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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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Taking Notice
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Lee Anderson of Iolani School was one of 30 students who participated last summer in the Gillette Co.'s week-long Economics for Leaders program at Babson College in Boston. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, a Davis, Calif., nonprofit group.
» Deron Spencer, a project manager at Isemoto Construction in Kailua-Kona, won the $200 prize drawing at Finance Factors' Building & Design Expo for Creative Living at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa.
» James H. Case, at the age of 85, still puts in a full day's work as an attorney and a partner (since 1959) for Carlsmith Ball LLP in Honolulu. He was among 52 honored in Washington, D.C., as this year's outstanding older worker from Hawaii by the Experience Works Prime Time Awards Program. Experience Works is the nation's largest provider of training and employment services for older workers, and seeks to lessen negative stereotypes about them.
» The University of Hawaii has given prestigious scholarships to 30 students, which include tuition waivers for four or two years, $4,000 per year and a $2,000 travel grant.
Recipients of the Regents Scholarships include these 20 incoming freshmen:
Neal Akatsuka of Roosevelt High School; Wesley Ching, Sara Fares, Kelly Morikone and Jillian Sumitomo of Kalani; Katherine Ishida of Kaimuki; Reece Iwami and Janice Quach of Castle; Bobby Kwan of McKinley; Grace Kwan of Aiea; Lee Ying Kwok, Aileen Tanaka and Megan Terawaki of Mililani; Kaitlin Luther of Baldwin; Kacie Miura of Waiakea; Jason Nagaoka and Krystle Salazar of Moanalua; Stacie Nakamura of Pearl City; Kayla Sakimoto of La Pietra School for Girls; and Dayton Wong of Molokai.
Presidential Scholarships went to these 10 college juniors:
Jonathan Cheng, Amy Ching, Krista Jo Dusek (who also received the 2005 Albert J. Simone award given to the highest-ranked Presidential Scholar), Melanie Li, Maryann Peterson and Cora Puliatch of UH-Manoa; and Marla Garcia, Branden Lohrey and Faye Plescia of UH-Hilo.
» Hawaii students brought home the gold medal and other honors from the National History Day Competition this summer at the University of Maryland.
Winners of the Gold Medal (first place) for Group Display included the team of Melissa Ruan, Christine Nip, Megan Tomino and teacher Kevin Chaitin of Moanalua High School.
Fourth-place winners in Group Display and the Outstanding Junior Division Entry from Hawaii were Andrina Ramos, Minnie Whitford, Tajana Santiago and teacher Linda Kay Smith of Kahuku Intermediate.
Placing 14th in Group Performance and Outstanding Senior Division Entry from Hawaii were Rachelle Christy, Kendra Ho Ching, Noell Kamauoha and teacher Lorey Ishihara of Kahuku High.
Amy R. Boehning of Waialua High and Intermediate was one of eight finalists to receive the Richard T. Farrel Teacher of Merit Award.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
WEST OAHU
Fireworks suspected in 50-acre Kapolei brush fire
A suspicious brush fire scorched about 50 acres in Kapolei last night, just mauka of Farrington Highway near Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, a fire official said.
The fire is possibly fireworks-related, said fire Capt. Emmit Kane. It was reported at 6:20 p.m. and contained by 8:20 p.m. About 45 fire personnel worked to stamp out the blaze.
The winds blew the smoke mauka, and the fire did not threaten any structures or affect highway traffic, Kane said.
HONOLULU
Bank robbed Thursday by armed man in 20s
Honolulu police said they are looking for a man who robbed the Honolulu branch of Hawaii National Bank on Thursday.
Police said the suspect entered the bank at 3:55 p.m. and handed the teller a note demanding cash after all the customers had left. He then allegedly lifted up his T-shirt and showed the teller the handgrip of a semiautomatic handgun tucked in his waistband. After being given cash, he fled.
The suspect is described only as in his mid-20s.
Pearl Harbor driver died of heart failure
The 67-year-old man killed Wednesday in a single-vehicle accident at Naval Station Pearl Harbor died of heart failure, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.
Henry Dean, a civilian, was employed with security at Navy Region Hawaii.
Dean's vehicle struck a light pole on the base. He was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, where he was pronounced dead.
LEEWARD OAHU
Single mom dies while swimming with son
A 43-year-old Canadian woman died Thursday afternoon after she became ill while she and her son were swimming off the Waianae coast.
Police said the woman and her 12-year-old son went to swim with the dolphins along the Leeward Coast. After being in the water for five minutes, she became ill and was brought to the harbor.
The woman, a single parent, died while being transported to St. Francis Medical Center-West, police said.
Jessica Lani Rich, president of Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, said she was called to the hospital emergency room along with volunteer Richard Soo to comfort the boy after he was told his mother had died.
The boy was sent home to Calgary, Canada. According to a Visitor Aloha Society press release, the boy's aunt, Linda Kockerback, said, "Everything was taken care of for us in getting our nephew back home. ... An entire group of people pulled together and got us through a very difficult time."
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Maui boy, 12, drowns while fishing off Kuau
A 12-year-old Maui boy apparently drowned yesterday after being hit by a large wave while fishing off Kuau, police said.
The boy was fishing with his father when the wave hit them as they were headed to shore about 1:48 p.m., pushing them into a large hole in the reef. Police said the father was able to get out, suffering cuts on the reef.
The man went back underwater to look for his son and found him in the hole. Police said the father brought the boy to the surface but was unable to revive him. Firefighters also unsuccessfully administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to a news release.
Police estimated that the boy was likely underwater for several minutes.
Kauai boat is found with operator missing
Kauai fire rescuers were expected to continue their search this morning for a 58-year-old man missing since yesterday, when the boat he had been operating was found overturned in the Wailua River.
Employees of Smith's Motor Boat Service discovered the Boston Whaler at 3:15 p.m. during a regular run along the river, according to a Kauai Fire Department press release.
The man, an employee of Kauai Builders, was supposed to pick up fellow workers from a job site at the Fern Grotto.
Fire rescue workers searched for him in the area of the river where the boat was discovered, and later expanded the search area.
The Coast Guard assisted with a Zodiac and a helicopter. The search was called off due to darkness.
