O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
CENTRAL
Candle blamed in Mililani fire
A burning candle sparked a fire that caused an estimated $21,000 in damages to a Mililani townhouse Monday night, fire officials said.
Two fire companies responded to the 10:36 p.m. alarm at 94-210 Kealohi St. and had the fire under control at 10:42 p.m., said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
A 26-year-old woman who rented the townhouse was not home when the fire broke out in the bathroom. A neighbor sprayed the fire with a fire extinguisher before fire crews arrived. The woman's three dogs and one cat survived, but her bird was killed.
The townhouse had no electricity, and the woman forgot about the burning candle in the bathroom, Soo said.
According to Soo, last night's candle fire was the fourth this year, compared to three last year and four in 1999. This year's other candle fires occurred on Jan. 26 near Punchbowl, Jan. 28 in Makakilo and May 9 in Waikele. The three fires caused an estimated $207,000 in combined damages.
In the Makakilo fire, a 13-year-old girl suffered second-degree burns on her face, arms and legs, Soo said.
LEEWARD
Diver gets good look at shark
A free-diver who claims to have had a brush with a great white shark off Leeward O'ahu isn't just spinning a fish tale, a federal marine biologist said.
Michael Garris reported coming face to face with one of the predators while spearfishing a half-mile off Yokohama Bay last month. He said the 15- to 17-foot-long shark swam at him from 100 yards away, but eventually backed off and dived deep.
Garris said the shark had the jagged line separating the dark skin on the top and the white underbelly that is characteristic of great whites, as well as a conical nose, black eyes and distinctive tail.
He said the shark was probably attracted to the chum that he was wearing on his dive belt to attract game fish.
National Marine Fisheries Service biologist John Naughton said there's no question a great white is what Garris saw.
"He's a very good observer," Naughton said.
Naughton said great whites are rare in Hawaiian waters, but do appear. The sharks primarily are found in cooler, coastal waters off southern Africa, southern Australia and northern California and usually feed on seals and sea lions.
EAST HONOLULU
Board seeks volunteer
The Kuliou'ou Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board will be looking at volunteers 18 years and older who live in the Wai'alae Iki/ Wiliwilinui neighborhood to fill a vacancy.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the 'Aina Haina Public Library.
The vacancy occurred because no one ran for that seat in the last election, in June.
For more information, call the commission at 527-5749.
HONOLULU
Kaimuki board plans meeting
The Kaimuki Neighborhood Board will hold a special meeting July 12 to assess what capital improvement projects need addressing.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the recreation center.
The board will not have its regular monthly meeting this month, but will reconvene at 7 p.m. on Aug. 1 at the Kaimuki Recreation Center.
Elected officers announced
The Ala Moana/Kaka'ako Neighborhood Board re-elected John Breinich for a second term as chairman and Joyce Kurtz as vice chairwoman during its regular meeting June 26.
Other elected officers include Dyane Sih, secretary; and Betty Carter, treasurer.
The board meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at Makiki Christian Church, 829 Pensacola St.
Resume-writing workshop set
A free resume-writing workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow at the Wai'anae O'ahu WorkLinks office at the Satellite City Hall, 85-670 Farrington Highway.
The workshop, which will be repeated July 25, will help job-hunters complete a resume.
O'ahu WorkLinks is a partnership of agencies, organizations and private businesses dedicated to work-force development. The group is offering a series of workshops in July for job-seekers.
Topics include developing interview skills, job search techniques and computer proficiency.
For more information, call 697-1472, or 696-7067.
