Posted on: Friday, May 24, 2002
Hawai'i briefs
UH data system launches in fall
The new University of Hawai'i Student Information System will be up and running for fall, allowing students within the 10-campus system to register online, said John Morton, director of the project.
The system, called SCT Banner, will allow the university's nearly 45,000 students to move easily across the various campuses, which will all be part of one database. Currently there are four separate computer systems, and transferring information from one campus to another is complicated, said Alan Yang, dean of student services.
The contract with Banner is approximately $11.6 million, but the total cost of the system could go as high as $20 million, and will include personnel and additional equipment. Already 10 people from Banner are in Hawai'i to get the system operating by the projected startup time.
SCT Banner, with global headquarters in Malvern, Pa., has 1,300 higher education clients worldwide and serves more than 8 million students. The university chose it after reviewing bids from 11 companies, Morton said.
Libraries closing for holidays
Most public libraries will be closed tomorrow through Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
Six libraries will be open tomorrow: Waialua, Kailua-Kona, Kihei, Lahaina, Lana'i and Princeville. Those libraries instead will be closed Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday.
Art at schools to be dedicated
The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts will dedicate several commissioned works of art on public school campuses.
A bronze sculpture, "Kalani I Ka Lewa" (Ascend to the Heavens) by Viliami Toluta'u, will be dedicated at 9 a.m. today at Hickam Elementary School.
A bronze sculpture called "Malama la Ka'ahupahau" (Caring of Ka'ahupahau) by Kazu Fukuda will be dedicated 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Campbell High School.
A ceramic sculpture, "The Storyteller" by Kay Mura, will be dedicated 9 a.m. June 4 at Kapalama Elementary School.
Youth lifeguard classes offered
Leeward Coast boys and girls ages 13 to 17 who are strong swimmers are invited to register at this weekend's Ko Olina Boat Show for the City and County's Junior Lifeguard Program.
Five week-long courses, beginning June 10 and running through July 19, are designed to familiarize teens with ocean and beach skills. The sessions will be taught at Poka'i Bay.
Certified lifeguards and program instructors Aaron Wong Frank and Kua Flood will sign up teens at Booth 42 at the Ko Olina Marina 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.
There is a $25 registration fee for the program.
For more information, call program coordinator Mark Cunningham at 589-2251. Water main break cuts off valley A 16-inch water main break at 11:38 p.m. yesterday on Ala Aolani Street in Moanalua Valley left all homes in the valley without water, but by 1:45 p.m. service was restored to all but 10 homes and one church, according to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Tracy Burgo, a water supply spokeswoman, said crews are working on the problem and will restore service to the remaining homes as soon as possible. She could not estimate when that might be. Police closed off the 'ewa-bound offramp of Moanalua Freeway into the valley. Water also was cut to Kaiser Permanente's Moanalua medical center, but Kaiser spokeswoman Jan Kagehiro said some water was diverted to the hospital, allowing them to continue serving customers. Portable toilets also have been brought in, Kagehiro said. Tests to assess spill contamination 'ELE'ELE, Kaua'i — County officials said they expect results soon of bacteria tests in Port Allen Harbor after a spill of raw sewage Tuesday night. An unknown amount of sewage spilled from the county's sewer treatment facility into the harbor waters before a security guard discovered the spill at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday. County wastewater officials said the spill occurred when a pump failed to activate. The spill was halted before midnight. Boaters were urged to avoid the harbor waters until tests determine bacterial levels have dropped. Puna man arrested as drug suspect KEA'AU, Hawai'i — A Puna man was arrested yesterday for allegedly carrying 12.6 ounces of crystal methamphetamine during a traffic stop. Police also seized $26,000 in cash from his car. Harold Alonzo, 62, of Kurtistown was being held at Hilo police cellblock until he could be turned over to federal authorities, according to vice Lt. Henry Tavares. Police said officer John Weber stopped Alonzo at 39th Avenue and Paradise Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park outside of Kea'au at 1:35 a.m. yesterday. Marijuana plants uprooted on Kaua'i L?HU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i police along with other law enforcement agencies pulled up 4,868 marijuana plants during a three-day Green Harvest operation May 21 to 23. The operation, which covered areas throughout the island, included officers from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Army National Guard, and the Maui Police Department. Tax preparer fined, put on probation A tax preparer who pleaded guilty to second-degree theft for falsifying returns was sentenced Wednesday to five years' probation and a $30,000 fine. Circuit Judge Michael Town also ruled that Vivian Soong, a preparer at RB Tax Service, must pay delinquent taxes by Aug. 15, serve 150 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to the state director of taxation. Soong had pleaded guilty to six counts and fined $5,000 for each count, payable within one year. All principal tax return preparers at RB except Soong pleaded guilty in November to multiple felony tax violations. Soong initially entered a not guilty plea at her arraignment but made a plea agreement in February. Suspect arrested in Big Island chase A man driving a stolen truck led Big Island police officers and national park rangers on a chase Wednesday from Puna to Kona before he overturned the vehicle and was arrested. A suspect in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of 22 offenses, including auto theft and felony assaults. The chase started about 10:40 a.m. when Puna patrol officers received a report that a 1995 Ford Ranger parked at about the 10imile marker of Hawai'i Belt Road had been stolen. Minutes later, the truck was seen traveling through the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on the highway. Park rangers tried to stop the vehicle, but it continued toward Ka'u, where officers took over the pursuit. The truck driver ended up in the Kona Paradise area, where he drove onto an unimproved road. About a half-mile from the highway, he lost control of the truck, which struck an embankment and then rolled onto its side. Assistance sought in search for youth Big Island police are looking for a 16-year-old boy who has been missing from his residence in Honoka'a since April 3. Kayza Kanekoa is of Hawaiian-Chinese ancestry, 5 feet 3, 125 pounds, with a slim build, a tan complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Peter Kualii of the Hilo Juvenile Aid Section, (808) 961-2373, the police nonemergency telephone number, (808) 935-3311. or Crime Stoppers, (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
