Central O'ahu
Poland honors Mililani man
The Republic of Poland awarded Mililani resident Paul R. Stankeiwicz with its highest national decoration, the Order of Merit, during a ceremony this month at the Honorary Polish Consul for Honolulu.
Stankeiwicz, a retired Air Force colonel, helped form the Polish Cultural Society of Hawai‘i which brings folk dancers, singers, pianists and artists from the Mainland and Poland to perform in the Islands.
North Shore
Board to hear Ho‘ala update
Ho‘ala School will present updated plans for its new campus before the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Fred Wright Park recreation center.
The school is housed at the former YMCA site on Kilani Avenue and at the Wahiawa Hongwanji on California Avenue. It will build facilities on a former residential property on Lehua Street, which will require removing several structures.
The school has been working to reduce its impact on the neighborhood.
Windward
Feb. 3 tour set at Kawai Nui
The biological evolution of native plants that once existed in the Kailua Ahupua‘a will be discussed during a tour of Kawai Nui Marsh beginning at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 3 at the Windward YMCA.
Winona Char, a botanist who recently surveyed the plants in the marsh, will identify the plants in the marsh at Ulupo Heiau, Na Pohaku O Hauwahine and Kaha Park.
She will discuss human impacts on the vegetation and community efforts to restore a dryland forest and wetland ecosystem.
Sponsored by the Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation and ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, the tour is limited to 15 people. A $5 donation is requested for non-members, $3 for members. To register, contact Chuck Burrows at 595-3922 or cburrow@aloha.net.
Leeward O'ahu
Cool Palaka night planned
‘Ukulele strumming, Hawaiian dancing and a beef stew dinner are on the program for Cool Palaka Nights from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at Enchanted Lake Elementary School.
Entertainment will feature Uncle Mel and the Keiki Palaka Band, Kumu Hula Charlani Kalama and dancers of Halau Ha‘a Hula o Kekauilani Na Pua Hala o Hawai‘i.
Tickets are $4 and must be purchased by Feb. 2 from Aunty Lynn, 266-7802; Uncle Mel, 266-7884; or Aunty Miko, 266-7800.
Coast Guard rescues sailor
A Coast Guard air rescue crew and Air Force medical personnel yesterday rescued a sailor from Chile who appeared to have suffered a stroke.
The merchant vessel Andino, which was making its way across the Pacific Ocean north of Midway, notified the Coast Guard at about 3:30 a.m. that a 49-year-old man was displaying symptoms of a stroke. The ship was directed to divert to Midway, said Lt. Greg Fondran, Coast Guard public affairs officer.
The Coast Guard crew flew a C-130 aircraft from their launching area at Kalaeloa, with Air Force personnel from the 374th Aeromedevac Squadron aboard, and flew to Midway to pick up the ailing sailor.
The rescuers flew the man to O‘ahu so he could be taken to the Queen’s Medical Center by ambulance. Hospital personnel said last night that he was in fair condition.
East Honolulu
Walkers invited to Kaimuki
Kaimuki wants to be more pedestrian friendly, and the city is willing to help.
Plans are in the works to use traffic-calming devices and urban designs to encourage people to walk the area along Wai‘alae Avenue between Wilhelmina Rise and 10th Avenue.
Other areas targeted are between Koko Head, Harding and 11th avenues.
Planners envision a more walker-friendly community through the use of curb extensions, street furniture and reducing the amount of pavement that must be crossed at traffic lights.
While two lanes of traffic will be maintained, extending curbs will eliminate a parking lane and the use of it during peak traffic times. One eastbound lane also will be eliminated between 10th and 11th avenues.
Anyone interested in commenting on the project should contact the Office of Environmental Quality Control at 235 S. Beretania St., Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813 or call 586-4185.
