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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Empty sailboat spurs sea search
The Coast Guard searched through the night for a 56-year-old Waipahu man after finding his sailing vessel adrift off the Waianae Coast.
The Coast Guard spotted the derelict 25-foot sailboat, H2O IQ, 30 miles west of Waianae at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday.
The Coast Guard conducted aerial and sea searches for the missing man, identified as Charles D. Wilson. The boat's mast was broken, and a Coast Guard rescue swimmer lowered onto the boat found no one aboard.
The boat's engine was not working, and no fuel was on board, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said.
The rescue swimmer found a pack of flares with one flare missing, a Coast Guard spokesman said. Also on board were six life vests. The rescue swimmer also found Wilson's wallet, cell phone, watch and driver's license. The Coast Guard cutter Kiska towed the boat to port.
Wilson had not been reported missing, and attempts to find his family were unsuccessful, a Coast Guard spokesman said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Coast Guard Sector Honolulu at 842-2600.
UH will host science convention
Nearly $430,000 has been awarded to the University of Hawaii to host a four-day national convention to promote scientific competition in Hawaii, 26 other states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has announced.
Hawaii's advances in scientific research will be showcased at the 20th annual National Science Foundation EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) National Conference Nov. 5 in Waikoloa on the Big Island.
"Like many other smaller states and territories, Hawaii for many years was at a competitive disadvantage in its efforts to secure NSF grants," Inouye said. "But through the EPSCoR program, Hawaii has become competitive, particularly in the field of evolutionary ecology and genetics, by focusing on the unique ecosystems that make Hawaii a natural laboratory."
Satellite sites get no-wire Web
Oahu's 10 satellite city hall locations will be equipped with free wireless Internet service beginning next month, the Hannemann administration announced yesterday.
Skyware Broadband Inc. has agreed to supply and install the service for five years at a cost of $8,400 a year.
The city recently announced free wireless Internet connections on its commuter ferry system, TheBoat, in city parks and throughout Chinatown.
"When combined with our provision of WiFi service on TheBoat, city parks, Blaisdell Center and Chinatown, this latest development should be welcome news to techies, business people and anyone who needs ready access to the Internet," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said.
The satellite city halls are at Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, Windward Mall, Fort Street, Hawaii Kai Corporate Plaza, Keolu Shopping Center, Kapolei Hale, Kapalama City Square and in Wahiawa and Waianae.
Salvation Army has holiday gifts
Needy families can apply with the Salvation Army to receive holiday gifts for children younger than 12.
The nonprofit group will accept applications from Oct. 29 through Nov. 9 at the Kauluwela Mission Corps, Kaneohe Corps and Leeward Corps. Applicants must have photo identification for themselves and their children.
To qualify, a family of four must have an annual income at or below $23,750. Eligible families also will receive food for a holiday meal.
Airport in line for electric upgrade
The state will spend about $5 million to build a second electrical vault at Honolulu Airport.
The rest of the money for the nearly $14 million project is coming from the federal government.
Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday the second vault -- an enclosure for live parts and conductors -- will ensure 100 percent emergency backup power for airport operations. If the existing vault were to fail, the entire airport would be without electrical power, which would close all four of its runways.
A second vault means there would be enough power for the airport should one fail. Construction of the second vault is set to begin in January. The project is to be completed in January 2009.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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LEEWARD OAHU
Domestic dispute gets man arrested
Police arrested a 36-year-old man early yesterday for allegedly abusing a woman he lives with and preventing her from calling for help.
Police said that at about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, the man and a 28-year-old woman were arguing in their Panana Street home in Kapolei. Police said the woman tried to call 911, but the suspect unplugged the phone. When the woman tried her cell phone, the suspect allegedly broke it.
Police said the victim then went into the bedroom to call for help, but the suspect grabbed her by her collar and dragged her off the bed, pulled the phone line, then allegedly choked her.
Police arrived, and the suspect was arrested on suspicion of felony abuse, fourth-degree criminal property damage and interference with a 911 call.
Burglary suspects caught in house
Police arrested two 22-year-old Ewa Beach men yesterday who were caught inside a Pacific Palisades home in Pearl City.
A witness, who was not a neighbor, called police reporting a possible burglary in progress at 7:40 a.m. at a Komo Mai Drive home. When police officers arrived, they found two men inside the house, which had been ransacked, police said.
The men were wearing gloves, police said. The men apparently entered through the windows by removing the louvers, police said.
Officers arrested the men on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
WINDWARD OAHU
Teen is charged with sexual assault
Police have charged a 17-year-old boy with first-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.
Police said the girl reported to police on Sept. 25 that a friend had sexually assaulted her in Kailua on Sept. 23 between 2 and 2:30 a.m.
The boy turned himself in to police yesterday and was charged.