Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
BIG ISLAND
Car break-in nets 16 months
A 22-year-old Big Island man caught breaking into a car at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.
Robert K. Souza also will be placed on supervised release for three years after he is released from prison, and will be banned from the park for that time, park officials announced.
Souza was convicted of one count of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle.
He was arrested July 5, 2003, after rangers placed a "decoy" vehicle at a parking area off the Chain of Craters Road and put several areas of the park under surveillance. The surveillance effort was prompted by a rash of almost 20 car burglaries in the park.
Souza was arrested after rangers watched him use a screwdriver to punch out the lock of a car and take items from the vehicle parked at Mau Loa O Mauna Ulu, a trailhead used by hikers.
HONOLULU
Firms fined for contributions
Three architecture and engineering companies have agreed to pay state fines totalling $3,500 for making improper campaign contributions.
NTW Associates agreed to pay $2,000 to the state Campaign Spending Commission for making false name contributions to the campaigns of Mayor Jeremy Harris and former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.
Architecture Plus Inc. agreed to pay $1,000 for making similar donations to former Gov. Ben Cayetano.
Lyon Associates Inc. will pay $500 for making an contribution to Harris that exceeded the legal limit.
The commission is to vote Wednesday on formally accepting conciliation agreements that include the fines.
EAST HONOLULU
Library to mark 30th birthday
The Hawai'i Kai Public Library is celebrating its 30th birthday and National Library Week at 5:30 p.m. April 19 with balloon animals, party favors and cake.
The birthday celebration is sponsored by volunteer Friends of Hawai'i Kai Public Library and Friends of the Library of Hawai'i. For more information, call 397-5833.
O'AHU
Final events in kupuna project
The final events of the Kupuna ID Project will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 29 at Wahiawa District Park and May 4 at Koko Head District Park.
The Kupuna ID Project is intended to help elderly adults who may become disoriented, sick or lost by providing them with an identification card that includes their photo, name and emergency contact information.
The free card is not official government identification, but can help emergency personnel to identify lost senior citizens.
"For those who no longer have a driver's license or state ID, the Kupuna ID will be useful in helping police identify the senior," said state Attorney General Mark Bennett.
For more information, call 586-1500.
