O'ahu briefs
CENTRAL
Drowning victim was Wahiawa man
A 46-year-old man who was found drowned in Wahiawa's Lake Wilson has been identified as Robert K. Sordillia of Wahiawa, according to the city's medical examiner.
Police said they did not suspect foul play and classified the case as an unattended death. Sordillia had gone fishing alone Monday on his 10-foot boat.
At about 3:20 p.m. a boater spotted Sordillia's overturned boat near the shore at the Lauone Loop end of California Avenue. The witness returned to the boat-launch area and called for help.
A Honolulu Fire Department crew aboard the Air One helicopter spotted the body floating about 20 yards from the man's boat at about 4:20 p.m., said spokesman Capt. Richard Soo. Rescue divers retrieved the body, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lake Wilson, the site of the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area, is the state's largest freshwater sports fishery.
LEEWARD
Ma'ili man drowns after getting tangled in net
A man apparently drowned yesterday afternoon after he became snagged in his fishing net off Makua Beach.
A city Ocean Safety Division spokesman said the man, tentatively identified as a 36-year-old Ma‘ili resident, was either laying or gathering his net when he got tangled in it. The man was in about 10 feet of water fewer than 50 yards offshore.
The victim’s girlfriend said she realized that the man was in the water a little longer than usual so she asked another beachgoer for help. The beachgoer found the man, untangled him and brought him to shore.
Lifeguards were called and they attempted to revive the man. But the Ocean Safety spokesman said the man was already dead before he was brought to shore.
Ocean conditions were described as calm and an investigation into the cause of the accident was under way. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
Police have classified the case as an unattended death.
Hokule'a canoe set for journey
The voyaging canoe Hokule'a will stop May 5-12 at the Wai'anae Boat Harbor as part of its statewide journey celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The theme of the voyage is "Malama Hawai'i — Caring for our Special Island Home," and the trip is meant to encourage awareness of the need to care for Hawai'i's island environment, especially with children.
While in Wai'anae, crew members will conduct educational programs, including tours for local elementary schools.
Since it was first launched March 8, 1975, the canoe has covered almost 100,000 miles to link the vast reaches of Polynesia, from New Zealand in the west to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the south.
The canoe will dock at Ko Olina Marina from May 12-19 for students in the Kapolei area.
The sail is a project of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, the Hawai'i Millennium Commission and Malama Hawai'i.
For more information, call 536-8405.
Wai'anae plans Bike Fun Fest
A Bike Fun Fest for children 4 to 14 will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Wai'anae District Park to promote bicycle safety.
A skills and drills bike-riding course will be set up, and each child completing the course will be given a free bicycle helmet. State law now requires children 16 and younger to wear a bicycle helmet when riding.
Also featured at the event will be bicycle safety checks, a resource fair and free giveaways.
For more information, call Jason Paloma at 948-6845.
NORTH SHORE
Breast cancer grant awarded
The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations has awarded Kahuku Hospital/North Shore Community Health Clinic a $50,000 grant to provide breast cancer education and early detection services to uninsured North O'ahu women.
The grant is from the organization's Within Our Reach outreach program, said Jeanette Baer, physician assistant at the North Shore clinic.
In February, the clinic instituted a breast cancer outreach program to provide all women older than 40 breast-health information and free mammograms and clinical breast exams.
The clinic expects to serve 500 women this year.
"There are many obstacles, ranging from fear to lack of access to medical care, which keep women from practicing good breast health," Baer said. "There is a tremendous need to reach women with information and resources."
The service will also arrange for transportation through Ke Ola Mamo and Kahuku Hospital.
For more information about the program, call Baer at 293-9231.
WINDWARD
Work to affect Kamehameha Highway
Traffic in the Honolulu-bound lane on Kamehameha Highway at Kahana Valley will be affected by a project to replace a large butterfly valve on a major transmission line from 8 p.m. tomorrow to 6 a.m. Saturday.
A police officer will direct traffic during construction, which will be in the road shoulder.
The contractor, Delta Construction Corp., and Board of Water Supply crews will be working at the site, said Denise De Costa, BWS spokeswoman.
Water service to Makaua Village, Trout Farm Road and Punalu'u Valley Road may experience low pressure during the 10-hour construction period.
Bathrooms at Kahana State Park and Kahana Beach Park will have no water during the work.
A water wagon will be stationed at Punalu'u Valley Road to provide backup service to residents, De Costa said.
The valve is critical to the operation of the water system in the area, De Costa said.
Kite-surfing rules weighed
The Kailua Neighborhood Board is expected to take action concerning kite-surfing at Kailua Beach Park at a 7 p.m. meeting today at the Kailua District Park multipurpose room.
A committee made up of surfers, residents, board members and state and city officials has been discussing rules and enforcement for the activity at the park, said Duane Samson, chairman of the board's Parks and Recreation Committee.
Surfers have proposed self-regulation for the sport, but Samson said enforcement is still an issue.
Before any rules are adopted, Samson said, he would like government to conduct an environmental impact study for the bay that includes its carrying capacity.
The state Legislature this year shelved a bill that would have funded a study for both Kailua and Waimanalo bays.
