Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Dump fire extinguished
A fire at a Kailua solid waste dump site on the Big Island yesterday consumed approximately 2 acres of a scrap metal pile about 30 feet high. No one was injured.
The fire was reported shortly after midnight yesterday and firefighters had the blaze under control by 6 a.m. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Program builds leadership skills
HILO, Hawai'i — Na Pua No'eau, the Center for Gifted and Talented Native Hawaiian Children, is accepting applications from Hawaiian students for two-week summer residential programs at University of Hawai'i campuses in Hilo and Manoa.
The educational and enrichment programs, based at UH-Hilo, are open to students in grades six through 12.
The programs run from June 15 to June 28 and June 22 to July 5. The deadline to apply is March 28.
Call (808) 974-7678 or visit the Web site npn.uhh.hawaii.edu.
Officer's trial set for Sept. 8
Trial for a former Big Island police detective accused of fatally shooting his wife is set to begin Sept. 8 in Hilo.
Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura set the date Friday after ruling Albert Pacheco is mentally fit to stand trial for the death of Cathalene Pacheco.
Nakamura's ruling followed the assessments of a psychiatrist and two psychologists.
Pacheco, 46, has pleaded not guilty. He is accused of ramming his wife's van with his car, then shooting her in the head and neck with his police handgun on Jan. 4, 2001, near their Waikoloa Village home.
Two police officers testified at a preliminary hearing that Pacheco admitted killing his wife.
WINDWARD O'AHU
He'eia 'Friends' seek volunteers
Friends of He'eia State Park seeks volunteers to help plant native Hawaiian plants and remove invasive alien mangrove from the park's stream area from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday and March 22, and April 12 and 26.
Call 247-3156.
HONOLULU
Education conference set
An education conference titled "Exemplary Literacy Practices" will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Punahou School, Cornuelle Hall.
The conference is sponsored by the Aloha State Council of the International Reading Association and will include sessions on Web site access to resources, implementing standards-based change in schools, reading aloud, systematic and explicit instructional strategies, Web-based data systems to monitor reading progress, writing initiatives, collaborative strategic reading, and literacy tutor programs.
For more information or to register, send an e-mail to Lorraine_Gomez@notes.k12.hi.us or Patty_Leahey@notes.k12.hi.us.
