O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Attempted murder probe launched
Honolulu police launched an attempted murder investigation yesterday after a woman was found unconscious in a Waikiki hotel room.
The woman was found in a room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village early in the afternoon, police said.
She was taken by ambulance to Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.
State receives federal grant
Hawai'i will receive a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to integrate information networks between police, courts, corrections and other government agencies, the department announced last week.
The department awarded 26 states a total of $16.4 million in grants ranging from $40,000 to $1 million. Connecting the information networks will allow police officers, prosecutors and other justice officials to access arrest reports, booking information, electronic fingerprints and mug shots on the same network, thereby facilitating communications and operations.
Governors from the states were also among 42 recipients of $25,000 grants from the National Governors Association for the same purpose. The additional Justice Department funding was awarded based on project proposals submitted by the states.
Goodwill offers internships
Goodwill Industries of Hawai'i is offering 10 AmeriCorps internships to teach job skills to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Prior to teaching, interns receive training in basic literacy, English as a second language, computer skills and occupational skills.
The one-year internship also involves community service with low-income students and a monthly stipend.
For more information, call Dawn Burgener at 836-0313 Ext. 237.
Homeless site asks for help
The Institute for Human Services is in dire need of donations of bed linens and towels for the more than 350 homeless people it serves daily. Donations can be taken to 546 Ka'aahi St. or 350 Sumner St. between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For more information, call Catherine Graham at 537-2724.
Smith-Beretania parking lot closed
The Smith-Beretania Parking lot in Chinatown will be closed tomorrow through Aug. 13 for an archaeological survey. Parking options include:
- Chinatown Gateway, 1031 Nu'uanu Ave.
- Hale Pauahi, 155 N. Beretania Ave.
- Harbor Court, 86 Queen St.
- Kukui Plaza, 1255 Nu'uanu Ave.
- Marin Tower, 60 N. Nimitz Highway
- Kekaulike Tower, 1018 Maunakea St.
The archaeological survey is in preparation for construction of a park and an underground public parking facility. The parking lot may reopen for two to three weeks before construction begins on the Smith-Beretania park and parking garage.
LEEWARD
Rotary elects Wai'anae head
Joanna Miranda was installed recently as president of the Wai'anae Coast Rotary Club for 2001-2002.
Albert Silva was elected vice president, Paul D. Young was named secretary and Ronald Young treasurer at the group's installation banquet July 10.
The Wai'anae Coast Rotary meets at noon every Tuesday at the Makaha Resort Golf Club. The18-member group has begun a membership drive to bring more residents into the club.
For more information, call Paul Young at 695-0206.
Air Force retools local job positions
Air Force officials in Hawai'i have announced a staff restructuring affecting local job positions.
Hickam Air Force Base's 15th Medical Group loses nine military positions and gains one civilian position as a result of the changes.
The base's 15th Air Base Wing gains 27 military and four civilian positions, and will convert six military jobs to civilian status.
The Pacific Air Force Privatization Squadron gains one military and six civilian jobs to oversee privatization efforts in military family housing and utilities.
The 15th Logistics Support Division gains three military positions and seven civilian jobs. Other minor realignments result in an increase of four military and eight civilian positions. Total impact at Hickam is an increase of 20 military and 32 civilian positions.
The 324th Intelligence Squadron based at Wheeler Army Airfield loses 20 military positions with the consolidation of airborne linguists at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and loses 19 military positions due to a mission adjustment. Total impact is a decrease of 39 military positions.
WINDWARD
Halau project at Kaiona park
The city is seeking public comment for a Waimanalo canoe halau project to be built at Kaiona Beach Park.
The project calls for a storage facility, driveway, walkway and other minor park amenities at Kaiona park, a 34-acre site on Kalaniana'ole Highway between Waimanalo Beach Park and Kaupo Beach Park.
The halau would provide a permanent storage facility for canoes, kayaks and related equipment, as well as an informal gathering area for paddlers.
The proposed facility will measure 64 feet by 20 feet and will not exceed 25 feet in height.
Comments are due Aug. 22 and should be sent to the city Department of Design and Construction, Attn: Wesley Obata, 650 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813.
Send copies of the comment to AKTA Ltd. 46-160 Nahiku St., Kane'ohe, HI 96844 and to the Office of Environmental Quality Control, 235 S. Beretania St., Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Park sought for equestrians
A Waimanalo vision team would like the city to acquire portions of the Meadow Gold Dairies site in Waimanalo for an equestrian park.
The dairy sits on about 300 acres and has a state lease on the property until 2014, so negotiations would have to take place, said Joe Correa, vision team champion for the project. The park would need about 80 acres.
The team has submitted its site preference to the city for an equestrian park site, and it's up to the city to pursue that recommendation.
The team chose the Circle Z Ranch as an alternate site. The ranch, about 25 acres, is for sale for about $4 million.
The equestrian park would include trail heads that would connect to paths from Makapu'u to Mount Olomana and Maunawili, Correa said. But the trails would be for hikers, joggers and bicycles as well. The park plan includes a warm-up arena for horses, parking, pavilion and restrooms.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said the city supports the equestrian center and will discuss the recommendations.
CENTRAL
Ex-UH president elected to board
Former University of Hawai'i President Kenneth Mortimer has been elected to the board of directors at Puget Energy in Washington.
Puget Energy is the parent company of the state's largest electric and natural gas company, Puget Sound Energy, which serves more than 1.2 million homes in Puget Sound.
Mortimer returned to Bellingham, Wash., after leaving UH at the end of June. He was president of Western Washington University in Bellingham from 1988 to 1993.
When he left Hawai'i, his plans were to write, consult and become a senior scholar with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems based in Boulder, Colo.
