Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Driver identified in deadly crash

Christopher Tacut, 21, was the driver of the car in the Makaha crash Dec. 8 that killed him and three others in the vehicle, police said. Tacut was not drunk, police have said.

Tacut was driving a Nissan Altima that crossed the center line on Farrington Highway and hit an oncoming sport utility vehicle.

Also killed were his brother, Josh Mendoza, 20; Vernaleinaala Eli, 24; and Tina Vaesau, 18.

UH logo process draws criticism

The process used to select a company to design a logo for the University of Hawai'i is being criticized by Walter Kirimitsu, UH vice president for legal affairs.

Selecting six finalists wasn't in legal compliance with the request for proposals, which said three finalists would be invited to make in-person presentations, he said in a Dec. 3 memo to a Board of Regents panel.

Kate Wester, UH director of public relations, defended the change, saying expanding the group was in the best interest of the university.

Robert Rytter & Associates, the Maryland firm selected to design the logo, initially placed fifth among 14 companies that submitted bids.