Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff

Police seek help finding Kona man

Jeffrey Allen Henderson of South Kona has been missing since Aug. 13.

Lt. Henry Hickman said there may be "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the disappearance of Jeffrey Allen Henderson, 48. Hickman would not elaborate.

Henderson is described as 6 feet tall, 180 pounds.

He has blue eyes, brown hair and many tattoos.

Anyone with information on the missing man should call Detective Wayne Young at (808) 326-4275 or Kona Hawai'i Crime Stoppers at (808) 329-8181.

Victim identified in Maui shooting

WAILUKU, Maui — A 39-year-old man remained in police custody for a second day yesterday while Maui Police Department detectives continued their investigation into the shooting death of a Pukalani woman.

The victim was identified as Natalie Sagawinit, 44, who was reported missing by family members when she didn't return home from work Monday.

Sagawinit was a produce sorter at Valley Isle Produce in Kahului.

Her body was found Tuesday evening in a Pulehu sugar cane field. Acting Lt. Brian Kaya of the Criminal Investigation Division would not say how many times the woman had been shot. A weapon has not been recovered, he said.

The man in custody is an acquaintance of the victim. Police had until early this morning to either charge him or release him.

Astronomy center selects director

HILO, Hawai'i — Canadian George Jacob has been named project director of the $20 million Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center to be built on a 10-acre site in the University of Hawai'i-Hilo's Technology Park.

Jacob was vice president of exhibits and design at the Oregon Museum of Science and Technology before taking the UHH job, Chancellor Rose Tseng announced.

Jacobs, who was educated in Toronto, holds professional certificates from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Canadian Museums Association. He has spent 15 years in museum planning and design work.

The Hilo center is a joint project by NASA and Bishop Museum.

Big Island eases water-use rules

HILO, Hawai'i — Recent rains have allowed Big Island officials to relax water use restrictions for certain parts of the island.

Restrictions in Niuli'i, Makapala and North and South Kona have been eased from a 25 percent reduction in water use to a 10 percent reduction the Hawai'i County Department of Water Supply said. For more information on water restrictions, call Ikeda at (808) 961-8790.

Aloha Festivals rite at Volcano

VOLCANO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park will play host to tomorrow's investiture of the Big Island's Aloha Festivals royal court.

The ceremony will take place at noon at the Halema'uma'u fire pit, where the three Kanaka'ole sisters — Pualani, Nalani and Ulu — will chant and dance in an offering to the fire goddess Pele. The $10 park entry fee will be waived.