Posted on: Friday, February 14, 2003
Hawai'i briefs
Plea is not guilty on weapons charge
A man whose 'Aiea home was searched by police on Feb. 6 pleaded not guilty yesterday to a federal charge of having rifle magazines capable of storing up to 30 .223-caliber bullets.
The indictment brought against Dennis Cacatian, 41, on Wednesday by a federal grand jury claims Cacatian had magazines that were stamped, "restricted military/govt./
law enforcement/Export use only."
Police went to the 'Aiea home as a result of a search warrant related to a firearms case against Christopher Aki, who is accused of murdering 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal. She had disappeared from her home Dec. 13 and was found dead three days later off 'Aiea Loop Trail.
Federal Deputy Public Defender Michael Weight said the federal charge against Cacatian is not related to the murder of Indreginal. Cacatian is Kahealani's uncle.
Aki had been charged in the firearms case before Kahealani's death. He is being held at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.
Leeward outage affects hundreds
A power failure left hundreds of residents in Honokai Hale, Kahe and Ko Olina without electricity last night.
The outage was reported at 9:35 p.m. and affected about 700 customers, said Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Fred Kobashikawa. He said power was restored by 10:35.
Kobashikawa said the outage occurred when a circuit breaker tripped. But he said crews late last night were trying to determine what caused the circuit breaker to go off.
Heavy rains flood roads in Kaua'i
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Downpours through the afternoon and evening on Kaua'i yesterday flooded roadways and caused landslides, one of which closed Kuhio Highway in Lumaha'i on the North Shore. Police dispatchers said a landslide along Kuamo'o Road in Wailua did not entirely block traffic.
Drivers reported water flowing several inches deep on roadways in various parts of the island.
The weather service said the unstable air would move eastward from Kaua'i toward the rest of the state during the night.
Firefighters battle lava brushfires
HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, Hawai'i — The upper portion of the Chain of Craters Road was reopened yesterday, as firefighters appeared to be gaining the upper hand over brushfires ignited by lava from the Kilauea volcano.
Lava from the flow that began on Mother's Day reached the lower section of the road shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday and crossed to the other side an hour later, heading to the coast west of Wilipe'a. Park crews worked Wednesday and yesterday to move ranger huts, toilets, signs and other equipment out of the way of the flow.
Helicopters continued to drop water on the brush fires that have consumed nearly 2,200 acres since Monday. Park officials said they have been gaining ground in their efforts to contain the fires and protect flora and fauna.
With the reopening of the road, visitors are now able to drive about halfway down as far as Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu, park officials said.
Telescopes hearing to resume Feb. 24
HILO, Hawai'i _ After four days of testimony from scientists and experts, participants in a hearing over a permit for new telescopes atop Mauna Kea temporarily adjourned yesterday afternoon.
Testimony is expected to resume Feb. 24 before hearings officer Michael Gibson. Gibson will then issue findings of fact and make a recommendation to the Board of Land and Natural Resources on how to proceed.
The University of Hawai'i is applying on behalf of NASA for a state permit to add six new telescopes around the existing two larger telescopes of the W.M. Keck Observatory.
Critics, including the Sierra Club, argue NASA or the state should do an environmental impact statement to determine the overall impact of astronomy on Mauna Kea.
Coast Guard crews seize cocaine
Honolulu-based Coast Guard crews seized nearly three tons of cocaine worth $1.4 million and detained four men off the coast of Nicaragua, the Coast Guard said yesterday.
The 378-foot Coast Guard Cutter Rush, homeported in Honolulu, was working with a San Francisco-based Coast Guard helicopter crew on patrol 100 miles south of Nicaragua on Feb. 5 when it was diverted to intercept a suspect vessel.
As the cutter closed in on a 42-foot "go fast" boat, the four men on board set it on fire and jumped into the sea, according to Petty Officer Lauren Smith, Coast Guard spokeswoman in Honolulu.
