Newswatch
POSTED: Thursday, September 25, 2008
2 indicted in toxic-waste storage
A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging two men with the illegal storage and transport of hazardous waste that wound up in an illegal dump in Waianae.
The indictment charges Jerome Anches, president of Martin Warehousing and Distribution, with illegal storage of hazardous waste; and Stephen Swift, the head of RRL Inc., an excavation and demolition contractor, with illegal transport and storage of hazardous waste and mail fraud.
Anches kept a Matson container full of hazardous waste from an accidental spill of tetrachloroethylene on his company's former property on Sand Island from August 2001 to February 2005 without a permit, according to the indictment. State and federal laws allow whoever creates the hazardous waste to store it up to 90 days without a permit.
The container held 55-gallon drums of contaminated water, dirt and mud, and other containers of contaminated asphalt and dirt.
The indictment says Swift transported the container from Sand Island to his company's Kalihi Kai corporate office in February 2005, left the container on a public street for up to 10 days, then transported it to 85-1535 Haleahi Road in Waianae.
And when the state Department of Health asked Swift whether he dumped the Matson container with hazardous waste at the Haleahi Road property, he said in a reply letter that damaged freight, not hazardous waste, was in the container, according to the indictment.
The container and the hazardous waste stayed at the illegal dump until U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials cleaned it up four months ago.
Potential cyclone eyed in Pacific
Forecasters are monitoring a weather disturbance that was about 675 miles south of Honolulu at 4 a.m. today.
The unsettled weather was moving west at 15 mph. On the Central Pacific Hurricane Center Web site, forecasters said the disturbance was not organized, but there was potential for tropical cyclone development within 48 hours. Officials at the National Weather Service said it doesn't appear that the disturbance will move toward the islands.
National parks offer free entry
WAILUKU » Haleakala National Park on Maui and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island will celebrate National Public Lands Day by allowing free entry on Saturday and Sunday.
The parks usually charge $10 per vehicle.
As part of the observance, Haleakala will work with the Pacific Whale Foundation and Friends of Haleakala to celebrate 75 years of volunteerism that began with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Volunteers will meet at the Haleakala 9,700-foot summit parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to help to pull weeds and pick up litter. People are required to wear warm clothes, long pants and closed boots.
Another group, assigned to eradicate weeds, will join Friends of Haleakala on a two-night wilderness experience at Kapalaoa Cabin.
Volunteers should call (808) 248-7660 to reserve a space for that excursion.
Various groups of volunteers will be working at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
To register for Hawaii Volcanoes volunteer activities, call 985-6097 or 985-6011.
Jellyfish found along Kauai coast
About 40 to 50 box jellyfish were found yesterday fronting the Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club on Kauai, county officials said.
Lifeguards posted signs warning beach-goers, and no one was treated for stings, officials added. No other areas reported jellyfish.
Nanaikapono gets federal grant
Nanaikapono Elementary School is receiving $413,873 in a federal education grant.
The money will fund professional development of teachers through workshops and advancement courses at the University of Hawaii, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono announced.
The grant also will support three staff positions that provide classroom and curriculum development help for pre-K through sixth grade at the school in Nanakuli.
The funding comes from the Education of Native Hawaiians Program in the U.S. Department of Education.
Waikiki fundraising fraud warned
The Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii is warning residents of fraudulent fundraising activities in Waikiki.
The club has received reports of an unauthorized group of adults and children selling or giving away lei, and asking for donations on behalf of and for the benefit of the club.
The club said the group is not affiliated with it, and that there are no Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii fundraising activities taking place in Waikiki now.
For more information on legitimate club activities, call 949-4203 or visit www.bgch.com.
Families invited to health festival
Island families are invited to participate in the Hawaii Medical Service Association's Island Scene Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Kakaako Gateway Park on Ala Moana.
The free festival will feature healthy cooking demonstrations, a farmers market, food booths, health information, entertainment, a rock-climbing wall, keiki games and other activities, an obstacle course, a petting zoo, the TumbleBus, a watermelon-eating contest by Sugarland Farms and prize giveaways.
Part of the proceeds from the festival, representing HMSA's magazine “;Island Scene,”; will be given to Lanakila Pacific's Meals on Wheels program.
Giving cooking demonstrations will be chefs Frank Chun and Alan Cabebe from Xpress Chefs, Michelle Yamaguchi from Umeke Market Natural Foods & Deli, Jiva Segaran from India Cafe and Sharon Kobayashi of Kapiolani Community College.
The festival is supported by the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the state Department of Agriculture.
Cameras monitor Windward traffic
Work crews began to install cameras this week to monitor traffic conditions on two heavily traveled Windward Oahu routes.
The installation project along Kahekili Highway in Kaneohe and Kamehameha Highway from Castle Junction to Halaulani Street near King Intermediate School will continue through May 2009.
Traffic will be disrupted during the installation of 19 cameras, fiber optic cable and communication equipment.
The $1.7 million project is being done by Paul's Electrical Service, according to an announcement.
When completed, video images will be transmitted to the city Traffic Management Center, where observers watch for traffic problems and can adjust signal timing.
The city operates 135 traffic cameras, primarily in the urban corridor from Hawaii Kai to Kunia.
