O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

CENTRAL

Charges filed in attack

Robbery, assault and auto-theft charges were filed Tuesday against Robert Flubacher, 34, in connection with a Dec. 4 hammer- and knife-wielding attack in Waikele.

Flubacher also is charged with stealing the car he was driving when he was caught early yesterday morning near the Beretania Star Market.

Bail totaled $100,000 for the Dec. 4 crimes: robbery, two counts of first-degree assault, one of second-degree assault and one count of auto theft for taking the car of one of his Waikele victims.

HONOLULU

HECO rewards energy savers

Hawaiian Electric Co. will present $42,000 in rebate checks this month to the developers of two low-income housing projects on O'ahu for energy savings from installing solar water heating systems.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will receive a $23,000 check for its Kapolei Village VI Malu'ohai project, and the state Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawai'i will be given a $19,000 check on behalf of its Kalihi Valley Homes project.

Both are saving about $25,000 a year in electricity costs and reducing annual emissions by more than 200 tons, according to HECO.

"The best thing about this is that the families moving into this housing development will get direct savings on their monthly bills," said Sharyn Miya-shiro, executive director of the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawai'i. "These are real savings benefiting real families."

For information on the Energy Solutions for the Home rebate program, see HECO's Web site or call 947-6937.

WINDWARD

Bird habitat to be restored

Students from Chaminade University's environmental studies classes will help restore a wetland bird habitat and construct a trail to a proposed parking area at Kawai Nui Marsh in Kailua from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The public is invited to join the group as it works near Na Pohaku o Hauwahine, off Kapa'a Quarry Road.

For more information call Chuck Burrows at 595-3922 or e-mail aml@aecos.com.

EAST HONOLULU

Santa Lucia ready to serve

Santa Lucia, the bearer of light in Scandinavia, will visit Honolulu Waldorf School today and serve up coffee and cake to the school's teachers.

Rachel Kono, chosen from the school's eighth grade, will dress in a wreath of greenery and candles, and will be helped by class members, some dressed in long white gowns, others in red suits as tomtar — little Swedish gnomes who are her helpers.

The custom, which originated in Sweden, comes to the school each year.