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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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Conserving energy can earn money for schools
Students from 25 public elementary schools on Oahu will have a chance to compete for thousands of dollars for their schools by conserving energy at home.
The Hawaiian Electric Home Energy Challenge will give $10,000, $8,000 and $5,000 to the top three schools whose students conserve the most energy.
Beginning in October, participating students will spend six months learning about the importance of reducing electricity use from their teachers and receive tips on how to conserve energy.
Hawaiian Electric Co. will then compare energy bills from October through March 2008 to award the prizes.
All 133 public elementary schools have until August to sign up for the project, a partnership between the state Department of Education HECO. The first 25 schools to respond with a letter of intent to participate will be selected, according to the company.
To be eligible, schools must have a parent or staffer to act as a coordinator and enroll at least one quarter of its students.
Temporary fix to pothole hotline
The state Department of Transportation's Pothole Hotline phone number has been temporarily changed to 587-2174,
* during an upgrade to the telephone lines.
The hotline will return to its original number, 536-7852 (PUKA), following the completion of the upgrades.
The department will notify the public when the upgrades are complete and the old number is restored, which is expected around the middle of the month.
Talks cover health care for retirees
The Hawaii Medical Service Association is offering free information sessions to help people plan for health care needs if they are thinking of retiring this year or next.
The sessions will cover health plan enrollment deadlines and eligibility requirements, HMSA's 50 Plus plan, 65C Plus plan and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans.
Interested people should call their local HMSA office for dates and times of the sessions: Oahu, 948-5563; Hilo, 935-6993 and Kailua-Kona, 326-1940; Kauai, 245-4299; Maui, 871-2466; Molokai and Lanai, (800) 620-4672.
Filipino scholarships are worth $19,000
The Filipino Chamber of Commerce is offering six scholarships totaling $19,000 to local high school seniors graduating in 2007.
Five scholarships for $3,000 and one for $4,000 will be awarded to seniors selected on the basis of academics, college entrance exams, activities and honors, and personal statements.
Application deadline is March 31. Winners will be announced at the Filipino Chamber's Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year Awards on April 21 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Applications are available from high school counselors or can be downloaded from www.filipinochamber.org.
The foundation, a nonprofit organization and arm of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, has raised more than $144,500 for 84 high school seniors through its annual scholarship golf tournament, now in its 13th year.
MDA summer camp seeks volunteers
The Muscular Dystrophy Association needs volunteers to help run its summer camp for youth who suffer from neuromuscular disease June 8-15 at the YMCA Camp Erdman on the North Shore.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and be able to lift and care for children and young adults.
To obtain an application, call 593-4454 or toll-free, (800) 572-1717. Visit www.mda.org/clinics/camp or www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mdahawaii.
SHINING STARS
Hilo's Mamuad is keynote speaker at youth symposium
Nellie Mamuad, 18, of Hilo was the keynote speaker at the annual National Network for Youth Symposium in Washington, D.C., last month. Mamuad is studying adolescent therapy at Hawaii Community College.
Erin Masui, a staff member in U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka's office,* was selected to represent Hawaii during this year's National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Masui, a graduate of Punahou School and the University of Washington, first interned in Inouye's Washington office during the summer of 2004, and is now his legislative correspondent and staff assistant.
The Consular Corps of Hawaii inducted John Quinn, consul general of Australia, as its new dean; John Henry Felix, honorary consul of Portugal and vice consul of Spain, immediate past dean; Gaylord G. Tom, honorary consul of the Netherlands, vice dean; Nina H. Fasi, honorary consul of Norway, secretary; and Annie Kaneshiro, honorary consular agent of Tonga, treasurer.
The organization also honored Dr. Brenda Lei Foster, associate member of the Consular Corps, with its Distinguished Citizen Award; and Laurence Vogel, honorary consul of Denmark, with its Distinguished Service Medal.
The Nature Conservancy's Corporate Council for the Environment has received $5,000 donations from AES Hawaii, the Dowling Co./Dowling Community Improvement Foundation, Goodfellow Bros. Inc., Kuilima Resort Co. and Skyline Eco-Adventures, LLC. Formed in 1987, the council has grown into a coalition of more than 100 local businesses that have donated $3 million to protect the environment.
"Shining Stars" runs Monday through Thursday.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WINDWARD OAHU
Information sought on woman's death
Police are asking anyone to come forward who has information concerning the murder of a 56-year-old Caucasian woman whose partially clothed body was found at Kahana Bay on Sunday.
The woman rode a bicycle and was known to frequent the Kaaawa and Punaluu communities for the past 10 years, police said. She was reportedly homeless and often seen picking up cans and bottles.
She was 5 feet 5 and weighed about 100 pounds, police said.
She was last seen alive by a friend at 8 a.m. Sunday, and her body was found at 1:30 p.m. Two people walking near the Kahana Bay fishpond found her face-down on the beach below a small ledge.
Her bicycle was found parked nearby on Kamehameha Highway, police said.
She had been severely beaten, with facial and head injuries, and died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The Medical Examiner's Office has not positively identified the woman, but have a tentative ID. A brief in Wednesday's paper on A4 incorrectly reported her age as 34 because of erroneous information from a medical investigator.
HONOLULU
Woman arrested in identity theft case
Police arrested a 32-year-old woman who allegedly stole someone's identity and spent thousands of dollars using a fraudulent credit card.
Police said that on Dec. 14 the suspect had an ID card belonging to another woman and applied for a credit card under her name.
The suspect then went to a jewelry store and made $2,938.34 worth of purchases, police said. By Dec. 18 she had gone to a hardware store twice and spent $1,490.12 and $5,010, respectively, police said.
While following up on witness statements, police spotted the suspect on Pukuloa Street in Mapunapuna at 2:35 p.m. yesterday and arrested her for an outstanding traffic warrant.
She was later arrested for investigation of making a false statement to procure a credit card, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, identity theft, forgery, fraudulent use of a credit card and theft.
CENTRAL OAHU
Infant reported dead after nap with father
A 3-month old infant girl who was napping with her father died sometime before 1:25 p.m. yesterday.
Police said the Mililani man was taking a nap and awoke to find his daughter unresponsive.
He tried to resuscitate her, then took her to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said there were no signs of foul play.
WEST OAHU
2 arrested after report of armed robbery
Police arrested three people who allegedly robbed a 31-year-old woman at gunpoint in Waipahu.
Police said that the victim reported being robbed by a man and two women about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday while walking along Farrington Highway.
She said the man fired his handgun as he grabbed her belongings. Patrol officers searched the area and found two suspects, a 44-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman. Both were arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery, and the man was also arrested for investigation of firearm charges and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Police believe the third suspect is in her 30s.
CORRECTION
Friday, March 2, 2007
» Erin Masui interned in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in summer 2004. A "Shining Stars" item on Page A2 yesterday incorrectly said she interned with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
» The temporary number for the state Department of Transportation's pothole hot line is 587-2174. An brief on Page A3 yesterday had an incorrect number.
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