O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Thieves target stamp devices
Since late summer, thieves have targeted stamp vending machines at post offices around O'ahu, destroying the equipment and leaving customers without a way to purchase stamps after hours.
Wahiawa was hit last week, joining Kane'ohe, Kailua, Honolulu and 'Aiea as victims, said Nancy Wong, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service. Wong couldn't say how much was taken, but did say the thieves took only dollar bills.
Each machine costs about $7,000. None of those damaged has been replaced.
Investigators aren't sure whether the same people are hitting the machines, but post offices in Kailua and Kane'ohe were struck on the same weekend in early September, Wong said.
Hospitalized man's relatives sought
The Honolulu Police Department and CrimeStoppers are trying to locate the family or legal next-of-kin of a critically ill man admitted to the Queen's Medical Center on Nov. 15.
The man, 85, identified as Ricardo Murakami, was found collapsed on a sidewalk near Rycroft and Pi'ikoi.
Murakami, who is in the intensive care unit at Queen's, is a resident of Laula Way in Honolulu. Anyone with information about his family is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Accused shooter faces more charges
Police have filed additional charges against an O'ahu man accused of fatally shooting his friend in the back.
Police charged Ryan Naleimaile, 25, of Waipi'o, with a firearm violation in the shooting death of Shane Takeuchi, 24, last Sunday.
Police said Naleimaile fled on a motorcycle following the shooting but was arrested Tuesday in Waikiki.
Naleimaile also is charged with attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and firearm violations for allegedly firing shots at a group of men near the Waipi'o Neighborhood Park four days before the fatal shooting. No one was hit by the shots.
Naleimaile is being held on $250,000 bail.
Conference to look at traffic safety
Speeding, dangerous intersections and the use of cellular phones while driving will be among the topics discussed in a three-day conference on traffic safety in Honolulu this week.
The conference, sponsored by the state Department of Transportation, brings Hawai'i and Mainland experts together to discuss all aspects of transportation safety engineering, education and enforcement. Other workshops are also planned.
The conference will be tomorrow through Wednesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and is open to the public. The cost is $40 per day. For more information, call 587-6300.
CENTRAL
Board backs Dole plans
The Wahiawa Neighborhood Board voted last week to support a proposed expansion of Dole Plantation outside Wahiawa.
The board voted 5-0 with one abstention in favor of Castle & Cooke's estimated $2 million plan to add a 1 1/2-mile train tour route and botanical garden to the visitor attraction just north of Wahiawa.
Harry Saunders, of Castle & Cooke, said the company has applied for city rezoning for much of the 250-acre site from AG-1 to AG-2 to allow the botanical garden.
"We're also looking at growing 100 varieties of the hibiscus there, as well as diversified ag such as coffee and mangoes," Saunders said. "We also want to expand the visitor center for a restaurant."
Dole Plantation already has the world's biggest maze, a visitor center and a garden with various types of pineapples.
Saunders said the tourist attraction would double its staff of 40 to 50 people with the expansion.
The scaled-down train will consist of a locomotive and three cars and will be able to carry 108 people per trip, chugging along at about 6 mph. The engine will be modeled after historical locomotives, and the passenger cars will resemble open trolleys.
EAST HONOLULU
Road work to close lanes
Two lanes of westbound Kalaniana'ole Highway between Kalani'iki Street and 'Ainakoa Avenue will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning tomorrow for water line work.
Traffic will be contraflowed, and there will be no left turns in the contraflow lanes on the makai side of Kalaniana'ole.
