Posted on: Friday, May 31, 2002
Hawai'i Briefs
'Opihi picker dies on Big Island
HILO, Hawai'i — The body of a missing 'opihi picker was found yesterday morning at the bottom of a 20-foot cliff north of Cape Kumukahi, the state's easternmost point.
The family of William Ishizu, 34, reported him missing Wednesday night. Family members found him yesterday around 9:30 a.m. as county fire rescue workers were conducting an ocean search.
The fire department helicopter retrieved the body, said Capt. Clint Coloma of the Waiakea station. Coloma said it appears that Ishizu, who was described as an experienced 'opihi picker, died from a fall.
An autopsy was expected to be done today.
Kihei fire said to be intentional
KIHEI, Maui — A brush fire yesterday blackened 20 acres of land between the Elleair Golf Club and the Maui Research & Technology Park. Officials suspect the fire was intentionally set, since there were two points of ignition, said Assistant Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro.
Fire crews from Kihei, Wailuku, Kahului and Lahaina responded to the 10 a.m. alarm, and the fire department's helicopter assisted with water drops, Cordeiro said. The fire was under control at 1 p.m. and extinguished about an hour later.
Carjack reported at Pearlridge
Police are searching for a man who carjacked a 30-year-old woman inside a Pearlridge parking lot on April 22.
The man robbed the woman as she was about to enter her car in the Anna Miller's Restaurant parking lot, 98-115 Kaonohi St., at about 10 p.m.
The man, who had a handgun in his right hand, approached the woman driver and her boyfriend and demanded the car. The robber fled in the stolen car.
Dog bites ear off Big Isle woman
A Big Island doctor had her right ear reattached after it was bitten off by a pit bull.
Dr. Melissa Smith said she turned her face away from the dog as it ran across a Waimea street and leaped at her Monday. She said if the dog had hit her in the face, she probably would be dead.
Smith said she saw the dog standing over her with her ear in its mouth. She said she gagged the dog and it coughed out her ear. Smith said she isn't sure how she did it.
"I was fighting for my life. The whole thing happened in matter of seconds," he said.
She said two children took the dog home and a woman took her to the hospital. Dr. Emil Suzara said he reattached the ear in his office with only local anesthetic.
Smith was released from the hospital Wednesday, but will need skin grafts.
Windward delay in traffic, water
Traffic delays in Punalu'u and water restrictions in Windward O'ahu will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. today when the Board of Water Supply connects a major new transmission main.
The connection will take place in Punalu'u along Kamehameha Highway near Woodward Lane, where one lane of traffic will be closed.
Dewatering of the line was to have begun at 1 this morning, resulting in a reduction of water for residents from Punalu'u to Lanikai.
Residents are asked to limit water use until the system is brought back to normal some time between 9 p.m. and midnight.
Trade workers ready for jobs
About 50 young men and women graduated from Hawai'i Job Corps in Waimanalo last night in trades such as culinary arts, painting, horticulture and automotive repair.
The Hawai'i Job Corps Center, paid for by the U.S. Department of Labor, produces more than 300 job-ready applicants for the work force each year.
Pre-Plus opens at Kailua site
Kailua Elementary School became the seventh site for a Pre-Plus Preschool facility at a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.
Twenty-six preschools will be opened, 13 by the end of this year.
The Honolulu Community Action Program will operate the Kailua facility. The preschool is open to all 3- and 4-year-old children, with preferences for children whose families fall at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Index.
Rotary award to Honolulu club
The Rotary Club of Honolulu has received the Club of the Year award among large clubs for its community service and leadership.
The Honolulu Sunset club received the award for medium-sized clubs and the Upcountry Maui club was named small club of the year.
The Honolulu Rotary Club has about 400 members and is one of 41 clubs in the state.
Jake Jacobs of Kailua, president of the Honolulu club, received the distinguished club president citation.
Sunset on Beach back in Waikiki
Sunset on the Beach returns to Waikiki this weekend after attracting more than 60,000 people to the event hosted at Neal Blaisdell Park in Pearl City on Sunday and Monday.
This weekend's festivities include feature films, entertainment, food and contests beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Queen's Surf Beach on the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues.
On Saturday, the movie is "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" with Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Sean Connery. The PG-13 movie has been edited for family viewing. Sunday's feature is "The Maltese Falcon," starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Peter Lorre.
