In Hawai'i
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Kane'ohe escapee still at large
A patient who escaped from Hawai'i State Hospital early Saturday morning remained at large yesterday, police said.
Officials at the Kane'ohe facility said Leonard Moore, 35, fled after using a television set to break a window. He was last seen running toward Kahekili Highway.
It was his second escape in two weeks. He fled on March 28 after throwing a table through a window.
Moore fled just hours after another patient was captured and returned to the facility.
James Huffman, 38, escaped early Friday and was arrested without incident. He was returned to the hospital later that day after being found in the Kahalu'u area.
Police said Huffman had been in an agitated state when he ran away from the hospital while on a supervised walk around the grounds.
Man charged in Punalu'u robbery
A man charged with tying up and robbing a Punalu'u couple in their home was charged yesterday with burglary, kidnapping and car theft.
Bail for Warren Elicker, 23, was set at $100,000. Elicker is expected in District Court this morning.
A juvenile suspected of participating in the home invasion has been identified but not yet arrested, police said.
Ten Kahalu'u canoe paddlers and two police officers in a double-hulled canoe captured Elicker, who had jumped into the ocean Thursday night. Officers grabbed the suspect about an eighth of a mile offshore.
Police said the home-invasion robbery happened at about 3 p.m. Thursday when a 62-year-old resident of the home on Kamehameha Highway allowed a man to use his phone. The man's accomplice snuck into the house, and they tied up the homeowner.
A short time later, the resident's 60-year-old wife arrived. She was also bound.
The robbers stole several items, then each took one of the couple's cars. A short time later, one of the men crashed.
The driver ran and, as police cornered him, he jumped into the ocean.
'Ewa Beach library changes schedule
There will be a temporary change of evening hours for the 'Ewa Beach public and school library on Tuesdays. The library's Tuesday hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Usually, the library is open on Tuesdays until 8 p.m. During this time, the James Campbell High School complex will undergo technical upgrades.
'Iolani dancers win national awards
The 'Iolani Power Dance Team captured 30 awards, including six first-place trophies, at the recent 2001 MA Dance National Championships at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Forty-eight of the team's 58 members competed in the March 30-31 event that featured 150 squads.
'Iolani placed first in the military and elite dance team competition in the senior division (grades 10-12); in dance, pom and military in the junior division (grades 7-9), and dance in the lower school division (grades kindergarten to 6). The team was also cited for outstanding choreography, including a perfect score of 60 for the senior elite dance routine.
Cyrenne Okimura is the adviser of the 'Iolani Power Dance Team. The directors are Keri Castillo and Jill Tanioka.
UH Online a link to Neighbor Isles
KAHULUI, Maui — Beginning with the upcoming summer session, the University of Hawai'i Online is offering Internet programs designed to extend educational opportunities to the Neighbor Islands.
UH Online, a partnership financed by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, will use online courses provided by UH campuses in Manoa, Hilo and West O'ahu.
For information on admission, registration, technological requirements and course outlines, visit the UH Online Web site.
Contract issued for Kaua'i wells
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Department of Water has issued contracts for the development of two wells in the Puhi area, to serve the Puhi and Lihu'e water systems.
The Lihu'e area is projected to be short of water for future growth, requiring the new development, according to the department.
Contractor R. Electric won the $1 million contract for the two wells. The county's portion of the cost is about $400,000, with the state picking up the remainder.
The wells are already drilled. The contract includes piping, installing pumps, electrical power and controls.
The work has begun and is expected to be completed in about a year.
