Posted on: Thursday, August 5, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Wai'anae school fire called arson
Advertiser Staff
A fire Tuesday night at Wai'anae Elementary School was intentionally set and caused $85,000 in damage to a classroom building, firefighters said.
Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Emmit Kane said police have been asked to conduct an investigation into criminal property damage.
Witnesses reported seeing at least two youngsters leaving the school at the time of the fire, Kane said.
The fire was reported at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday and about 20 firefighters brought it quickly under control, then worked late into the evening to fully extinguish it. The blaze appeared to have started outside the four-classroom building, but also burned into the roof.
Kaua'i plans to open its first homeless shelter in the next 18 months on land donated by the state, officials said.
Mayor Bryan Baptiste said Tuesday that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has given the county a parcel of land near the shuttered LIhu'e Plantation sugar mill that includes the old LIhu'e School, most recently used for state offices.
Kaua'i Economic Opportunity Inc., a nonprofit social service agency that is a tenant on a portion of the land, is looking to lease the largest remaining portion of it to build emergency and transitional housing.
The emergency shelter will accommodate up to 19 people, who will be limited to six-week stays, said spokeswoman Stephanie Fernandes. The shelter will likely open in early 2006, she said.
The trial of a man who contends that he is a citizen of the Hawaiian kingdom and thus does not owe the state taxes has been postponed until Sept . 13.
John P. Souza, a 66-year-old Kane'ohe resident, has been held without bail since June 28 at O'ahu Community Correctional Center. He is awaiting trial on charges of theft and making false and fraudulent statements in connection with a refund of about $6,000 he received after filing amended state tax returns.
Circuit Judge Michael Wilson yesterday postponed the trial to accommodate the schedule of attorney Lane Takahashi. Souza has declined legal representation, but the court appointed Takahashi as stand-by counsel.
A proposal to link a planned residential/commercial development at piers 5 and 6 at Aloha Tower with downtown Honolulu using a trolley service will be discussed during the Downtown Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Pauahi Community Center, 171 N. Pauahi St.
The Friends of He'eia State Park will be improving facilities at the park and seeks volunteers to paint, make repairs, create signs and fix electrical problems between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Aug. 22.
Lunch and beverages will be provided, and a free prize drawing is scheduled.
To register, call 247-3156.
Learn how to identify turtle tracks on the beach during a free lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Education Center in Kihei.
State aquatic biologist Skippy Hau will discuss the summer nesting season for the threatened green sea turtle, or honu, and the endangered hawksbill sea turtle, or 'ea. Hau also will talk about the volunteer turtle stranding network meant to help turtles that are sick or stranded on shore.
Sanctuary officials encourage anyone interested in volunteering for the turtle stranding network to attend the lecture. The education center is located at 726 S. Kihei Road.
Island's first shelter planned
Sovereigntist's trial postponed
Trolley service to be discussed
Workers sought for park repairs
Talk focuses on sea turtles
