A 20-year-old Navy man was in critical condition at the Queen’s Medical Center yesterday after his motorcycle crashed into a guardrail near ‘Aiea Friday evening.

The man was heading town-bound along Kamehameha Highway near the H-1 on-ramp at 10:10 p.m., when his Honda motorcycle ran off the road and hit the guardrail.

He was taken to Queen’s with head injuries. Police say speed may have caused the accident.

Kalihi groups awarded grants

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Tommy G. Thompson recently announced $169,601 in grants to Kokua Kalihi Valley (Comprehensive Family Services) and a grant of $60,000 to the Kalihi-Palama Health Center.

The grants, part of 220 nationwide service expansion grants awarded to health centers in 46 states and Puerto Rico, will enable the organizations to offer patients new or expanded oral health, pharmacy, mental health and substance abuse services at current sites.

NORTH SHORE

BYUH selects teacher of year

William K. Wallace III, a native of Moloka'i and director of the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language and Cultural Studies at Brigham Young University-Hawai'i has been named the university's Teacher of the Year.

Selected for his leadership ability, Wallace also is respected in the classroom, as a cultural specialist and as a performer, said BYUH president Eric Shumway.

Prior to joining BYUH in 1990 as an assistant professor in history, Wallace had a distinguished career in law, where he served in a variety of positions, including criminal prosecutor for the assistant attorney general of American Samoa, Shumway said.

Wallace graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1966 and from Church College of Hawai'i (now BYUH) in 1972. He completed a graduate degree in Pacific Island Studies at the University of Hawai'i and earned a law degree from J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in Utah.

Biotech class still needs help

A Kahuku teacher who ran, biked and paddled around O'ahu to raise money for a biotechnology course she wanted to teach fell short of her $5,000 goal, but is conducting the class and hoping for more contributions.

Iris Gonzales, a Kahuku High School biology teacher, collected about $2,400 in cash and hundreds of dollars worth of equipment from suppliers after paddle-boarding, bicycling and running 134 miles around the island June 25.

"I pretty much spent all my money, so every night I'm e-mailing people telling them I'm short of funds and if you know anyone I can contact," Gonzales said. "I still need money."

The 31-year-old instructor is accustomed to reaching into her own pocket to provide supplies for the biology classes she holds, but said she couldn't afford to finance the biotechnology course. Students, friends, suppliers and supporters have rallied to her cause.

CENTRAL O'AHU

YMCA plans open house

The Mililani YMCA will hold an open house from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 15 to showcase the exercise and educational opportunities at the Hikikaulia Street facility.

All fitness and aerobic classes will be free, and the fitness center and swimming pool will be open during the open house.

For more information, call 625-1040.

LEEWARD O'AHU

Read Aloud project to start

The public is invited to learn about the Read Aloud Program during a presentation at 5:45 p.m. Thursday at Barbers Point Elementary School.

The school will sponsor seven presentations from September to December.

Program founder Jed Gaines will discuss the importance of reading and demonstrate ways to improve students' chances for success in school and life through reading.

The program is designed to enhance the interest and enjoyment of reading aloud for adults and children, and to help families bond through a sharing of quality time.

For more information, call school librarian Gail Sakata at 673-7400.

DeSoto to talk about zoo plan

City Councilman John DeSoto will discuss plans to move the Honolulu Zoo from Waikiki to Kalaeloa and the proposed expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch landfill at the Kapolei Rotary Club meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Kapolei High School faculty/staff lounge.

DeSoto, vice chairman of the City Council, has said he plans to run for lieutenant governor next year.

The fee for the meeting, which includes a buffet breakfast, is $7. For details, call Van McCrea at 672-3924 or e-mail vanmccrea @aol.com.