O'ahu briefs
EAST HONOLULU
Bids sought for fence project
The Board of Water Supply will be seeking bids to reinstall a fence around the Niu Valley Reservoir off Mahimahi Street.
The fence would keep rocks out of neighboring residents' yards. The work is estimated to cost about $150,000 and take about three months to complete. The contract should be awarded in June or July.
LEEWARD
Skulls found in Wai'anae
Human bones were discovered at a construction site on Bayview Street near Farrington Highway in Wai'anae at about 5:17 p.m. Monday, according to police.
Contractor CJ Peterson Services Inc. was digging a trench for a new Jack in the Box restaurant when two skulls and other bones were found, police said.
Construction has been halted until state officials and police can determine the age of the bones and if any foul play was involved.
WINDWARD
Kailua sinkhole being filled
Traffic will be temporarily rerouted around the intersection of Kalaheo Avenue and Kuulei Road today in Kailua while the city repaves the site where a 3-foot-wide sinkhole appeared yesterday morning.
Traffic to the area was closed for several hours for repairs. Construction crews filled the cavity with crushed rock, and a steel plate was to be placed over the filled hole so the road could be opened.
Police said the hole, in the middle of the road, was reported about 9:30 a.m. It was about a yard in diameter, but the cavity below could hold a small car, police said.
The city Department of Design and Construction said the collapse occurred after a soil sample boring was done for a major sewer project on Kalaheo.
Club to mark 75 years
Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai will celebrate its 75th anniversary May 5, marking its humble beginnings as a marsh, scrub land and watermelon farms.
The club, founded in 1926, had a shaky financial start brought on by the Depression, said Lois Suzuki, club member. Originally the club, with only nine holes, was meant to serve a new Lanikai community, envisioned to be a playground for the wealthy. But the club fell by the wayside, Suzuki said.
At one time, members went out to weed the course, she said.
As part of the anniversary, a commemorative book has been produced, filled with the club's history and old photographs. The book, two years in the making, will be given to members during the celebration.
As part of the anniversary, the club also will host the Governor's Cup Challenge in honor of the late Gov. John Burns, who was a former member and president of Mid-Pacific from 1954 to 1956.
HONOLULU
'Iolani wins national title
An 'Iolani School team made up of Michael Watanabe, Jennifer Chang and Pamela Carlton won a national language achievement championship Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The Japan-America Bowl is an internationally recognized high school language competition where students are tested on grammar, written characters, listening comprehension, proverbs, onomatopoeia and Japanese culture.
'Iolani, Punahou and McKinley, the top three finishers in last November's Hawai'i State Japan-America Bowl competition, competed in Washington with 57 other high schools from 22 states. Over 400 students competed in the event.
The 'Iolani team was coached by Elsie Yoshimura. Watanabe and Chang are seniors while Carlton is a junior. It is the first Japan-America Bowl national title for a Hawai'i-based school.
Senate panel endorses Alm
The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday unanimously voted to endorse the appointment of U.S. Attorney Steven Alm to the state Circuit Court.
The committee received overwhelming testimony in support of Alm, who has served as U.S. attorney since 1994. Alm fills the vacancy left by former Circuit Court Judge Kevin Chang, who was appointed a federal magistrate.
Before being appointed as U.S. attorney, Alm served nine years as a Honolulu deputy prosecutor. He also taught at the University of Hawai'i Richardson School of Law.
Alm's appointment will be sent to the Senate floor for a vote.
Alm, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, has said the timing of the appointment was "wonderful" because the administration under President George W. Bush has asked U.S. attorneys across the nation to resign.
