Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hiker rescued on Haleakala
HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, Maui — A helicopter last night rescued a hiker from a ridge above the Paliku backcountry of Haleakala National Park.
Zachary Mammon, 38, of Nahiku, Maui, reported he was cold but unhurt when he finally was able to call authorities on his cellular phone at about 4:15 p.m. yesterday. He had gone into the crater with a group that stayed at the Paliku cabin Monday night, said park spokeswoman Jennifer Talken-Spaulding. The group entered a clearly marked area that is off-limits to hikers because of nesting nene geese, she said. Mammon decided to go off on his own, and when he didn't return later that evening, his companions notified park staff who were staying in a nearby cabin.
Park crews and a helicopter searched for the man yesterday. Talken-Spaulding said park biologists will be visiting the restricted area to see if the hikers disturbed the endangered birds.
Kona home blaze under review
Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that leveled a two-story home in an isolated area of Kona. Captain Cook firefighters said that the top floor of the house at the top of Bruner Road had already collapsed by the time they arrived on the scene at about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The area is only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles, and water had to be shuttled from a staging area more than a mile away from the fire to wet down the brush surrounding the home to prevent a brush fire.
WINDWARD O'AHU
Local musicians to teach classes
Rich Crandall, Byron Yasui and Peter Moon are among the musicians teaching this spring at Windward Community College's Hawai'i Music Institute.
Crandall, a local jazz player, will begin his class with basic blues and move into jazz and "hip" sound. Yasui, a music professor at the University of Hawai'i, will teach beginning 'ukulele. Slack-key master Moon is offering classes in 'ukulele and slack-key riffs.
Guitar, vocal and hula classes are also available. Classes will run from Jan. 27 to March 28.
For information or to register, call the college's Office of Continuing Education and Training at 235-7433.
HONOLULU
Mother jailed in welfare fraud
Circuit Judge Karen Ahn has ordered a 33-year-old O'ahu woman who is the mother of eight children to spend 30 days in jail in connection with a welfare fraud case.
Hawai'i Attorney General Mark Bennett said Ahn set aside a deferred acceptance of guilty plea last week for Kelly Sussel and sentenced her to probation and the month-long jail term after finding that Sussel had failed to meet with her probation officer on several occasions, failed to complete her community service and failed to pay restitution.
Saint Louis plans benefit
A school-wide walk-a-thon to benefit the Aloha United Way will be held at Saint Louis School on Jan. 24.
Students hope to raise $7,500 by obtaining sponsors for their walk, which will begin on campus and head either to Diamond Head or into Palolo Valley and back.
The event is part of the school's Marianist Heritage month celebration to honor Catholic priest William Joseph Chaminade, who founded the school and the Society of Mary.
To contribute call student council adviser Lulu Lulu at 739-4816.
