HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Copter damaged in hard landing
Advertiser Staff
A Hawai'i Army National Guard helicopter was damaged yesterday when it made a hard landing after hitting two utility lines along Saddle Road, officials said.
The pilot, who was the only person aboard the OH-58 Kiowa Scout, escaped without serious injury, they said.
The pilot told officials he flew into a utility line, which forced the emergency landing, and that the aircraft hit a second utility line before touching down, fire Capt. Tracy Yanagi said.
The lines belonged to Hawai'i Electric Light Co. and Verizon, he said.
The accident left the helicopter with shattered windows.
The helicopter went down as it was returning to Hilo Airport after completing a counter-drug surveillance mission that was conducted with county and federal law enforcement officials, Guard spokesman James Young said.
HONOLULU
Trespass-law repeal advances
The Legislature is moving to repeal a one-year-old law that gives authorities the power to ban anyone from public property in Hawai'i for up to a year.
House and Senate lawmakers yesterday approved a version of the repeal after working out their differences on the bill, which now goes to the floors of each chamber for final passage.
The latest version of the bill would repeal the law passed last year, and instead establish a petty misdemeanor offense of criminal trespass in public parks and recreational grounds.
The original law was aimed at removing squatters from Hawai'i's public campgrounds, parks, beaches and other public places.
'AINA HAINA
State seeks help finding runaway
The state Department of Human Services is asking for the public's help in finding a 16-year-old girl who ran away from her foster home in 'Aina Haina in March.
Lokelani Lareau was last seen March 1. Officials said she might be in the Wai'anae area, where she once attended school.
Lareau
Lareau is 5 feet 7 and 120 pounds, with brown eyes. When last seen she had reddish brown hair.
People who have information about Lareau are asked to call police.
MANOA
Tree work costs city $1.7M a year
Most of the maintenance of the city's estimated 225,000 street and park trees is handled by private companies at a cost of about $1.7 million a year, said Parks Director Lester Chang.
Chang told members of the City Council's Parks Committee yesterday that three-quarters of the work on trees is contracted. "Fifty thousand trees a year are touched by contract or in-house work," Chang said. Work on trees, he added, is "always going on."
Maintenance of city trees became an issue when a city-owned Norfolk Island pine crashed through a Manoa home on March 15, injuring a 12-year-old girl.
Chang said the city's goal is to check on each city tree every two years. "The frequency depends on location as well as species," he said, adding that the city responds to about 300 calls per month about its trees.
Origami program at Manoa library
The Manoa Public Library will hold a free program called "Origami Crafts with Wendy and Friends" at 3 p.m. Saturday at the library, 2716 Woodlawn Drive.
The class will be conducted by Wendy Ikemoto, a librarian intern at the library, who will teach how to fold an origami box, crane and frog. The one-hour program is suitable for ages 10 to adult and will be held in the Young Adult Room. To register, call 988-0459.
Indigenous series at UH Friday
The Indigenous Politics Speaker Series will present a reading by Native American author Leanne Howe from her new book, "Evidence of Red," at 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies Halau.
HAU'ULA
'Relay for Life' at Hau'ula park
The American Cancer Society's Hau'ula Relay For Life begins at 5 p.m. Friday and ends at 7 a.m. Saturday at Hau'ula Community Park, next to Hau'ula Elementary School. Teams of community members will walk and run to raise funds for cancer research and services in Ko'olauloa.
The event includes a country store, storytelling, wellness display tent, keiki crafts, a live auction of three cars and more. For more information call the Cancer Society Windward Unit at 262-5124.
'EWA VILLAGES
Family Fun Day set for Saturday
Saturday's "Family Fun Day" at 'Ewa Villages from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature community resource and food booths, children's games, ponies, fire trucks and entertainment. 'Ewa Villages is at 91-235 Renton Road, and the event will be staged at three sites: Plantation Manager's House, Friendship Christian Schools and Lanakila Baptist Schools.
WAHIAWA
Library book sale Saturday at 9 a.m.
The annual Friends of Wahiawa Library book sale will be held Saturday at the public library at 820 California Ave. The sale will be in the meeting room from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit Wahiawa Public Library and its programs. Call 622-6345.
KAPAHULU
Free steel guitar concert Saturday
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association a give a free concert at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library, 400 Kapahulu Ave. The 90-minute concert is suitable for all ages. For more information, call 733-8488.
STATEWIDE
Fishery groups begin meetings
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Bottomfish Plan Team will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow at 1164 Bishop St., suite 1400. Also, the Precious Corals Plan Team will meet at 1 p.m. Friday at the same location. For more information, call. Kitty Simonds at 522-8220.
