Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo man finds live grenade
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police are advising residents not to touch any explosives they may find, after a man brought a live hand grenade to the Hilo police station for disposal.
The man found the Japanese-made, World War II-era grenade — apparently a family souvenir — in his Hilo home Monday, said Capt. Ron Nakamichi. Police immediately secured the area around the man's vehicle and called the military, which determined the device was indeed a live grenade. A team from the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island removed the grenade from the police parking lot and disposed of it, he said.
Nakamichi said anyone who finds a suspected ordnance should not move or touch it, but rather call police immediately.
Stolen Chinese items recovered
HILO, Hawai'i — Police recovered three Chinese artifacts stolen from a Hilo residence last month.
Recovered were an ivory incense burner valued at $22,000, a carved ivory tusk valued at $3,500, and a jade flower carving valued at $20,000. Police did not say where the 19th-century artifacts were found.
Jewelry and several other items stolen during the burglary still are missing, but police have identified possible suspects.
HONOLULU
State geography bee tomorrow
World geography, politics and cultures will be among the topics that nearly 80 public and private school students statewide will have to master at the Hawai'i state National Geographic Bee tomorrow at the Ala Moana Hotel.
Preliminary rounds begin at 9 a.m. and the final round begins at 11:15 a.m. The contestants, students in fourth through eighth grade, competed in school competitions in December.
The winner will receive $100, a National Geographic globe and an expenses-paid trip to the national finals in Washington, D.C., on May 20 and 21.
At the national bee, where "Jeopardy!" quiz show host Alex Trebek will moderate, student finalists will compete for the 2003 National Geographic Bee crown, a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society.
The second- and third-place winners will receive $15,000 and $10,000 scholarships, respectively.
Plant sale to be held Saturday
More than 30 nurseries will take part in the Lyon Arboretum spring plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.
Admission is free to the sale, which will feature a selection of orchids, native Hawaiian plants, fruit trees, herbs, anthuriums, bromeliads, tillandsias, gingers, heliconias, cacti and succulents, water plants, daylilies and palms.
Plant experts will be on hand to give advice and there will be booths with handicrafts, lei, T-shirts, books and food products.
For more information, call 988-0456.
