Court dates might change due to closures

Persons scheduled to appear in most state District Courts on Oahu for traffic, criminal and civil cases might have new court dates because the courts will be closed on certain Fridays due to employee furloughs.

The courts will notify the parties or their attorneys of record if their cases have been rescheduled.

If the parties or lawyers do not receive notice two days before a court date previously scheduled on a day the court will be closed, they should contact the court. The telephone numbers are 538-5500 for traffic cases, 538-5100 for criminal cases and 538-5629 for civil cases.

The civil calendars for Kaneohe and Waianae district courts, the traffic and criminal calendars for Ewa District Court and all of the calendars for Wahiawa District Court are unaffected by the furlough schedule.

FAA to review aborted jet landing

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to interview the pilot of a single-engine plane that encroached onto a Honolulu Airport runway as a Hawaiian Airlines jet was about to land.

FAA spokesman Mike Fergus says an air traffic controller instructed the Hawaiian pilot on Thursday to abort the landing because the Cessna 172 was “;sticking its nose out on the runway.”;

Fergus says there was no immediate danger of a collision involving Hawaiian Flight 383 from Hilo. He says the flying record of the Cessna pilot will also be reviewed before any potential penalty is imposed, such as license revocation.

11 students charged in 3 school fights

Charges have been filed against 11 students in the wake of three fights that broke out in a single day at Keaau High School on the Big Island.

Police say 17 boys between the ages of 13 and 17 were initially arrested at the school Wednesday.

A large melee occurred during morning recess. Officers were called back to the campus later in the day because of two separate fights that erupted involving two students.

Police recorded two victims with injuries. A 31-year-old security guard complained of pain, and a 15-year-old boy suffered a bloody nose and swollen lip.

No classes were held at the school Thursday or Friday. Thursday was a professional development day, while Friday was a furlough day for teachers.

BBB warns of flu product scams

Hawaii's Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of Web sites and e-mails promoting swine flu prevention products.

Dwight Kealoha, chief executive officer of Hawaii's BBB, said, “;At best these products don't work. At worst they're dangerous. They waste people's money, but, more importantly, they might keep them from getting medically sound treatment.”;

The Food and Drug Administration has created a “;Fraudulent Products List”; on its Web site to keep track of the many purported flu prevention and flu remedy products available online: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/h1n1flu.

The BBB also offers tips for avoiding swine flu scams:
» Be wary of promotions using words such as “;scientific breakthrough,”; “;miracle cure,”; “;secret ingredient”; or “;ancient remedy.”;
» Avoid Web sites that do not provide the company's name, physical address, phone number or other contact information.
» Do not fall for personal testimonials or claims that a product is a quick, effective way to treat or cure an illness. Follow health advice only from a trusted source.

Molokai urged to cut water use by 25%

The Maui Department of Water Supply is urging all Central Molokai residents and businesses to limit water use to health and safety purposes only while the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands well pumps are out of service.

Residents and businesses in Kaunakakai, Kalae, Hoolehua, Kualapuu, Kipu and Kalamaula should reduce their water consumption by at least 25 percent by turning off irrigation systems and stopping other nonessential use to maintain an adequate supply.

Hawaiian Homes well pump No. 1 at the Kaulawai Well site stopped working on Saturday. The other pump at the site is still undergoing repair, which is estimated to take at least two weeks.

The Kualapuu Well is providing the Hawaiian Homes service areas with water in addition to its regular service area of Kaunakakai town.