O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD
Charter school briefings set
Parents and students can learn more about the Hakipu'u Learning Center charter school for seventh- and eighth-graders at three Windward informational meetings.
The nontraditional school will offer learning experiences that take advantage of the resources in the community, including taro fields, fishponds and the learning centers at Windward Community College, where the school will be based.
The meetings will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 10 at the Kahuku library, July 18 at the Kane'ohe library and July 24 at the Kailua library.
The school also will have an information desk at the Kane'ohe Day on the Bay event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 at Kokokahi YWCA.
For more information, call 528-8775 or e-mail mealaaloha@aol.com.
Kailua, Kualoa ready for 4th
Windward Fourth of July events include a parade, fireworks and barbecue.
The Kailua Fourth of July parade begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Omao Street on Kainalu Drive and ends at Kailua Intermediate School.
An air show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. off Kailua Beach Park. A fireworks display will begin at 8.
In Kualoa, Kraft Foods Hawai'i will have a paniolo barbecue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kualoa Ranch, Paliku Gardens. The public is welcome to bring picnic baskets and enjoy music by the Ka'ala Boys, keiki horseback riding, a petting zoo, clowns and giveaways.
Admission is free for the entire family with three Kraft Foods proofs-of-purchase or an original recipe to enter in the Kau Kau Favorites Recipe Contest.
LEEWARD
Makaha hale needs help
Volunteers and donations are being sought to rebuild the community hale at the Hoa 'Aina O Makaha farm next to Makaha Elementary School.
The hale was destroyed by arsonists in mid-June and a quonset hut on the property was vandalized, said farm volunteer Gale Hunter.
"The whole community used it," Hunter said. "It was intentionally set. This has been going on all over Wai'anae."
Hunter said the stone base surrounding the structure is intact, but labor and supplies are needed to rebuild the structure.
At least five schools have sustained arson damage recently on the Wai'anae Coast.
The most recent arson occurred June 20 at Wai'anae Intermediate School.
Police say they have increased patrols and inspections at Wai'anae schools during the night, when the crimes most often occur.
Anyone with information about the Wai'anae fires can call Detective Robert Cravalho at 529-3873 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
To offer help or a donation for Hoa 'Aina O Makaha farm, call 695-9730.
Makeshift dump cleared
City crews cleaned up a makeshift rubbish dump at the 'Ewa Villages Golf Course on Friday after state health inspectors visited the site.
A "couple of tons" of trash had been collecting at the site behind maintenance sheds on the golf course for months, including golf equipment, food waste and boxes, said 'Ewa Neighborhood Board Chairman Jeff Alexander.
"Someone called me and said it was there," Alexander said. "You can see the path the little carts use to come down and dump the stuff."
Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said golf course management told inspectors they recently had equipment breakdowns and were not able to haul out the trash.
Okubo said the problem seems to be under control, but the state will send them a letter with recommendations for handling waste. She could not say whether any fines would be levied.
Alexander said he first received reports about the dump in April and plans to talk with Mayor Jeremy Harris' office about the problem.
"The smell and the flies are terrible," Alexander said. "I'm going to keep an eye on it now that I know where it is."
Jani-King boss to speak
Bob Pennington, owner of Jani-King Hawai'i, will discuss "Lessons Learned from a Small Business" at the next Kapolei Rotary Club meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the Kapolei High School faculty/staff lounge.
Jani-King is one of the largest commercial cleaning companies in the state.
The fee for attending the Rotary event, which will include a buffet breakfast, is $7. For more information, call Van McCrea at 672-3924.
Man, 54, suspect in money scam
A 54-year-old Nanakuli man has been arrested on suspicion of running a fraudulent investment scheme that bilked a Kalihi man of $50,000 from September 1997 to February 2000. The suspect and his wife are both under investigation for prior activities.
HONOLULU
Detectives look into Palolo Valley death
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man found yesterday in his Palolo Valley home.
"Right now, its a 'suspicious, unattended death' investigation," Police Lt. Bill Kato said as detectives examined the home last night.
An autopsy will be conducted tomorrow to determine the cause of death. Kato said the man had suffered injuries.
The body was found at 3404 Kupa'a Drive by police officers who were checking the man's home at the request of his friend, Kato said.
The friend routinely had daily telephone conversations with the man but had not heard from him since last Sunday, Kato said.
Officers called detectives after discovering the man near the front of his house in his living room.
Search for burglary suspect continues
CrimeStoppers and Honolulu police are asking the public's assistance in identifying a male suspect responsible for a burglary in the 1300 block of Kinau Street.
The suspect entered a residence at 9:45 a.m. June 24 while the owners were home. The suspect searched at least two floors of the house and was confronted by the 45-year-old female homeowner.
The suspect ran off in the kokohead direction on Kinau Street toward Times Supermarket. He took cash and jewelry valued at more than $2,000.
He is described as a Caucasian male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 150 to 180 pounds, with a medium build. He has neat, short, wavy brown hair, light brown eyes, fair-medium complexion and wore a short-sleeved cream T-shirt.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on their cellular phone.
Florida fugitive caught at bus stop
A 27-year-old man wanted in Florida was arrested at a Middle Street bus stop Friday evening.
Phouangmany Phetsomphou was riding a bus into town when he tried to sell a stolen video camera to another passenger.
Another passenger told the bus driver, who notified police. Police entered the bus at 811 Middle St. and arrested the man for second-degree theft.
Police said the suspect escaped from a drug-treatment center in Florida. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
Holiday roadblocks try to deter DUI
Police in all four Hawai'i counties will conduct holiday roadblocks from Tuesday to July 8 to look for motorists driving under the influence during the Fourth of July holiday week.
About 50 sobriety checkpoints will be conducted statewide. The checkpoints will be set up on both major and minor roadways at various locations, dates and times.
Alcohol and drugs remain a contributing factor in 38 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes. Every 33 minutes, someone is killed in accident involving an impaired driver.
Transportation officials and police are advising commuters to wear their seat belts while on the road.
Police looking for military deserter
Military and Honolulu police are seeking information concerning the whereabouts of 21-year-old Joshua Miller, who is wanted for desertion from the Army, drug offenses at Schofield Barracks and theft in Waikiki.
Miller left March 21. He was last seen May 18 at a condominium on Nohonani Street in Waikiki. He is 5 feet 8, 140 pounds and has a tattoo of Egyptian eyes on his left wrist.
Anyone with information can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
NORTH SHORE
Courts rearrange their schedules
The 5th Judicial Circuit has announced a change in court proceedings schedules at the Waimea, Koloa and Kawaihau District Courts effective July 2.
Waimea District Court will operate on the first Wednesday of the month starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until all cases are heard. Previously, cases were heard twice a month.
Koloa District Court hearings will be moved to the Lihu'e Courthouse and take place Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Kawaihau hearings precede Koloa hearings at Lihu'e, from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
The change was made to consolidate court services. For details call 246-3330.
