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Approaching storm expected to weaken

The National Weather Service said Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific was roughly 1,875 miles east of the Big Island with another storm behind it last night.

But if Fernanda continues its west-northwesterly path at 10 mph toward Hawaii, it is forecast to weaken by Tuesday afternoon with 33 mph winds, according to the weather service.

Fernanda had winds of 86 mph yesterday evening but was expected to dissipate to below hurricane status this afternoon as it moves over cooler waters.

Tropical Storm Greg, with wind speeds of 40 mph, is moving west-northwest at 6 mph and is expected to strengthen to hurricane status by tomorrow afternoon. But Greg is 2,760 miles east-southeast of the Big Island and is southeast of Fernanda.

By Wednesday it is expected to be 2,000 miles east-southeast of the Big Island.

$14.6M goes toward Big Isle safety plans

HILO » Hawaii County is planning to spend $14.6 million on public safety improvements in a growing area of the Big Island.

The county plans to build a fire station, police substation, gymnasium and park facilities on a 19-acre parcel just outside Pahoa.

Mayor Harry Kim's administration convinced the County Council to fund projects on the vacant state-owned land. Gov. Linda Lingle signed an executive order allowing the county to use the property.

The new buildings will replace Pahoa's outdated public facilities.

Puna Councilman Gary Safarik said he expected it will take five to 10 years to complete the work. "It's a positive step," he said.

"First off, the idea of a public safety complex with a recreational component is very unique," Safarik said. "I think for the community it means that it's a central location, and the location is acceptable for the people living in the Puna makai region."

Man is indicted for tax evasion

A federal grand jury has indicted a Honolulu resident, alleging he evaded more than $215,000 in taxes over two years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Honolulu.

Prosecutors say Stephen B. Wilson made $563,000 in 1998 and 1999 but only reported $73,431.63 in taxable income.

He faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The indictment was the result of an Internal Revenue Service investigation.

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» The Office of Hawaiian Affairs donated $9,600 to Halau Na Pualei O Likolehua, under the tutelage of kumu hula Leina'ala Kalama Heine, to support its participation in the World Conference on Hula last month.

>> Hawaii Air Ambulance donated $1,500 for the official T-shirts of the Ninth Annual Honolulu Cinco de Mayo 5K Fun Run, sponsored by the Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The funds raised at the event will benefit the Hispanic Business Education Fund.

» The Hawaii Education Association received $5,000 from First Hawaiian Foundation to offset the cost of its annual statewide Creative Writing Festival for all students.

» The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. almost $25,000 to be used toward the purchase of new computer equipment and to upgrade its current system.

» Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana received $25,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to launch a statewide media campaign to publicize the great strides made by schools under the Na Lei Na'auao Public Charter Schools Alliance.

» Grace Pacific Corp. recognized 77 elementary school students with its 2005 Outstanding Keiki of the Year Awards. The corporation donated $12,000 for an educational retreat at Camp Timberline in Makakilo, where team building activities and problem-solving exercises will be offered on top of recreation. Students were from Barbers Point, Mauka Lani, Makakilo and Kapolei elementary schools.

Grace Pacific also donated employee labor and plants to help clean up and beautify Kapolei Middle School.

» The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded $24,999 to Sisters Offering Support, which provides services to those who have been abused in commercial sexual exploitation.

» The Susanna Wesley Community Center, which works with the poor and recently arrived immigrants, was awarded $5,000 from First Hawaiian Foundation.

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Missing Big Isle man is found dead in pond

A missing man was found dead yesterday in a 3-foot-deep, murky pond near the driveway of a Big Island home.

It is unclear how he died, and police declined to say whether they suspect foul play, pending the results of an autopsy.

The man was last seen on Wednesday about 2 a.m. walking into a wooded area near 29-0741 Chin Chuck Road in Hakalau.

Firefighters started looking for the man, whose age was not released yesterday, about 10 a.m. and found him 16 minutes later.

WAIKIKI
Threat to cabdriver results in man's arrest

Police arrested a man Thursday morning for allegedly threatening a taxicab driver with a hammer.

The victim, a 52-year-old man, said he picked up the suspect along with two other people fronting the Pali Longs Drug store at 1330 Pali Highway around 7:45 a.m. The suspect allegedly told the driver to drive around the downtown area and then Waikiki but did not give a specific address.

Police said after the driver asked the suspect several times where he was going, the suspect reached forward, pointed a carpenter's hammer at him and said, "Take me where I want to go, or I'll bust you."

At that point the driver stopped a police officer near Nohonani Street and Kuhio Avenue and asked for help. Patrol officers arrested the suspect for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening.

HONOLULU
Attempt to withdraw $5,000 draws suspicion

Police arrested a 30-year-old man Wednesday who allegedly tried to withdraw $5,000 in two separate trips to the bank teller.

Police said the suspect deposited a check on Aug. 2 for $5,000 and returned Wednesday to make a withdrawal from the account at the Bank of Hawaii at 1617 Dillingham Blvd.

The suspect allegedly withdrew $4,500 in the morning, then returned in the afternoon for the $500.

Police said the teller became suspicious on the second withdrawal attempt and notified the account holder, who said that the check was stolen during a burglary in July. Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree forgery.

Kalihi man nabbed in assault using bat

Police arrested a 26-year-old Kalihi man Wednesday for allegedly hitting a 23-year-old man with a baseball bat-like object.

Police said the victim was walking on a Kalihi sidewalk at about 10:30 p.m. when the suspect allegedly hit him in the leg with the bat.

Police said the suspect then chased the victim around a parked vehicle and threatened to hurt him.

Kalihi police found the suspect about an hour later and arrested him on suspicion of third-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening.

The victim refused treatment for an apparent bruised calf, police said.

WINDWARD OAHU
Hostage situation ends with a self-stabbing

A 38-year-old man allegedly stabbed himself on Wednesday while holding his ex-girlfriend hostage at the Aikahi Safeway.

The suspect confronted the victim, 34, when she went to the Safeway at 25 Kaneohe Bay Drive on her lunch break, police said.

Police said as the two were arguing, the suspect allegedly took out a knife and then grabbed the victim's head and hit it against the door.

While holding the victim by the hair, the suspect then stabbed himself in the stomach and refused to release the victim, police said. The suspect dropped the knife as officers arrived, police said. The suspect was arrested for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening, kidnapping and abuse.