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Kauai calls off search for snake near airport

Officials with the Kauai Invasive Species Committee pulled the state's snake traps yesterday and called off the search for a 4-foot brown snake spotted last week on Lihue Airport grounds.

"The status is snakes zero, KISC many hours," said Keren Gunderson, committee project coordinator.

No other indications of the reptile have been spotted since last Monday's sighting by a 16-year-old visitor from California, despite hours of searching in the vegetation near the airport.

So, Gunderson said, officials have decided to call off the search and pull the traps because it is expensive and labor-intensive. Airport workers, however, have been put "on alert" to keep watch for the snake, she added.

More often than not, Gunderson said, snakes spotted in rural areas escape capture, but because of their potential devastation to the ecosystem, state and county officials look anyway.

Meeting set to discuss Kahana Bay pollutants

A public meeting to discuss water pollution in Kahana Bay will be held 7-8 p.m. Thursday at the Kahana Community Center.

Area residents' advice is being sought on what pollutants and pollution sources could be contributing to the degradation of the bay's water quality.

The bay is earmarked for federal restoration efforts with Clean Water Act funds, and suggestions to improve the health of the watershed and the bay are welcome.

For more information, contact Landin Johnson at 956-3976.

State seeks comments on Maui off-road park

KAHULUI » State officials are seeking public comment on developing an off-highway-vehicle park on Maui.

Hawaii currently has public off-highway-vehicle parks at Kahuku on Oahu and Waiakea on the Big Island, but Maui and Kauai lack any large, legal riding areas.

The state is distributing a public survey to find out what types of trails or parks and the kinds of experiences are most desirable to off-highway-vehicle enthusiasts.

The surveys are available at motorcycle shops and clubs on Maui, as well as the state Department of Land and Natural Resources at 54 S. High St., Room 101, in Wailuku.

"Results of the survey will give us an indication of the size and type of off-highway-vehicle park that is right for Maui, and whether local interest is strong enough to justify a search for private land that could be developed as a self-sustaining park or as a private-public partnership," said Torrie Nohara, the department's Na Ala Hele Maui trails specialist.

To receive a survey, contact Maui Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Specialist Torrie Nohara at 808-873-3508 or send a blank e-mail to Torrie.L.Nohara@hawaii.gov with "Send Survey" in the subject line.

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Taking Notice

» Goodwill Industries of Hawaii received $5,000 from Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation to support the purchase and implementation of a Wide Area Network System. The system would provide for more integrated communications between Goodwill's agencies on three islands. Goodwill also received $7,000 from the Pettus Foundation in support of its employment services programs. Goodwill operates more than 25 programs providing job placement, employment support services, education and training for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

» Hui Kako'o 'Aina Ho'opulapula has received $20,520 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fund quarterly newsletters sent to 20,000 applicants for Hawaiian Home Lands homesteads.

» The Hawaii Council for the Humanities awarded six grants totaling $15,000 to support public projects, including $5,000 to the North Kohala Community Resource Center, $2,500 to the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, $2,500 to the Biographical Research Center, $1,000 to the Lama Library at Kapiolani Community College, $2,500 to the Molokai Homestead Project and $1,500 to anthropologist Susan A. Lebo for research.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM A search team headed into Temple Valley yesterday before the discovery of the body of Federico Balderas, 90, missing since Friday. Led by Robby the police dog, the team included handler Rusty Radona, Jason Racoma and Elroy Paikai.

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Body of missing man found on steep ridge

The body of a missing man suffering from dementia was found yesterday by searchers along Windward Oahu.

Federico Balderas, 90, of Lanai was found on a steep ridge above Hui Iwa Place in Kaneohe, where he had been visiting relatives, officials said.

The body was brought down by a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter.

Balderas was reported missing Friday. The search had turned up his glasses and handkerchief in the area where his body was discovered.

Phil Camero, police missing-persons investigator, said Balderas was found about 200 feet down a ravine below the area where his prescription glasses were found. Camero said Balderas was wearing the same clothing he left with but was not wearing his baseball cap and slippers.

He said the Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.

Balderas had been spotted Saturday, but he disappeared into thick brush when a search volunteer called out to him.

The search included firefighters, police and state Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel. Hundreds of volunteers distributed fliers through the community.

Balderas' wife of 71 years died last year. Survivors included 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

HONOLULU

Police seek robber of Kapahulu Bankoh

Police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who allegedly robbed the Kapahulu branch of the Bank of Hawaii yesterday.

Police said the man entered the bank at 727 Kapahulu Ave. at about 12:20 p.m. and handed a note to the teller demanding money. The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police described the suspect as in his 50s, 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds. His hair was described as being like salt and pepper. He wore a white T-shirt and long black pants.

Anyone with information about this person is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

CENTRAL OAHU

Teen held in fire set in Mililani public toilet

Police arrested one teenager and were looking for two more for allegedly setting fire to a public toilet in Mililani yesterday.

Police said a witness heard an explosion at 3:50 p.m. and saw the suspects -- an 18-year-old man, a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy -- run from the area. Police said the witness yelled for them to stop, and the 18-year-old did. The younger suspects kept running, police said. The older suspect admitted his role in the crime, police said. He was arrested for investigation of second-degree criminal property damage.

Police said the teenagers ignited an aerosol can to set off the explosion.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Burglars at All Steel nearly steal all

Big Island police are looking for burglars who broke into a Kona construction company office and stole various tools and office equipment over the weekend.

Police said the break-in happened sometime between Friday afternoon and yesterday morning at the All Steel Paneling construction company on Honokohau Boat Park Road. The thieves entered the company office, tool room and mobile home and stole numerous items including saws, generators, compressors, drills, office equipment and computers. Some of the items had been spray-painted with the words "All Steel," police said.

There was no immediate estimate of the value of the stolen items.

Anyone with information is asked to call officer Mekia Rose at 326-4646, the police non-emergency number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

LEEWARD OAHU

Ocean fatality ID'd as Makaha resident

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office identified a 24-year-old man who died Thursday while swimming in the ocean off the Waianae Coast as Hassan Sabir.

Police had said that a witness saw Sabir, a Makaha resident, swimming in waters off Moua Street. He was later seen floating face down about 5 p.m.

Sabir was pronounced dead at the scene.