for agricultural pests and invasive species just as carefully as outbound shipments, U.S. Rep. Ed Case said last week as he introduced a bill that would require that.

"My bill, the Hawaii Invasive Species Protection Act, may be condensed into this simple statement: What is good for the U.S. mainland should be good for Hawaii," Case said. "Current federal inspections protect the U.S. mainland from insect pests in Hawaii. But Hawaii, which has the greatest number of endemic endangered species of any state in the nation, doesn't enjoy similar protection."

Without better screening, threats such as West Nile virus, sand flies, Africanized honeybees and the brown tree snake could find their way into Hawaii and devastate the state's native ecosystems and economy, Case said.

Hawaii's 255 threatened and endangered plant species represent 25 percent of endangered species in the entire country, Case said.

The bill is particularly needed since Hawaii is a transportation crossroads for the Pacific, he added.

Kailua meeting to talk about Kaelepulu Pond

A meeting to describe a demonstration project at Kailua's Kaelepulu Pond will be held 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Enchanted Lake Community Park.

The Kailua Bay Advisory Council is proposing a project that will improve the pond's shoreline landscape, provide runoff and sediment control and provide "hands-on" water quality education.

The meeting originally was set for July 21 but was rescheduled. For more information, contact Kia Weaver at 277-5611 or kiaweaver@hawaii.rr.com.

Trout fishing season starting up on Kauai

Trout fishing on Kauai, anyone?

The annual fishing season for rainbow trout at Kokee Public Fishing Area on Kauai opens Saturday. About 1,500 anglers turn out each year for the chance to catch more than 7,000 stocked trout in the Puu Lua Reservoir.

The largest trout caught last year during the opening weekend was 17 inches long and weighed in at 2 pounds 10 ounces.

Fishing hours are 5:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. from Saturday to Aug. 21.

The daily bag limit is seven rainbow trout per licensed angler.

For more information or a current list of license agents, call DLNR on Oahu at 832-5009 or 587-0101, or the Lihue office at 274-3344.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Alzheimer's patient disappears from home

Police are asking for the public's help in locating an 86-year-old woman who has been missing since Saturday.

Police said Elaine Uyeda was last seen at her McCorriston Street home about 4:50 p.m. Saturday. A senior who fit Uyeda's description was seen 10 minutes later at "Look Outs" off Diamond Head Road.

Police said Uyeda suffers from Alzheimer's disease and had been reported missing on prior occasions. At those times she was located at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel or the Prince Kuhio Hotel.

Uyeda is described as a woman of Japanese descent. She is 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 108 pounds and has white-gray hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink and green muumuu.

Anyone who has information on Uyeda's whereabouts can call Officer James Vasconcellos at 479-5452 or the Honolulu Police Department's Missing Persons Detail at 529-3064.

Man arrested after assault, knife threat

Police arrested a 18-year-old man after he allegedly assaulted another male and threatened him with a kitchen knife yesterday near Ala Moana Center.

Police said the victim, 17, was walking at 1 a.m. yesterday past the bus stop on Ala Moana Boulevard when the suspect confronted him and demanded his wallet.

The suspect then punched him in the face three times and pulled out a kitchen knife from his pants pocket.

Police said the victim ran and reported the incident to security at the shopping center. The suspect then pushed a 14-year-old boy off his bicycle and rode away.

The 18-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery and second-degree robbery.

LEEWARD OAHU
Cigarette sparks fire that damages home

A cigarette started a fire yesterday at an Aiea home, causing about $40,000 in damage. The fire occurred at 3:55 p.m. at a two-story home at 99-121 Pamoho Place.

Capt. Kenison Tejada, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said a woman told a dispatcher that she heard an explosion coming from downstairs. The woman and another person exited the home without any injuries.

Firefighters had the fire under control at 4:14 p.m. and extinguished at 4:20 p.m. An unattended cigarette in the living room caused the fire.

Two years ago a shooting occurred in the carport of the Pamoho Place home. On Oct. 26, 2003, Greg Morishima, 49, was visiting friends at the home when he was gunned down in the carport. Three men were tried for his murder.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Search continues for missing Lanai man

More than 100 volunteers continued searching yesterday for 77-year-old Robert "Bobby" Amaral, who has been missing in Lanai City since early Friday.

Volunteers conducted their search by foot, all-terrain vehicles, horseback and helicopter, said Lt. Donald Kanemitsu, of the Maui Police Department.

Amaral, who suffers from dementia, was last seen about 5:45 a.m. Friday in Lanai City wearing a light-blue T-shirt, dark blue-gray plaid pajama pants, off-white running shoes and a blue cap.