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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 5, 2005

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
2 men critical in swim incidents

Advertiser Staff

Two men were in critical condition yesterday after they were pulled unconscious from the water in separate swimming incidents yesterday.

In the first case, a 40-year-old male visitor from Japan was found floating face-down in waters off the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The man was brought to the shore at about 11:15 a.m., and CPR was performed.

The man was taken to Straub Clinic and Hospital in "extremely critical condition," said Donnie Gates, assistant chief of the city's Emergency Medical Services. His condition was not available late last night.

At about 3:30 p.m., an 88-year-old man was found unresponsive in the Kalihi Valley District Park swimming pool. He was taken to Kuakini Medical Center in critical condition, Gates said.



Police warn of bogus bills

Police are warning the public to be aware of counterfeit $100 bills that have turned up at several Honolulu businesses.

So far, the fake bills have showed up in the McCully, Kaimuki and downtown Ho-nolulu areas, police said. The bills have some flaws, but they look better than some counterfeit bills, police said last night.

Police said more than one person is suspected of circulating the the bogus bills.

Anyone with information about the counterfeit bills is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or the Financial Fraud Detail at 529-3115.



DOWNTOWN

Hirata to discuss traffic changes

Ed Hirata, director of the city Department of Transportation Services, will give a presentation about proposed pedestrian and traffic changes during

the Downtown Neighborhood Board meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Pauahi Community Center, 171 N. Pauahi St.

Hirata will talk about a proposal to eliminate the diamondhead side crosswalks at Bishop and King streets (between Tamarind Park and First Hawaiian Bank) and at Punchbowl and King streets (between Honolulu Hale and Kawaiaha'o Church).



HAWAI'I KAI

Lions to sell benefit tickets

Every Sunday, Hawai'i Kai Lions Club members will be selling tickets for their annual Father's Day pancake breakfast.

Proceeds from the June 19 fund-raiser will help support various programs. Recently, the Lions Club purchased and installed a commercial-grade wall fan, replacing an inadequate household fan, in the Kaiser High School cafeteria kitchen.

The pancake breakfast will be from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Kaiser High cafeteria. The Lions will be going door to door selling the tickets every Sunday, except May 8. Tickets are $5.



WINDWARD

Presentation focuses on aging

Explore the potential of aging with John Rude, a recognized leader in developing wellness centers and award-winning programs in retirement housing communities, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Castle Medical Center's Wellness Auditorium in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Medical Plaza and Wellness Center.

The free presentation, "Live Well Longer: The Secrets of Successful Aging," will include research on fitness, aging and wellness.

To make reservations, visit www.castlemed.org or call 263-5400.



STATE

Lingle appoints planning director

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday appointed Laura H. Thielen to head the state Office of Planning.

Thielen served on the Board of Education since 2002, representing Windward O'ahu. She was a strong advocate of Lingle's stalled plan to break up the state school system into seven districts governed by locally elected school boards.

Thielen said she voluntarily resigned from the board to take her new position, to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest while heading a state office. Lingle said she has begun a search to fill Thielen's board seat.

"Leaving was a very difficult decision," Thielen said. "At this point, the Office of Planning was an opportunity, and really a once-in-a-lifetime chance to serve as director."

The Office of Planning represents the state in hearings before the Land Use Commission and assists other state agencies in planning and development.

Thielen is an attorney who operated a consulting firm with clients that included nonprofit groups and state agencies.



KAUA'I

Police find missing girl

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police reported that they found a missing Kaua'i girl shortly after the issuance of a bulletin she was being sought.

Elan Kekuawela reportedly left school Feb. 11 and never returned home. Police issued an appeal last week asking for the public's help in finding her.

Authorities said yesterday that they found her Saturday, but released no more details.



BIG ISLAND

Escapee, 25, being sought

Verece
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police are looking for a 25-year-old man who escaped from the Hale Nani Correctional Facility in Hilo.

Abraham Martin Verece, of Waimea, left the facility between 3:30 and 5 a.m. yesterday.

He is 5-feet-9, 185 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his back and both arms, police said.

Call the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. People may also call Crime-Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.



Bypass road to be discussed

HILO, Hawai'i — A preview of the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed $52 million Waimea bypass road will be offered up for public comment at a Waimea Community Association meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA's Kahilu Town Hall.

The bypass would be a two-lane highway extending for about six miles from Mud Lane to the Kamuela Race Track. The limited-access road would cut through Hawaiian homelands. The state Department of Transportation has agreed to replace about 90 acres of Hawaiian homelands with about 110 acres the state plans to buy from the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.