Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Work will close Ala Moana Park

The city will close Ala Moana Regional Park from 10 p.m. April 24 to 3 p.m. April 26 for heavy maintenance.

The mayor said the park "never looked better thanks to the major cleanup" last April.

That was when the park was shut down for three days, and scores of homeless living there were escorted out of the park by police.

"Our goal is to keep the shine on the crown jewel of our public park system," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a press release.

The park is closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

After the Ala Moana maintenance is completed, the city will turn its attention to Thomas Square Park.

Health crisis volunteers sought

The state Health Department is recruiting volunteers to join the Hawaii Medical Reserve Corps to assist in a public health emergency, such as a pandemic.

"Retired doctors, nurses and medical technicians are needed to help meet increased demands for medical care," Dr. Chiyome Fukino, department director, said in a news release.

Business people and community activists also have needed skills, she said. "Everyone can play a part through the Hawaii Medical Reserve Corps in helping our community remain safe and healthy."

The Health Department manages the Medical Reserve Corps as part of a national effort to help local communities prepare for a medical emergency.

Volunteers will be trained and organized as part of a team in every county, the DOH said. Four trainings a year, one per quarter, are held each year. Interested people are asked to pre-register by calling 587-6583.

Contest names song winners

Results from the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest on Friday:

» Boys' competition (George Alanson Andrus Cup): Seniors

» Girls' competition (New England Mothers' Cup): Sophomores

» Combined (Charles E. King Cup): Senior Class

» Best Musical Performance (Helen Desha Beamer Award): Senior Class

» 'Olelo Makuahine Award (Best use of Hawaiian language) (Richard Lyman Jr. Trophy): Tie between Senior Class and Sophomore Women

» Outstanding Student Director (Louise Aoe McGregor Award): Tie: Zachary Lum (Freshmen) and Ka'ena Galdeira (Senior Class)

Police commissioners sworn in

Keith Amemiya and Christine Camp Friedman were sworn in Friday as the newest members of the Honolulu Police Commission.

Amemiya is currently executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and will replace Jimmy Borges, whose term was to expire Dec. 31.

Friedman is a real estate developer and adviser with Avalon Develop Co. and replaces Paul Leong. Friedman is to serve until 2011.

SHINING STARS

Foundation honors Kilohana teacher

Kilohana Elementary School and fourth-grade teacher Shona Pineda in Kaunakakai, Molokai, recently received top prizes from the Moanalua Gardens Foundation.

The foundation held a "Hawaii Needs Care Contest" in the schools under a Hawaii Tourism Authority grant to encourage student projects that contribute to healthy, sustainable island communities.

The entire student body of 98 K-6 students at Kilohana Elementary School participated in their winning project, Mauka to Makai, the foundation reported. They spent a year investigating Molokai's erosion problem.

Students in each grade level studied one aspect of the problem. The project ended with a school-sponsored Science Night for the entire community. Each class gave a presentation on its work.

The project was so successful that the faculty is continuing Mauka to Makai for another year, according to the foundation. The school received a $500 cash award and a commemorative koa plaque and was featured on the foundation's Web site.

Pineda was the first recipient of the Po'okela Award from the foundation. The new award was created to honor an educator for excellence in teaching about the native culture and island environment.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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Police increase DUI checkpoints

Police have been conducting random checkpoints throughout the Kuhio Day weekend and expect to continue to do so through tomorrow.

The checkpoints are being set up at unannounced times and locations to deter alcohol- or drug-impaired driving.

HONOLULU

Flaming mattress leads to arrest

Police arrested a 20-year-old man over the weekend for allegedly setting fire to a mattress inside a Kaimuki home.

The suspect's stepmother and stepbrother, who were home when the fire started at about 3 p.m. Saturday, were not injured, police said.

The suspect's father put out the fire, preventing major damage, according to police.

The case is being investigated as first-degree arson.

Moanalua Valley hikers airlifted

Firefighters airlifted three hikers from Moanalua Valley yesterday morning after one of them became tired.

The hikers, two men and two women who had spent the night camping, called for help at about 9:15 a.m., said Capt. Frank Johnson, of the Honolulu Fire Department.

He said three of the hikers, including one man who was fatigued, were airlifted out of the area at about 11:15 a.m. and declined medical treatment. The other man hiked down the trail, Johnson said.

LEEWARD OAHU

Men sought after fatal shooting

Police recovered a rifle and found bullet casings in the Waianae home where a deadly gunbattle happened Saturday.

Honolulu Police Lt. Bill Kato of the homicide detail said police are still trying to determine who owned the riffle. Officers also were still looking for three or four men who were seen leaving the home soon after shots were fired.

He said the men could be suspects or witnesses to the shooting.

Kato declined to identify a 28-year-old man who died in the shooting at 85-126 Maiuu Road. A 55-year-old man who lives at the home remains in police custody, but he has not been charged, police said.

Honolulu police are investigating whether a robbery attempt led to a gunbattle. Neighbors say they heard at least five shots after seeing several men with T-shirts pulled up to hide their faces enter the home.

Neighbors have said the house is known for holding cockfights and was robbed a few months ago.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Crews rescue 4 in waters off Maui

Four people riding in a 19-foot vessel that overturned yesterday about six miles south of Kihei, Maui, were picked up by an Ocean Safety crew, a Coast Guard spokesman said.

The Coast Guard responded to the call at about 12:30 p.m. with a 47-foot boat and a Dolphin rescue helicopter but turned back after the four people were safely picked up, the spokesman said.

The vessel was towed back to a small boat harbor, overturned and placed back on a trailer, the spokesman said. There were no signs of pollution.