A Windward O'ahu power failure left 8,300 customers without electricity today in Kane'ohe, Kahalu'u and Temple Valley.

Power was lost at 6:39 a.m., said Jose Dizon, spokesman for Hawaiian Electric Co. Power was restored to 6,600 customers within a half-hour and to the remaining customers within an hour, he said.

Crews planned to check a transmission line suspected as causing the power failure.

Help sought in finding man

Police are asking for the public's assistance in finding James Guerrero. They believe Guerrero was emotionally distraught when last seen about 9:45 p.m. Sunday at a friend's home on Ala Akau Street in Wai'anae

Police said Guerrero may be armed and should be considered dangerous. He has previous convictions for harassment and for violating protective orders.

Anyone with information is asked to call police investigator James Vasconcellos at 529-3064, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Crash victim identified

The city Medical Examiner's office has identified Dustyn Ratliff, 21, as the motorcyclist who was killed Sunday night after his motorcycle crashed on Aolele Street near the

United Airlines cargo terminal at Honolulu International Airport.

Police investigators said witnesses saw Ratliff speeding toward the east in the westbound lane of the street shortly before the crash.

Ratliff, a Navy sailor, lived on McMorris Drive in a military housing area of Salt Lake.

Police seek robbery suspect

Police also are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who robbed the Kahala Mall in-store Star Market branch of Bank of Hawaii about 2:45 p.m. Sunday.

The suspect presented a demand note to the teller stating that he was armed and left with an undisclosed amount of money.

Anyone with information about the robbery should call detective Derrick Kiyotoki at 529-3436. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Man gets 8 years for shooting teen

A 22-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday for manslaughter and related charges for shooting a teenager at a Waipi'o Acres apartment in 2001.

Jared Lee Williams was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Town under the state's youthful-offender law.

Williams earlier was found guilty after he pleaded no contest to charges of manslaughter, theft and burglary in the shooting of his friend, 17-year-old Robert Rhoda Jr., on Dec. 5, 2001.

The victim had earlier stolen the gun from another apartment at the Waikalani Woodlands complex, then he, the defendant and two others were eating pizza and doing drugs when the weapon went off, Williams' lawyer Myles Breiner said.

Breiner said the shooting was "accidental" but of a "reckless nature." His client had not contested that he recklessly killed Rhoda.

Williams, at the time of the shooting, was absent without leave from the Army and has since been discharged from the service, Breiner said.

Meal with Santa at fund-raiser

Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i will have its 18th annual "Breakfast with Santa" fund-raiser from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

and noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, Manoa Grand Ballroom, 2454 S. Beretania St.

For a $17 donation, people get a meal, a photo with Santa Claus, a Christmas gift and entertainment by clowns, costumed characters and magicians.

The group hopes to raise $40,000 for its cause.

For tickets, call 440-4613.

Balloon Man at Waimea library

The Balloon Man, Douglas Odani, will appear in a free performance at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Waimea Public Library on Kaua'i.

Odani will create balloon sculptures, then teach participants how to make balloon sculptures of their own.

The event, which celebrates Children's Book Week, is open to children 5 and older, as well as their parents.

There will be light refreshments and door prizes.

For more information, or to set up a sign-language interpreter, call (808) 338-6848.

Entertainment at talespinners' fest

Celtic harp player and storyteller Patrick Ball will headline the 2004 Talespinners' Festivals of the Pacific next week.

The festival includes live performances at libraries on four islands by Ball, a native Californian, and local storytellers Nyla Ching-Fujii and Joe Miller, and bluesman and balladeer Jeffry Stephen Babb.