Posted on: Thursday, August 19, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Limit on sodas OK'd for schools
Advertiser Staff
Vending machines at Hawai'i's public schools will offer mostly healthy drink selections by December.
Each machine must have at least 80 percent healthy selections as part of a state Board of Education policy approved in April to help cut down on obesity in young people.
The state will enter into three-year master contracts with blind vendors, with the option of two extensions, each for a year. Schools will be able to negotiate on the number of machines or any product incentives.
Some school administrators and students told the school board in April that vending machines are important sources of revenue for school activities. Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottlers in Hawai'i opposed the policy, arguing that soda can be included in a balanced diet.
A school board committee heard an update on guidelines for the policy yesterday. Some board members had wanted only healthy drinks to be sold at school vending machines, but the board decided to restrict soda choices to 20 percent.
Two teenage boys and a man were arrested yesterday after a group of youths said one of the boys waved a handgun at them and threatened to kill them.
The boys, 13 and 15, were being held last night and faced charges of first-degree terroristic threatening and detaining stolen property. The 22-year-old man also faced the same charges, police said.
Police responded to a complaint at Kapi'olani Boulevard and Ke'eaumoku Street at about 2 p.m. yesterday. Several youths told police that three males threatened them, with one of the suspects pointing a handgun and saying he would kill them. The three fled before police arrived. Two hours later, however, police found the three nearby at a fast-food restaurant and arrested them.
The officers recovered the handgun, which was reported stolen in 2003. Police said the teens may have been involved in two other threatening cases.
The Palolo Pride festival will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Palolo District Park.
The free event will feature games, educational displays, art and food booths. The musical lineup includes Ernie Cruz, Ooklah the Moc, Inoa Ole and Aunty Violet Alphapada.
Thousands of people are expected to attend.
The life and legacy of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, renowned surfer and Olympic swimmer, will be honored tomorrow through Tuesday with a festival of water sports events and beachside exhibits along Waikiki Beach.
The third annual Duke's Ho'olaule'a will include:
• The Converse Hawaiian Open longboard surfing contest, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at the Queens and Canoes surf breaks off Kuhio Beach; free. • An old-timer beachboys talk-story session, 5 p.m. tomorrow at Duke's at Waikiki, in the Outrigger on the Beach Hotel. • Lei draping of Duke's statue, 5 p.m. Saturday, preceded by a sidewalk procession of lei from the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach at 4:30. • The Duke's Ocean Mile Swim, 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Waikiki Beach; also, the Waterman Challenge, 10 a.m. Sunday in front of Duke's Waikiki. • Sunrise celebration of the 114th anniversary of Duke's birth, 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Duke's statue. See full schedule of events at www.dukefoundation.org/. Go to "news."
The Honolulu Community Action Program will distribute free surplus food from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Aug. 27 to eligible residents.
Rice, canned salmon, beans, dry milk, pudding, raisins and pears will be passed out at 30 locations. Recipients must sign up and be certified at the distribution site.
For more information and directions to the distribution sites call 732-7755 (Hawai'i Kai to Nu'uanu); 488-6834 (Fort Shafter, Waipahu, 'Ewa Beach and the North Shore); 847-0804 (Kalihi); 696-4261 (Wai'anae Coast); and 239-5754 (Windward).
Police opened a second-degree assault case yesterday after a 23-month-old girl was brought to a hospital with burns.
The girl was taken to Castle Medical Center at 6:15 a.m. yesterday with second-degree burns on her face and arm, police said. The incident is under investigation, and no arrests had been made as of
An unattended electric fan is being blamed for causing a fire that damaged a Waipahu apartment yesterday.
The fire in a third-floor apartment at 94-0011 Waipahu St. was reported at about noon. The blaze was confined to the living room, but there was smoke damage throughout the unit, said Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Damage was estimated at $40,000.
Tejada advised people to unplug fans and small appliances when they are not in use.
"The safest thing they can do is not just turn them off, but unplug them. Then the power is not going up into the fan," Tejada said.
No one was at home when the fire began, and there were no reports of injuries.
HILO, Hawai'i — Police captured a 29-year-old prison escapee yesterday as he tried to hide in bushes in Pepe'ekeo.
Joshua A.J. Reed escaped Aug. 1 from the minimum-security Kulani Correctional Facility where he was serving time for raping his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint.
Police arrested Reed near the Old Mill Road in Pepe'ekeo at 5:15 p.m. yesterday.
He was treated at the Hilo Medical Center for injuries he suffered when he fled from police on Monday. He later was being held at the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center.
Police charged Reed with escape.
Brandi Coughlin, 30 of Pepe'ekeo, was charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly helping him.
3 suspects held in gun threat
Palolo Pride festival Saturday
Duke celebration opens tomorrow
Surplus food to be handed out
Child's burns investigated
Fan blamed in Waipahu fire
Big Island police capture fugitive
