O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
CENTRAL
Greeneville leaving dry dock
The submarine USS Greeneville, which was involved in the deadly collision with a Japanese fishing vessel, was scheduled to leave dry dock today, the Navy said.
The Greeneville sustained about $2 million damage to its rubber skin on Feb. 9 when it collided with the Ehime Maru during an emergency surfacing drill nine miles off Diamond Head.
Twenty-six aboard the fishing training vessel were rescued, but nine students, teachers and crew members are missing and presumed dead.
The sub was placed in dry dock Feb. 20 to allow engineers to determine the effects of the impact.
Once out of dry dock, engineers, inspectors and mechanics will conduct a graduated process of ensuring crew and sub readiness to return to sea, the Navy said.
Sea trials are expected in about two weeks, it said.
LEEWARD
Highway safety to be discussed
State Department of Transportation Director Brian Minaai will attend a Farrington Highway traffic safety briefing at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Wai'anae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway.
Minaai will discuss ways to make the highway safer and to cut down on speeding. Last year, 12 people died in traffic-related accidents on Farrington Highway between Honokai Hale and Ka'ena Point. Minaai will bring a map showing where the traffic fatalities occurred.
For more information, call Sen. Colleen Hanabusa's office at 586-7793.
Helpers sought for cleanups
Nani 'O Wai'anae, a volunteer organization dedicated to picking up litter on O'ahu, is looking for site coordinators for the Great American Clean-Up Day event April 28.
Katy Kok, volunteer executive director of the group, the O'ahu affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., said 20 sites have been selected, and more could be added if enough volunteers come forward.
Kok said site coordinators can be either a person or a group willing to sign people up and hand out trash bags and work gloves. Supplies will be provided, she said.
Kok is hoping to gather 5,000 workers in a mass effort to clean public areas.
The cleanups will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at parks, beaches, schools, churches, roads and neighborhoods from Wai'anae to the North Shore and from Hawai'i Kai and Waikiki.
Kok said the cleanups will take place over a three-month period to allow groups to fit the work into their schedules, but April 28 is the biggest day.
Nani 'O Wai'anae last year received The Honolulu Advertiser's Outstanding Local Project Award as part of the ninth annual Make A Difference Day for its volunteer work.
For more information, call 696-1920.
WINDWARD
Director's star shining Bright
The House of Representatives will honor Kane'ohe theater director Ronald Bright at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the state Capitol for his longstanding dedication to the arts and the community.
For 44 years, Bright has committed himself to promoting theater and the performing arts and to improving educational theater in Hawai'i.
He has received many awards, including state Teacher of the Year, the President's Award of the National Educational Theatre Association, and the Alfred Preis Award.
"Ron Bright has served as a role model and mentor to many theater students and has singlehandedly promoted the performing arts in Hawai'i," said Rep. David Pendleton, R-50 (Kailua-Kane'ohe). "He has contributed greatly to the community and to students, and it has been through these lifelong efforts that the quality of life and theater in Hawai'i has been uplifted."
Lawmakers to hold forums
Windward state representatives will be the hosts of two forums in April to discuss legislative issues and community concerns.
The first forum will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Aikahi Elementary School cafeteria, 281 Ilihau St., Kailua.
Sens. Bob Hogue, R-24 th (Kane'ohe-Maunawili-Enchanted Lake), and Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua-Waimanalo), and Rep. Cynthia Thielen R-49th (Kane'ohe Bay Drive-Kailua), will be hosts at the meeting, which is open to the public.
The second session is set from 7 to 8 p.m. on April 17 at Kane'ohe Community & Senior Center, Arts & Craft Room, 45-613 Puohala Road, Kane'ohe.
Sen. Hogue, and Reps. David Pendleton, R-50th (Kailua-Kane'ohe), and Charles Djou, R-47th (Kahalu'u-Kane'ohe-He'eia-'ühuimanu), will be hosts at the Kane'ohe meeting.
Water topic of workshop
The Punalu'u Community Association, in cooperation with the Hawai'i La'ieikawai Association, is presenting a workshop to discuss water policy for O'ahu from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Punalu'u. The workshop is by invitation only.
EAST HONOLULU
State hospital inmate arrested
A man who escaped from the Hawai'i State Hospital last week was arrested yesterday, police said.
Leonard Moore, 35, was apprehended in a vacant house in East Honolulu, police said.
Moore escaped from the facility on Wednesday by throwing a chair through a glass window.
He was being examined at the hospital to see if he is fit to stand trial in an auto-theft case.
Niu Valley school seeks used Macs
Niu Valley Middle School is looking for donations of Macintosh computers in working condition and compatible printers.
The school needs about five computers in the yearbook class and more computers for classrooms. About 12 teachers have outdated computers — older than the PowerMac.
Contact Joyce Larson at 377-2448, or e-mail joyce_larson@notes.k12.hi.us
HONOLULU
Star-Bulletin launches Sunday edition
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin yesterday unveiled its new Sunday edition, its first in nearly four decades.
It was the Star-Bulletin's first Sunday edition since 1962 and comes two weeks after Canadian publisher David Black took over operations of the 119-year-old daily.
The paper published its first Sunday edition in 1959, but three years later began publishing a combined Sunday paper with The Honolulu Advertiser.
