O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
CENTRAL
Hearing on juvenile center
The state House Health Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on the proposed move of the juvenile sex offender treatment center from Pearl City to Kahi Mohala.
The hearing is at 8:30 a.m. in House Conference Room 329.
The House Health Committee will discuss House Concurrent Resolution 173, which would recommend Kahi Mohala be the next site for the sex treatment center.
The Legislature will make the decision on where — or if — the state's juvenile sex offender treatment facility will move from Pearl City. The Waimano Home facility, which opened in December, is for boys ages 12 to 17 not classified as sexual predators or violent sexual offenders, but who are being treated for having sexual relations with family members.
Pearl City residents protested the facility, saying it was too close to two neighborhood schools and that the community wasn't informed of the state plans until construction had begun.
Some lawmakers said the Kahi Mohala site offers advantages over Pearl City because it would use the existing hospital, and some of the costs are flexible.
The other two proposed sites, Kalaeloa and Wahiawa, may be too expensive because they would have to be built from the ground up.
HONOLULU
Teddy bears for a worthy cause
Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i and Partners for Prevention are seeking a few good teddy bears for the fourth annual Teddy Bear Roundup April 7 at the Ala Moana Center CenterStage.
The event kicks off a series of events for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i encourages residents concerned about child abuse to donate a new or slightly used teddy bear that day.
The goal is to collect 2,935 teddy bears, the same number of confirmed reports of child abuse in the state last year, said Chuck Braden, Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i executive director. The bears will be distributed to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families and children in crisis.
Everyone who donates a teddy bear will receive a special bookmark, a blue ribbon to promote child abuse prevention, parenting tips, and child-safety information.
The event will run 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the CenterStage and will feature top local entertainers.
WINDWARD
Truck weight limits enforced
Residents' complaints have prompted the city to advise owners and drivers of heavy trucks that there is a seven-ton weight limit on Kane'ohe Bay Drive from Mikiola Drive to Kalaheo Avenue.
The city is accepting applications for permits to allow loaded trucks weighing more than seven tons to travel that stretch of road. Permits will be issued to service, delivery and other types of trucks over seven tons that have a specific destination serviced by Kane'ohe Bay Drive and that can demonstrate an emergency need.
Permits are not required for authorized emergency vehicles. Trucks operating without a permit will be subject to a traffic citation.
Permits are available at the city Department Transportation Services, Street Usage Section, at 7111 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 320. Call 527-5836.
LEEWARD
Ko Olina starts intern program
Goodwill Industries of Hawai'i has entered into a partnership with the Aloha Team at the Ko Olina Resort to provide youth internships at the resort.
Called Ola I Ka Hana, the program matches five youths and a professional job coach with members of the Aloha Team for 15 hours a week over a three-week period beginning April 1. The group shadows and supports the Aloha Team's work as security guards, caretakers, janitors, greeters and ambassadors to the resort.
The program gives on-the-job training to teens as they prepare for their careers and complete their high school education.
Goodwill Industries will hire two job coaches for the program. The student internships are unpaid, but could lead to a paid internship at the resort. Call 836-0313, ext. 267.
It's tee time for Hokulani
A benefit golf tournament for the Hokulani School cultural exchange program will be held June 13 at the Pearl Country Club.
The event will begin with registration and a light lunch at 11 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The tax-deductible individual fee is $90, which includes lunch and a banquet afterward. Tournament sponsors are also being sought. Call Michael Seki at 983-5393.
