Posted on: Thursday, October 28, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
No engine defect in crashed plane
Advertiser Staff
A preliminary report released yesterday on the Oct. 17 crash of a twin-engine Cessna 310K in Kula, Maui, that killed the pilot said there were no obvious engine defects.
The WardAir Aviation plane crashed at 9:24 p.m. on rising terrain at the 3,750-foot level of Haleakala, six minutes after taking off from Kahului Airport on its way to Kona, according to the report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Pilot and plane owner Ward Mareels, 54, of Kailua, O'ahu, had spent much of the previous week in Kona providing air tours of Kilauea volcano and day trips to Maui and Moloka'i to visitors on the Big Island for the Ironman Triathlon, the report said. The day of the crash, he had taken two passengers to Maui and was headed back to Kona.
According to witnesses, the night was clear, with no moon. One witness described seeing a "low-flying airplane" at roughly 3,000 feet about two minutes before hearing an explosion.
The pilot had checked in with the Federal Aviation Administration control center in Honolulu moments after takeoff and was advised to fly at an altitude of his discretion, the report said. At 9:21 p.m., he radioed that he was leaving 3,000 feet for higher altitude. Three minutes later radio and radar contact were lost.
Armed with signs and banners, King Intermediate students will be urging drivers to be alert, particularly in their congested school zone, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Some 150 students, teachers, police officers, community members and AIG Hawaii employees are expected to participate in AIG's Hot Spots speeding awareness program, a grass-roots effort to slow traffic near schools.
Former Windward resident Bruce Murakami and Justin Cabezas, of Florida, will wave signs with the students. In 1998 Murakami lost his wife and daughter in a Florida car crash caused by Cabezas, a street racer. The two men now travel the country educating drivers about the dangers of irresponsible driving and the need for safety on the roads.
The students will also compete in a Hot Spots poster contest today and hear Officer Mel Andres speak about pedestrian safety.
The East-West Center is accepting nominations for an outstanding global educator through Nov. 8.
The nominees should be Hawai'i public or private school educators who have advanced students' international knowledge and skills.
The award includes a $500 cash prize and statewide recognition.
In addition, the educator's school will receive a $500 voucher to purchase global education resource materials for its supportive role in fostering students' knowledge of their world and their global awareness.
Award sponsors include The Honolulu Advertiser, the East-West Center's AsiaPacificEd Program, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, and Wo International Center at Punahou School.
Nominees may be kindergarten through high school classroom teachers in any subject, school librarians and media specialists, as well as technology coordinators who work directly with students.
The winner will be named during the fifth annual Hawai'i International Education Week, proclaimed for Nov. 15-20.
For applications and information, contact Gordon Walker at the East-West Center at 944-7768 or walkerg@eastwestcenter.org. Self-nominations are accepted. The application and information for the teacher award can also be found online at the East-West Center Web site: www.eastwestcenter.org under "Education," then hit "Hawaii International Education Week."
Eileen Hirota, principal of 'Ewa Beach Elementary School, will be honored as one of 65 National Distinguished Principals tomorrow in Washington.
The award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals recognizes one public elementary school principal from each state, as well as a handful of middle school, private school and overseas school principals.
Secretary of Education Rod Paige is expected to present each honoree with a certificate and engraved brass school bell at the black-tie awards banquet.
The award recognizes principals who are clearly committed to excellence; have increased or maintained consistently high levels of student achievements on statewide assessments; have programs designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students and have firm ties to parents and the communities.
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A benefit for victims of ocean accidents that was scheduled for Saturday at Kilohana Carriage House has been canceled and will be rescheduled for early next year.
The program was to include surfer and shark attack victim Bethany Hamilton and her psychologist, musician Kai Swigart, who just released a music CD. Swigart said the cancellation was due to conflicts in scheduling.
The Mediation Center of the Pacific will have a dinner and fund-raiser Nov. 5 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel to recognize its 2004 Natural Collaborative Leaders.
The leaders are named from large and small businesses, government and nonprofits and are recognized for their ability to support a climate of cooperation, consensus building and community in their workplace.
The dinner and ceremony will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and costs $85 per seat.
For reservations, call Koreen Shiosaki at 521-6767.
Students push traffic safety
Search begins for top educator
School principal to be honored
Victims' benefit to be rescheduled
Leaders honored at fund-raiser
