O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
Suspect sought in bank robbery
Police yesterday were searching for a man who robbed the Ward Plaza branch of Bank of Hawai'i in Kaka'ako.
The robbery occurred at 9:45 a.m. when a man entered the bank at 210 Ward Ave., approached the teller and said he was armed. He fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
If you have information, call Robbery Detective Eric Yiu directly at 529-3436, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Senior health fair on Thursday
The 18th annual Seniors' Health Fair will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Manoa Grand Ballroom in the Japanese Culture Center, 2454 S. Beretania St.
The free event sponsored by the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce will include seminars on eye care, healthcare and retirement planning, a cooking demonstration and medical testing.
For more information, call 949-5531.
LEEWARD
School fire causes $30,000 damage
Investigators late last night were looking into the cause of a fire that damaged a Campbell High School portable classroom.
The fire at the 'Ewa Beach school was reported at 9:07 p.m. Firefighters had to break down a door to get to the blaze, said HFD Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The fire was under control at 9:26 p.m. Damage was estimated at $30,000.
WINDWARD
Reef sharks seen off Lanikai
A longtime Lanikai resident spotted two white tip sharks 50 feet from shore while spearfishing off Lanikai Beach Sunday afternoon.
The resident, who didn't want to be identified, said the 5-foot predators were near the area where the Lanikai Canoe Club launches its canoes, in about 6 to 7 feet of water, at around 4:30 p.m.
They were not acting aggressively and swam away.
The fisherman said he had not seen a shark so close to shore since moving to the area in 1947, and he wanted to warn beach users.
The reef white tip is a common shoreline shark, said Deborah Ward, information specialist at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
They remove sick and injured fish, leaving the healthy ones to reproduce, Ward said.
Equestrian events planned
Jumping, Western riding, barrel racing, dressage and more will be part of the "Year of the Horse" Equestrian Celebration from noon to 4 p.m Saturday at the New Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo, 41-1800 Kalaniana'ole Highway, across from Olomana Golf Links.
The celebration showcasing the relationship between horse and rider is being held in memory of Mulligan and Gentleman Joe, horses that died in a maliciously set barn fire late last year.
Opening ceremonies with the Honolulu Police Department's mounted unit will be followed by riding demonstrations without saddle or bridle; performances to music and a special cow horse demonstration featuring the stallion Tanyas KaiBar.
