O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
CENTRAL
Filipino Center sets open house
The much-anticipated Filipino Community Center in Waipahu will hold an open house 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to give the community a sneak peek.
The official dedication of the "FilCom" Center on June 11 kicks off this year's Mabuhay Festival.
The center is at 94-428 Mokuola St. in Waipahu on the corner of Mokuola and Waipahu streets, next to Hans L'Orange Park and the landmark Waipahu Sugar Mill.
Officials say it is the largest Filipino community center in the United States, at three stories and 50,000 square feet on two acres of former plantation land.
For information, call the center at 847-6401 or visit www.filcom.org.
WINDWARD
Waimanalo man killed in crash
A 24-year-old Waimanalo man was killed early yesterday when his truck hit a tree near 41-479 Kalaniana'ole Highway. Police said the white 1996 Ford Ranger drifted off the road shortly after 2 a.m.
Firefighters extracted the man from the truck with severe head injuries. He died shortly after 3 a.m. He was wearing his seat belt and his air bag had deployed.
Police were investigating whether speed or alcohol were factors.
EAST HONOLULU
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| University of Hawai'i students, from left, Chris Whitehead, Matt Stimpson and James Sullivan display the garbage they collected from the reef off a blow hole, including bottles, plastics and golf balls. The Pacific Action Alliance was doing a reef sweep, and 15 members ended up having to be rescued when they were swept up by the current.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Two lifeguards on jet-powered watercraft pulled about 15 scuba divers from a current yesterday that swept them off the reef at the blow hole and carried them around the point.
Life Guard Ryan Reasoner said several of the divers seemed inexperienced and looked panicked, so he stayed with the group while his partner, Billy Goodwin, took the first three in.
The lifeguards then escorted the rest of the divers to shore. Most were part of a reef cleanup organized by Pacific Action Alliance from the University of Hawai'i.
Christopher Whitehead, one of the organizers of the UH group, said divers managed to hold on to the debris they had picked up despite the current.
HONOLULU
Briefing offered on divorce law
A free hour-long seminar, "Divorce Law in Hawai'i," will take place at noon Thursday in the Supreme Court conference room, on the second floor of Ali'iolani Hale, 417 S. King St.
Divorce lawyer William C. Darrah will give an overview of custody and visitation, division of property, child support and alimony, among other issues.
The seminar, to be offered monthly throughout the year, is sponsored by the Family Court.
For more information, call 539-4909.
Environmental work honored
Christine Woolaway has been named a 2002 environmental hero by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Hawaii Sea Grant Coastal Recreation & Tour-ism extension agent is coordinator of the annual Get the Drift and Bag It! program and helped organize the removal of marine debris from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a project that involved the Coast Guard, Navy, other government agencies and private organizations.
Woolaway previously received Vice President Al Gore's Hammer Award for her work assembling private and public groups in support of protecting Hawai'i's coral reefs.
Roadwork planned on H-1
The state Department of Transportation advises O'ahu motorists of the following
H-1 closures, today through Friday:
- One lane of the Punahou Street off-ramp will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for guardrail and overhead sign work. The Pi'ikoi Street on-ramp to H-1 kokohead-bound may be closed during this period.
- One lane of Wai'alae Avenue from 21st Avenue to 17th Avenue, one lane to the Wai'alae Avenue pedestrian overpass, and the off-ramp from H-1 ewa-bound will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement marking.
- A single lane on Kalaniana'ole Highway between 'Ainakoa Avenue and West Hind Drive will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for construction of wheelchair ramps, sidewalks, driveway improvements and waterline work.
Police identify body found at Ala Moana
The man found dead at the 'ewa end of Ala Moana Park on April 9 was identified yesterday as Gabriel William Chaney, 28, of Alaska.
Park employees discovered the man on the ground near the bathrooms early in the morning. Police think he might have been beaten to death and are investigating the case as a homicide.
