Posted on: Wednesday, September 8, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Man arrested after body found
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Police arrested a 48-year-old man yesterday after the body of another man was found on a dirt road in Kahuku yesterday morning.
The dead man, tentatively identified as a 38-year-old Kahuku resident, was discovered in a pool of blood at about 8:30 a.m. on Malaekahana Road, police said. Police said the man had "suspicious injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene.
At about 12:30 p.m., the 48-year-old man turned himself in at the Wahiawa police substation. He was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder and was being held last night pending charges.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fatal crash starts 200-acre fire
WAIKOLOA, Hawai'i — A Waikoloa woman died Monday in a head-on crash that also sparked a 200-acre brush fire.
Police said the collision occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Waikoloa Road in South Kohala. The victim was identified as Deborah Tilfas, 31, a front-seat passenger in a westbound Chevrolet van that was struck by a Dodge van driven by James Munar, 35, of 'Ewa Beach.
Tilfas was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m. at Kona Community Hospital. Her husband, Peter Tilfas, 37, and children, Mary, 11, Bedra, 8, and Keone, 5, were taken to North Hawai'i Community Hospital. The two youngest children were later flown to Kapi'olani Medical Center in Honolulu in serious condition.
Munar was treated at North Hawai'i Community Hospital and released.
Police are asking anyone with information on the crash to call officer Eric Cerezo at (808) 961-2332. Tilfas was the Big Island's 29th traffic fatality this year, compared with 20 a year ago.
Kaua'i mayor appoints two
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Mayor Bryan Baptiste has announced two appointments to his administration.
John K. Isobe, a former director of real estate and development for Princeville Corp. has been named deputy director of finance, effective Sept. 16. Isobe previously worked for the county as a research and legislative analyst and Council Services administrator, and most recently was interim director of the Office of Continuing Education at Kaua'i Community College.
Eric Knutzen, who has served as the deputy director of finance since January 2003, will head the county's Information Technology Division. Knutzen founded and served as CEO and chairman of an international information technology consulting company. He has been acting in a dual capacity as information technology manager and deputy director of finance since August.
Food and music fest in Lahaina
LAHAINA, Maui — The 13th Annual "A Taste of Lahaina" and "The Best of Island Music" will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Lahaina Recreation Center.
Twenty-six food booths will provide samples of a variety of dishes. Entertainment includes Noland Conjugacion, Kapena and Richard Ho'opi'i. A Keiki Fun Zone will feature a rock-climbing wall.
Admission is $5; children under 12 are free. Proceeds from food sales will benefit youth and school groups.
Organizers are seeking volunteers for the event. For more information, call the LahainaTown Action Committee at 667-9175.
Haleakala park chief gives talk
PUKALANI, Maui — Haleakala National Park Superintendent Don Reeser will give a talk and slide show at 7 p.m. Friday on issues, projects and programs affecting the park's summit and Kipahulu areas.
The event, sponsored by the Friends of Haleakala National Park, will be held in the multipurpose room next to the swimming pool at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani. Some of the topics Reeser will discuss include the air tour management plan, land acquisition, a new restroom along the Sliding Sands Trail, and parking lot and campground renovations at the Pools of 'Ohe'o in Kipahulu.
Those attending may participate in an interpretive botanical hike Saturday in the summit area, with details announced at the meeting. Friends of Haleakala National Park can be contacted at www.fhnp.org and (808) 572-9724.
HONOLULU
City truck yard moving to Kalihi
Work is under way to move a Honolulu city corporation yard from the Kaka'ako waterfront area to Kalihi.
Since 1944, the yard has been home to garbage trucks that used to empty their loads at an adjacent trash incinerator, which has been converted into a children's museum.
The state has been trying to get the city to move the yard for 16 years.
Frank Doyle, the city's director of Environmental Services, said a $3 million project has begun that will see the trucks stored in an area beneath the H-1 freeway's Middle Street viaduct by next May.
The move will save the city money in overtime and gasoline because the area is next to the Keehi Transfer Station, where the trucks now off-load, Doyle said.
The Hawaii Community Development Authority plans to replace the old yard with a retail and apartment complex.
Aquarium needs volunteer guides
The Waikiki Aquarium is looking for volunteers for its docent training program. The six-week course is designed to teach people, from college students to retirees, how to give lively, educational presentations to students in grades K-6.
The program teaches volunteers about Hawai'i's marine ecosystem and prepares them to teach students about the importance of protecting it.
Training courses begin Oct. 5 and meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers also work once a week during the school year on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.
Registration for training has begun. Call Joan Kafentzis at 440-9020 or Mary Pickett at 440-9011 for more information.
STATEWIDE
Census survey cards distributed
Public school students yesterday brought home federal census survey cards that must be completed by parents for schools to be eligible for federal impact aid money.
The money provides partial reimbursement to the state for local tax loss from tax-free federal installations.
The cards are used to determine how much the reimbursement will be. Last year the state counted more than 29,000 federally connected students and received $48 million in aid, which covered about 21 percent of the state's average per-pupil expenditure.
