O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

EAST HONOLULU

Vision team lists priorities

The East Honolulu Vision Community has identified seven projects for its priority list for the 2002-03 budget year.

The projects, in order of priority, with estimates of construction costs, are:

• A 150-meter swimming pool at Koko Head District Park, $1 million.
• Completion of the archery range at Koko Head Rifle Range, $250,000.
• Designing a botanical garden of native plants in the back of 'Aina Haina at the trail head, $100,000.
• Two traffic calming studies: on East and West Hind drives and on Halemaumau Street in Niu Valley, $50,000.
• A Hawai'i Kai Marina Walk on the vacant parcel near the post office on Hawai'i Kai Drive and Wailua Street, $300,000.
• Studying the feasibility of undergrounding utility lines in pocket areas of 'Aina Haina, $50,000.
• Building a rock wall around the street sides of Kamiloiki Community Park near the construction of skating facilities, $250,000.

The vision projects will be further defined as community champions rough out details. The proposals will then go to the city for inclusion in the budget and a vote by the City Council.

The group canceled its November meeting. The next meeting will be announced.

Poinsettia sale tomorrow

The Rotary Club of East Honolulu will hold its annual poinsettia plant sale from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Kaimuki YMCA. The club is asking for a $15 donation per plant.

Proceeds will go to the Dr. Danelo Canete Foundation, a privately financed charity that promotes children's computer literacy in the Philippines.

The club also is involved in paying for youth scholarships, school and park cleanups and drug awareness programs.

For more information or to reserve a plant, call 539-7243.

Lions Club to hold parade

The annual parade organized by the Hawai'i Kai Lions Club, dubbed the All American Christmas Parade, will take place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon on Lunalilo Home Road, from Kamiloiki Community Park to Koko Marina Shopping Center.

Santa and his helpers will accept unwrapped toys or gifts during the parade to donate to Toys for Tots.

HONOLULU

Firefighters blame child with matches

A child playing with matches wound up causing a fire that damaged a McCully ground-floor apartment yesterday, officials said.

Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo said three fire engines, one ladder truck and a battalion chief responded to the 12:21 p.m. alarm. Neighbors had already brought the fire under control when firefighters arrived, and firefighters extinguished the fire at 12:31 p.m.

Soo said three children and their great-aunt were in the apartment but were not injured.

The fire started in a storage area outside the apartment, causing $10,000 damage to the outside of the home and $500 damage to its contents.

Man sentenced in porn sting

Brian K. Corpuz, 48, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway to 24 months imprisonment for ordering videos showing young boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Mollway also ordered that Corpuz' sentence commence immediately, and, as part of his sentence, that he register as a sex offender in any states in which he lives after release.

The case arose out of an undercover operation aimed at identifying violators of federal child pornography laws, according to U.S. Attorney Elliot Enoki.

Authorities placed advertisements in adult newspapers throughout the United States and posted e-mail messages on alternative news groups. According to information produced in court, Corpuz responded to one of the advertisements and then filled out a questionnaire indicating that he was interested in materials involving underage boys. He then ordered three videotapes that were delivered by undercover agents to his residence on Oct. 25. The case was investigated by the U.S. Customs Service.

City to open bids next week

The city will open bids on several O'ahu projects at 2 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, Room 115.

The projects include renovation to apartment units at Kulana Nani housing on Kahuhipa Street in Kane'ohe and repairs to the Boettcher house at Kalama Beach Park in Kailua.

Park projects are for the rebuilding play courts at 'Ahuimanu Community Park, constructing a comfort station at Kailua District Park and installing playing fields at Kahalu'u Regional Park.