Future camera installation is planned for Kailua, Kapolei, Waipio and Waipahu.
Police / Fire
WEST OAHU
Crews douse blaze near Kahe plant
A truck fire ignited a brush fire yesterday morning near the Kahe Power Plant.
The vehicle fire had spread to the dry brush in the area, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.
The Fire Department responded to the 10:48 a.m. alarm with one company, and firefighters brought the fire under control in 15 minutes, Seelig said.
Police shut down one westbound lane of Farrington Highway while firefighters contained the blaze.
WINDWARD OAHU
Lost hiker rescued by fire helicopter
A fire helicopter retrieved a visiting Texas man who got lost yesterday while hiking in the Koolau Mountains.
Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the man, who was in his 20s, began hiking on a trail unfamiliar to him near Tripler Army Medical Center.
The man got disoriented and didn't know how to get back to the original trail, Seelig said. He spotted the Haiku Stairs, thought he could get to it and instead got lost, Seelig said. The man called for help at 2:05 p.m.
Fire personnel retrieved him from the Koolaus above Kaneohe and airlifted him to Windward District Park by 3:15 p.m., Seelig said.
The Fire Department reminds hikers to be prepared, be familiar with the area and have a signaling device like a mirror, whistle or flashlight.
NORTH SHORE
Woman arrested in knife attack
Police arrested a 31-year-old woman in Haleiwa who allegedly attacked her boyfriend with a knife yesterday morning.
About 2:30 yesterday morning, the victim, a 31-year-old man, was sleeping in his Haleiwa home when he was awakened by his girlfriend, standing near the bed and holding a knife, police said.
The suspect accused her boyfriend of cheating on her and then attacked him with a knife, police said.
The man suffered a laceration to his right thumb and right forearm. Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of second-degree assault.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Police try to ID body found in Hilo
HILO » Big Island police are asking for the public's help in identifying a man whose body was found floating in Hilo Harbor next to a cruise ship Tuesday.
The body was discovered by a crew member aboard the Pride of America.
The body was dressed in faded denim trousers and a reddish mesh football jersey with the name “;DOUGLAS”; printed on the back, police said. The man may have been Caucasian and was about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build, police said. The case is classified as an unattended death.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 961-2382 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
Suspect sought in Hilo knife threat
Big Island police are looking for a man in his late teens or early 20s who threatened at knifepoint a 60-year-old Mountain View man two weeks ago in Hilo.
According to police, at about 11 a.m. Sept. 11, the suspect used a knife to threaten the 60-year-old victim at the intersection of Kinoole Street and Mohouili Street.
The suspect punctured a tire on the victim's truck, threatened him with the knife and fled on a blue-gray mo-ped heading south on Kinoole Street.
The suspect was riding with a female passenger, who is also believed to be in her late teens or early 20s.
The male is described as about 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 180 pounds, with dark eyes, a goatee and long, dark, curly hair in a ponytail. He was last seen wearing pants, a white T-shirt and sandals.
The woman wore a helmet with a visor that hid her face. She was wearing brown shorts, white shoes and had a large, black backpack.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Police Department's nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Big Isle residents warned of scam
Big Island police are warning the public about a possible scam in which a person responding to an online classified ad offered to pay the seller more than the asking price.
A person posing as a potential buyer called a Hilo couple selling puppies through an online classified service.
The caller offered to mail a check for an amount much more than the selling price of the puppy, police said.
The caller then asked the sellers to cash the check, deduct the sale price and shipping cost, and keep an extra $100 for themselves, and send him the balance, police said.
The “;buyer”; also solicited personal information from the couple and called them several times using a telephone relay service for the hearing-impaired.
Police caution the public not to respond to suspicious e-mails or phone calls, especially those requesting personal information. Police advise it is likely a scam when someone asks a seller to cash a check for more than the asking price of an item and to send back the remaining funds.
HONOLULU
Suspect arrested in Kalihi shooting
Police arrested a 24-year-old convicted drug felon on Tuesday in Kalihi for allegedly shooting at another man in July.
On July 12, the suspect and another man were partying in the Kalihi area when the two got into an argument.
Police said the suspect shot at the other man but missed, then fled.
About 8 p.m. Tuesday, police were investigating an auto theft case at a Wong Lane home in Kalihi when the suspect was located. He was booked on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, third-degree promoting dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Suspected thief arrested in Kalihi
Police arrested Tuesday in Kalihi a suspected auto thief after he reversed a stolen car into a police vehicle.
Police got a call about 7:55 p.m. Tuesday that several people were working on a stolen white sport utility vehicle at a home on Wong Lane in Kalihi.
A man was sitting inside the vehicle with the engine running when an officer arrived, police said. The suspect, a 29-year-old man, then reversed the vehicle into the officer's vehicle, police said.
Police said the suspect tried to run away, but was caught shortly afterward. He was arrested on suspicion of auto theft.
Cashier foils money-order fraud
Police arrested a 35-year-old McCully man on Monday who allegedly tried to cash a forged money order at Walmart.
Police said the man went into Walmart at 700 Keeaumoku St. at 3:05 a.m. Monday and tried to cash a money order for $900.
An alert cashier noticed that the numbers on the money order had been altered and notified a store supervisor. Police were called and arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree forgery.
