Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Teacher honored by Peace Corps
WAILUKU, Maui — '?ao Intermediate School teacher Lei'ohu Ryder recently was honored with the National Peace Corps Association's Peace Educator Award for promoting peace and intercultural understanding.
Ryder, a seventh-grade Pacific Island studies and Hawaiian history teacher, was recognized for involving students in peace activism and emphasizing traditional Hawaiian values in her classroom to develop a sense of community, facilitate conflict resolution, and encourage mutual support and caring among students.
She also created a student Peace Team that performed in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The Peace Educator Award comes with a cash award of $500.
12 people arrested in alleged drug ring
HILO, Hawai'i — A dozen people were arrested Wednesday for alleged involvement in what police said was a major drug operation in Ka'u.
Search warrants were served at five homes in Na'alehu and the Green Sands subdivision, with officers seizing drugs, cash and two .22-caliber rifles with ammunition. Twelve suspects ranging in age from 21 to 53 were being held yesterday in the Kona police cellblock.
Hawai'i County police were assisted in the raids by state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers and U.S. Customs Service agents.
Authorities said they seized 1.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, marijuana plants, nearly an ounce of dried marijuana, drug paraphernalia, surveillance equipment and $444 in cash.
Several of the suspects are facing federal prosecution, and one man was charged with a federal firearms violation yesterday. According to an affidavit filed in federal court in Honolulu, police found a .22-caliber semiautomatic rifle at the Na'alehu home of 37-year-old Douglas Edwin Rychener.
Rychener has eight felony convictions, making it a violation of federal law for him to own a firearm.
Program plans fishing fund-raiser
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Punana Leo o Kaua'i, a Hawaiian immersion preschool program, will hold a fund-raising fishing tournament over Memorial Day weekend.
Ho'okuku Lawai'a registration forms are available at Village Variety Store in Hanalei, Waipouli Variety Store, Lihu'e Fishing Supply, Koloa Discount Variety Store, Steve's Mini Mart in Kalaheo, Saltpond Country Store in Hanapepe, and Westside Sporting Goods in Waimea.
There are prizes in several categories, led by a $5,000 first prize for the heaviest ulua. A weigh-in with food and music is scheduled May 25.
Man arrested near Kaua'i school
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police arrested a 32-year-old Hanapepe man yesterday just off the grounds of Waimea Canyon School after he was heard making threats against a school bus driver.
Vice Principal Gary Kitabayashi said the man walked into the combined elementary and middle school office about 10:30 a.m. claiming to be an FBI agent assigned to arrest a bus driver for murder. He was asked to leave the school when he failed to produce proper identification, but then was heard making threats.
School safety manager Todd Lundquist followed the man to be sure he left the campus, Kitabayashi said.
Assistant Police Chief Clayton Arinaga said two police officers who responded to a call from the school took the man into custody after a brief scuffle. The arrest took place off school grounds and no students were in the vicinity, he said. The man was released after being booked for trespassing and harassment, Arinaga said.
Information sought about sex assault
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police have asked the public for any information on a sexual assault reported early yesterday at the county's Ha'ena Beach Park.
The victim, a 35-year-old woman from England who was camping in the park, reported she was sexually assaulted about 2 a.m. by an unknown assailant
Anyone with information can call Lt. Regina Ventura at 241-1680 or Crimestoppers at 241-1887.
