Posted on: Monday, April 4, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Autopsy planned in man's death
Advertiser Staff
An autopsy will be performed today on 35-year-old John Michael Winger of Wahiawa, whose body was discovered yesterday at Three Tables in the Sunset Beach area. A passerby found the body on the rocks and called police at about 10:30 a.m.
Winger had been reported missing Saturday afternoon by a friend. Fire Department personnel searched the Three Tables area from 5 to 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
Winger is believed to have gone 'opihi picking. There were no signs of foul play. The investigation has been classified as an unattended death pending autopsy findings on cause of death.
The medical examiner's office yesterday identified the motorcyclist killed in a collision Saturday night on Fort Weaver Road as Ethan Tanaka, 40, of 'Ewa Beach.
Tanaka, who was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:53 p.m., was struck by a 2003 Isuzu Rodeo while making a left turn onto Hanakahi Street from the southbound lanes of Fort Weaver Road, police said.
The Rodeo, driven by a 25-year-old woman, was headed north on Fort Weaver Road. The impact forced both the motorcycle and Rodeo into the path of a southbound 1999 Dodge Ram pickup, waiting to make a left turn onto Hanakahi from Fort Weaver.
Tanaka was thrown from the motorcycle when it struck the Dodge Ram. Tanaka's motorcycle continued past the Ram and struck a 2004 GMC pickup traveling south on Fort Weaver Road.
The Rodeo's driver was taken to the hospital in guarded condition, police said. No other injuries were reported.
The death was O'ahu's 21st traffic fatality of the year, compared with 18 at the same time in 2004.
A 67-year-old man who was struck by a car while he was riding his moped near Ala Moana Center last month has died.
Kjeld Sorensen died at 3:21 a.m. Friday at The Queen's Medical Center, police said.
He had been critically injured when a car struck his moped about 7 p.m. on March 24.
Police said Sorensen was in the left-turn lane from Pi'ikoi Street onto Kapi'olani Boulevard when a 1996 Toyota Camry in the middle lane of Pi'ikoi turned suddenly onto Kapi'olani and clipped the moped.
Police said Sorensen was not wearing a helmet and suffered head injuries.
The 43-year-old woman driving the Camry was not injured.
A state House committee has advanced a resolution calling for an audit of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The resolution cited "growing concern that recent managerial vacancies and the large number of vacant operating positions and chronic lack of funding may accelerate an irreparable and irretrievable loss of public trust resources."
The action comes on the heels of a press conference last week by the leaders of several environmental and cultural-interest groups who said they will demand DLNR Director Peter Young's resignation unless drastic changes are made to the DLNR in the next two months.
The Water, Land and Ocean Resources Committee on Friday added language to the resolution noting that previous audits of the DLNR over the past two decades "have revealed weaknesses" with the agency's management of natural resources.
Young, who also serves as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, said the agency will cooperate fully with an audit. He said attacks against his administration are misguided, and noted that the Legislature cut $4 million and 87 positions from the department's budget last year.
Origami crafts and other children's activities featured in a popular book will be demonstrated at "Kodomo no Hi: Keiki Fun Fest," a free event set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i.
The event will feature crafts and activities chronicled in "Kokoro: Cherished Japanese Traditions in Hawai'i" by the Japanese Women's Society of Honolulu.
The society was founded in 1954 as an educational and service organization. It promotes understanding of Japanese culture and appreciation of world cultures, and it provides service to the community in areas such as health and aging.
For more information, call 945-7633.
Kalua ham hash with sauteed shrimp, Hawaiian-style barbeque chicken, rice and iced tea from Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant will be Saturday's featured $7 plate item at the Mililani Farmers' Market in the parking lot of Mililani High School.
The market is open from 2 to 4 p.m. and is co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Farm Bureau Federation and Mililani High School.
Food plates from North Shore Cattle Company, Hawaiian Style Chili Company and North Shore Farms are also available.
For information about the weekly Saturday market in Mililani, call 848-2074.
Elan Kekuawela did not return home after school that day. Anyone with information can call police at (808) 241-1711.
Special Olympics Hawai'i is seeking old cell phones for a recycling project titled "Turn Old into Gold."
Special Olympics, with help of RMS Communications Group, launched a national campaign in February to collect unwanted cell phones for recycling.
In Hawai'i, Special Olympics could receive a minimum of $1 to more than $100 for cell phones, depending on type of phone and usable parts.
Cell phones can be dropped off at The Advertiser information counter at 605 Kapi'olani Blvd.; First Hawaiian Bank branches; and Sprint, TCA Wireless and Tech Zone stores.
Crash victim identified
Moped rider hurt in crash dies
Measure calls for DLNR audit
Origami focus of free event
Farmers' market on Saturdays
Help sought finding girl
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police are asking the public's help in finding a 15-year-old girl who has been missing since Feb. 11.
Elan Kekuawela
Put old cell phone to good use
