Posted on: Monday, October 4, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Pahoa driver in Friday crash dies
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i — A 20-year-old Pahoa man died of injuries he suffered in a head-on collision early Friday on Hawai'i Belt Road in Papa'ikou.
Stephen A. Dela Cruz was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center.
Police who responded to the 2:55 a.m. call reported that Dela Cruz was driving south in a 2004 Ford Mustang two-door sedan when his car crossed the center line near the 7-mile marker and struck an oncoming fuel truck driven by Todd Elow, 43, of 'Ainaloa.
Police have not determined whether speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call officer Reed Mahuna or Acting Sgt. Norbert Serrao at 961-2332.
Friday's death was the 32nd traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with 23 at this time last year.
Members of the Hawai'i County Police Commission have turned in their identification badges, at the request of Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna.
The chief acted on the advice of county attorney Lincoln Ashida, who wrote a letter citing two instances of misuse.
According to the County Charter, the function of police commissioners is to advise the department; they have no law enforcement powers.
Ashida said there is "no legitimate purpose" in commissioners having badges.
The practice of issuing badges to commissioners apparently goes back many decades, although no one seems to know when it started.
State Rep. Helene Hale, who held a post equivalent to mayor in the 1960s, said the commission existed for several decades before statehood.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has given $400,000 to the city's Emergency Services Department.
The department will use $250,000 from the grant to prepare responses to an attack involving a weapon of mass destruction. The remaining $150,000 will cover planning, training and equipment to treat victims of an incident causing a large number of casualties.
"This grant is very important in maintaining and enhancing the MMRS (Metropolitan Medical Response System) capabilities of the city and county of Honolulu," said Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, state adjutant general.
Honolulu was one of 144 jurisdictions around the country receiving part of $46 million from the Department of Homeland Security for preparedness against weapons of mass destruction.
A Maui County Council committee is considering a proposed lighting ordinance aimed at reducing interference with astronomical observations at the summit of Haleakala.
Councilman Michael Molina, who introduced the measure, said he hoped to have a Public Works Committee hearing on the bill Oct. 14 and to have it passed by the council this year.
The bill would require shields and low-pressure sodium bulbs for outdoor lighting of new developments. The shields would direct light downward instead of into the night sky, and low-pressure sodium bulbs emit a narrow spectrum of light that can be filtered out of astronomical viewing.
Increasing urban light pollution is threatening the quality of astronomers' work on Haleakala, said Jeanne Skog, a spokeswoman for high technology on Maui.
Research at the summit has helped diversify Maui's tourist-based economy and create a $140 million industry, she said.
The Federal Fire Department is holding several events around O'ahu as part of Fire Prevention Week.
One message officials hope to get across is that nearly 70 percent of deaths from house fires happen in homes that do not have smoke alarms, said federal Fire Inspector Victor Flint.
Demonstrations include putting out an aircraft fire and the "House of Hazards" model showing common household problems.
Here is the schedule of events:
• Tomorrow: Pearl Harbor Elementary School, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday: Sills Field, Schofield Barracks, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.• Thursday: Mokapu Elementary School, 9 to 11 a.m.
• Friday: The Mall at the Navy Exchange & Commissary, Moanalua, firefighter fashion show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tonight's one-hour live debate on 'Olelo Community Television features a partisan forum of 10 Democrats who wanted to debate on 'Olelo but whose opponents declined.
Appearing at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 54 are Dennis Arakaki, Kirk Caldwell, Carolyn Golojuch, Jon Karamatsu, Marcus Oshiro, Calvin Say, Scott Saiki, Brian Schatz, Maile Shimabukuro and Roy Takumi.
The debate will be followed Wednesday by Republican candidates whose opponents chose not to debate.
Commissioners' badges revoked
City wins federal security grant
Astronomers seek light limits
Fire prevention events this week
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