4 artillery shells removed from coral

Ordnance disposal experts and a crew of wildlife and mammal experts removed four unexploded 37 mm artillery shells yesterday from a rocky coral area off Manana (Rabbit) Island.

The ordnance disposal team from the Army's 8th Theater Support Command chiseled the shells out of the coral and brought them to Schofield Barracks yesterday morning for detonation, said Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward.

If the shells had been live and experts were not able to remove them, the shells would have been detonated on site, Ward said.

A marine safety area was established around the island to keep boaters and kayakers away during the removal.

Representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Division of Forestry and Wildlife made sure no harm was done to any wildlife.

No monk seals were present yesterday, and birds do not nest near the site at this time of year, the DLNR said.

The intact shells were found Dec. 17 in tidal pools on the southern shore by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was investigating the formerly used defense site.

Dams checked ahead of heavy rain

Crews from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources are checking streams and dams in preparation for heavy rain predicted for this weekend, the department said in a news release.

Maintenance crews checked state-owned streams on Oahu to make sure they are clear of debris, and completed repairs to Hauula Ditch, which was damaged Dec. 11 by heavy rain.

The agency's dam safety unit is also monitoring dams and reservoirs on Oahu and Kauai.

The National Weather Service is predicting heavy rain and possible thundershowers beginning tonight into tomorrow for the state.

Roadwork on Kapiolani to resume

Motorists are advised that roadwork on Kapiolani Boulevard will resume tomorrow and to take alternate routes.

Motorists can expect temporary lane closures, should observe construction traffic signs and drive with caution.

Crews will work at night from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and days from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Crews are installing underground utilities along Kalakaua Avenue between Kapiolani and the Ala Wai Bridge, permanent paving striping and markers on Kapiolani between Ward and Kalakaua avenues, and traffic loop detectors at various intersections along Kapiolani.

The city and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply are also installing new water mains, rehabilitating the sewer system and installing curb ramps at key intersections for wheelchair accessibility.

The entire project, including repaving of Kapiolani between Ward and Kalakaua, should be completed by April.

For more information, call 583-1157 or visit http://www.kapiolaniwatersewer.org.

For emergencies, call 587-8032 (24-hour hot line).

Meth distributor gets 2-year term

Distributing $20 worth of methamphetamine will cost a Honolulu man two years and three months in prison.

Jerry Ramento was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge David Ezra.

U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo said 51-year-old Ramento distributed the drug within 1,000 feet of Mokauea Mini Park, which is within the Chinatown/Kalihi Weed and Seed site.

Ramento and 14 other people were named in May in separate indictments stemming from an undercover operation by the Honolulu Police Department's Crime Reduction Unit.

Shining Stars

Bella Pietra has hired Christopher Owens as sales manager. He has 15 years of sales experience and 10 years of management experience including sales manager at Homecomings Financial, area manager at Greenpoint Mortgage and account executive for Headlands.

The Limtiaco Co. has hired Anne Marie Smoke as a senior consultant for client services. She has more than 20 years' experience in marketing, promotion and public relations with emphasis in outreach programming and strategic communications plan development.

First Hawaiian Bank has announced the following executives to have graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School: Edwin K. Char, Deposit Products Department, vice president and manager; Jerome K. Fukuhara, Retail Information and Planning Department, vice president and manager; Mitchell M. Kaaialii, Main Banking Center, assistant vice president and business banking officer; Keith H. Nagata, Business Services Division, senior vice president and division manager; Edward G. Untalan, Maite Branch on Guam, vice president and banking center manager; and Jeffrey S. Ventura, Waipahu Branch, vice president and area manager.