Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
Marine, 28, injured in training exercise
A 28-year-old Marine was in critical condition yesterday after being injured in a training exercise a day earlier.
Sgt. Christopher Raize-Montez, of the 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe, was critical but stable at The Queen's Medical Center.
The military said Raize-Montez, who is from Texas, was taking part in a night fast-rope-insertion training exercise, where Marines slide down a rope dangling from a CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter.
Military officials declined to describe his injuries.
The Marines would not say if Raize-Montez fell or explain how he got injured, saying the incident was under investigation.
Governor begins trip to Mainland
Gov. Linda Lingle was scheduled last night to begin a nine-day trip to the Mainland.
In Washington, Lingle and seven of her cabinet members were to meet with officials of the Bush administration and Congress. Issues to be discussed include health and human services, transportation and homeland security.
Lingle will also attend the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, as well as meetings of the Republican Governors Association and the Western Governors Association.
Lingle will also travel to New York, where she will meet with executives of the New York Stock Exchange and ring the closing bell Feb. 27.
The governor is scheduled to return home the following day.
Dental SmileFest at Honolulu Hale
The third annual Dental Health Hawai'i SmileFest will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of Honolulu Hale. Children can enter free by bringing an old toothbrush or an empty Meadow Gold or Viva brand half-gallon milk carton. Adults are asked to make a $2 donation.
Children can get free fluoride treatments and toothbrushes and toothpaste while supplies last. Other attractions are an interactive educational maze with games and activities, rides and prizes.
Entertainment will include Mad Science of Hawai'i, Bishaw's Tae Kwon Do, magician Kelvin Chun, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Dancers, Balloon Monsoon and the Kuo Min Tang Physical Culture Association.
The event is coordinated by the nonprofit organization Dental Health Hawai'i and sponsored by Hawaii Family Dental Centers and Meadow Gold Dairies Hawaii. Other sponsors include the City and County of Honolulu, Aloun Farms and HMSA.
SmileFest fliers containing coupons for milk discounts are available at all O'ahu 7-Eleven stores. For more information, visit www.healthysmileshawaii.com.
HPD chief rated 'exemplary'
Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue received "exemplary" marks in his latest performance evaluation by the Honolulu Police Commission.
The commission said Donohue's "outstanding leadership and management skills were significant factors in shaping the Honolulu Police Department as one of the best law enforcement agencies in the country." One of Donohue's major achievements was the department's accreditation last year, the commission said.
Under Donohue's tenure, the commission added, the Weed & Seed program was expanded, homeland security issues addressed, and recruitment and training programs upgraded despite budget constraints.
Urban plan to be discussed
Two public information meetings will be held this month to discuss the city's primary urban center plan covering the area from Kahala to Pearl City.
The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Kawananakoa Middle School cafeteria in Nu'uanu and at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 in the Alvah Scott Elementary cafeteria in 'Aiea.
The city Department of Planning and Permitting will present a summary of the plan, which is intended to provide a general planning framework for the region, detailed neighborhood planning and a guide to public investment and land use decisions for the next 25 years.
The final draft of the document is being reviewed by the City Council.
Bone marrow donors sought
A bone marrow donor registration drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Pearlridge Center. The event is being organized on behalf of two Hawai'i residents with life-threatening illnesses that require a bone marrow transplant.
Vicki Eto, 46, of Maui, has myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition in which her bone marrow is not making enough red blood cells. Chapi Akana, 25, of Kaua'i, was diagnosed with acute leukemia in November 2001.
Candidates must be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health. A small sample of blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory for tissue typing. For details, call the Hawai'i Bone Marrow Donor Registry at 547-6154, or toll-free (877) HI-DONOR (443-6667).
School transfer data revised
The state Department of Education has revised its initial figures on the number of students who transferred schools this school year under provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The DOE found that 147 students moved from schools that had not made adequate progress under the law for two consecutive years. Twenty-one students transferred schools under the law in the 2002-03 school year.
The DOE had provided slightly different numbers to the Advertiser in December.
Parents have until March 1 to apply for transfers under the law, or through the DOE's geographic exception policy, for the next school year.
