O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
LEEWARD
Search continues for missing man
Rescue crews will resume a search today for a San Francisco man reported missing at Ma'ili Beach late Monday night.
Raymond D. Magallanes, 43, was last seen Monday when he went to Ma'ili Beach alone. He was reported missing by friends at about 10 p.m. Monday.
Police found Magallanes' rental car with belongings, including wallet and cell phone, still inside, at the beach. His beach chair, cooler, shirt, towel, bag and slippers also were found, said detective Joe Self.
Self said witnesses saw Magallanes walking toward the water.
A helicopter searched the area late Monday night. Yesterday, the helicopter was joined by divers and by state land agency employees on jet watercraft, said fire department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
Tourists focus of meeting
Stacey Martin, director of travel industry sales for the O'ahu Visitors Bureau, will discuss how Kapolei and Ko Olina fit into the group's marketing plan for out-of-state visitors at the next Kapolei Rotary Club meeting, 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the Kapolei High School faculty/staff lounge.
Jim Varner of the Dale Carnegie Training program was to speak Thursday but has been rescheduled for April 19.
The meeting costs $7 and includes a buffet breakfast.
For information, call Keola Lloyd at 674-3167.
CENTRAL
Officer in Kunia DUI on desk duty
A Honolulu police officer who pleaded no contest to a drunken-driving charge remains assigned to desk duty pending an administrative review for possible disciplinary action, officials said.
Celso Bautista, 36, who is assigned to the narcotics-vice division, was off duty and driving a pickup truck when he rear-ended another vehicle on Kupuna Loop in Kunia early Dec. 11, police said.
Bautista was convicted of drunken driving in 1989, nine years before he joined the police department. According to the city prosecutor's office, Bautista on Feb. 21 pleaded no contest in the more recent case, was fined $250 and given a 90-day suspended sentence.
City discusses antenna permit
The city Planning Commission will discuss AT&T Wireless Services' request for a special-use permit for an existing antenna off Ahikao Street at its meeting at 1:30 p.m. today in the Human Resources Conference Room, City Hall Annex.
A public hearing was held on Feb. 21, but a vote on the the item was deferred after the commission requested more information about health and safety issues.
Commission chairman Charlie Rodgers said that more time is needed to research the issue of exposure to radio frequency and electromagnetic fields before he could call for a vote on the issue.
AT&T consultant Keith Kurahashi said AT&T plans to ask for a 60-day deferral of the vote at the meeting today because the Department of Planning and Permitting has asked AT&T to look into finding an alternative site for the antenna.
Several Mililani Mauka residents testified at the last hearing about their fears and anger of an antenna placed so close to their homes.
The 57-foot antenna was installed in September next to an existing VoiceStream antenna, Kurahashi said, after the city granted a conditional-use permit and waived the normal 25-foot height limit.
WINDWARD
Model planes fly into battle
World War II model planes will duke it out over Kawai Nui Marsh in a dogfighting competition beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Model Air Park on Quarry Road near Kailua.
The audience can expect as many as six competing planes in the air at once.
In the competition, each plane will tow a 30-foot colored ribbon. Competitors attempt to cut the ribbons by flying through them. The plane that makes the most ribbon cuts is the ace.
The program is organized by The Aloha State Radio Control Club, which also provides free model airplane flying lessons on the first Sunday of the month, at the Model Air Park.
Canoe club begins season
Kailua Canoe Club will kick off its 2001 season in April and is registering new and past members from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and April 1 at Kailua Beach Park, across from Buzz's Original Steak House.
Males and females from 10 years old and up can sign up for the regatta season, which runs from April until August. In addition, adults can participate in the long-distance program, which runs from August through October.
Practices are normally held between 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays. New members will receive information about rules, fees and fund-raisers at registration.
Kailua Canoe Club, paddling for 30 years, won the O'ahu championship last year and finished second at the state championship.
Honda plans site expansion
Honda Windward has outgrown its location, and is expanding its site and building in a two-part project.
"This dealership was set up to sell 50 new and used cars a month back 20 years ago," said Marty Barger, general sales manager. "We're now selling over 200 new and used cars a month. We've far outgrown this facility."
In the first phase of the project, the dealership is creating an underground parking area to accommodate 50 cars, Barger said. The lanai of the building will then be extended, so 50 or 60 more cars can be parked at the street level.
In the second phase, Honda will remodel its building, increasing its height one story for executive and business offices.
The projects, which started about three weeks ago, should take about seven more months, he said.
In the meantime, Honda has moved its used cars temporarily to Volcano Motors, next to Ko'olau Farmers, but Honda will still operate out of its headquarters during the construction, Barger said.
A police department spokeswoman said the case is being reviewed by command staff for possible disciplinary action.