Coast Guard personnel were able to put out the fire and keep the boat from sinking, she said.
On board, they found 105 bales of pure cocaine, weighing an estimated 5,775 pounds, Smith said.
The seizure resulted from coordinated efforts of the Joint Interagency Task Force West in Alameda, CA., with many Coast Guard and Navy assets, along with a Mexican Navy patrol boat and aircraft.
Weather buoy undergoing repairs
Buoy One, the weather buoy that warns the Islands of incoming high surf from the northwest, has been brought into port for repair and should be back at work early next month.
The buoy, normally moored nearly 200 miles northwest of Kaua'i, broke free from its mooring Jan. 10. It continued sending reports on wave height, temperature and wind speed as it drifted, first snagging on a reef near Nihoa Island then drifting eastward.
When a Coast Guard cutter chased it down Feb. 4, the crew found that the mooring yoke was broken and could not be repaired at sea. The buoy was brought to Honolulu for repair. The Coast Guard expects to install it with a new mooring in the first week of March.
National Weather Service meteorologist in charge Jim Weyman said the service is making up for the missing buoy data by increased use of satellite information, surf observations and various computerized systems to analyze storm systems and predict surf.
Abercrombie, Case get assignments
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie will serve as the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, his staff announced.
Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, will also serve on the committee's military readiness panel. The Armed Services Committee's leadership decided to reorganize the subcommittees for the 108th Congress, in part to mirror a similar committee structure in the Senate. The congressman had been the ranking member of the military installations and facilities subcommittee last session.
Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, was assigned to the House Small Business Committee, his staff said Wednesday.
Case also learned of his subcommittee assignments to the House's Education and Workforce Committee. He will serve on the education reform subcommittee and the employer-employee relations subcommittee.
Board vacancy announced
The Kuli'ou'ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board has a vacancy to fill after longtime member Kimo Sutton moved out of his subdistrict.
Interested residents must be at least 18 years old and live in the Niu Valley-Niuiki Circle area. The term is for three months, until the new term begins in June.
For more information call the Neighborhood Commission at 523-4944.
Peace garden needs weeders
Hawai'i Rotary clubs will gather tomorrow to clean and refurbish the Diamond Head Peace Garden.
The garden is at the corner of Diamond Head Road and 18th Avenue. The public is invited to assist in planting, weeding and trimming at the 1-acre parcel from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Peace Garden was planted in October 1999 by about 300 international students who participated in the Millennium Young People's Congress. In addition to 700 native plants, the students placed a time capsule there to be unburied in 2100.
Those who wish to participate in tomorrow's cleanup should wear working clothes and shoes, and bring gloves, trash bags, and rakes, shovels, hoes, weeders, pruners and other gardening tools.
Practice SAT exam tomorrow
High school students who want to take a practice SAT exam are invited to the University of Hawai'iiManoa from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at the School of Architecture building.
The event is co-sponsored by The Princeton Review of Hawai'i, a test preparation company, and GEAR UP, a program to increase college awareness among Hawai'i's teens. A $5 donation will benefit the GEAR UP Club, a nonprofit student group devoted to spreading information to their peers about attending college.
Parents and guardians are invited to attend the free 'ohana session hosted by GEAR UP. A tour of UH-Manoa, a seminar on college admissions and a discussion of financial aid will be conducted for parents while students take the practice SAT.
Registration is necessary for both events. Call 947-5988 or e-mail info.hawaii@review.com.
Town meeting set for Manoa
Lawmakers representing Manoa Valley and surrounding areas will hold a town meeting from 10 a.m. to noon tomorrow in the Noelani School library.
Sen. Brian Taniguchi, Rep. Kirk Caldwell and City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi will attend the meeting to update residents on issues and hear public concerns.
Wai'anae board to host meeting
The Wai'anae Coast Neighborhood Board will host a public meeting Tuesday to discuss the area's homeless issues.
The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Nanakuli Community Park.
