Posted on: Friday, February 11, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Grounded ship may float today
Advertiser Staff
Crews early this morning were to attempt refloating the 555-foot bulk carrier Cape Flattery, which has been aground 400 yards off Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor since Feb. 2.
Six tugboats were tethered to the Cape Flattery yesterday to keep the ship stable while a large crane removed cement from its hold. More than 7,000 metric tons of it had been removed by yesterday afternoon, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Steve Carleton.
Carleton said the crews considered moving the vessel last night, but that the tide wasn't high enough and the attempt was delayed until the arrival of a 2-foot tide at 6 this morning.
Once the Cape Flattery is free, state and federal officials will assess the damage the grounding may have caused to coral reefs. Dave Gulko, state biologist who specializes in coral reefs, said experts made a preliminary inspection yesterday but were unable to get close to the ship.
"As long as that ship is right there, we can't assess the direct damage because of the dangers involved with operating in that environment," Gulko said. "You got seven tugs on site, you have a lot of ship traffic, and it's a big ship and you gotta think safety first."
The Honolulu Police Department Child Sex Crimes Unit is looking for a man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
At 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, the man was standing outside a red extended-cab pickup truck near Kamailio and Makalea streets, when he grabbed the girl and forced her into the back seat of his truck, police said. The man sexually assaulted the girl inside the truck before she was able to break free and run away.
Anyone with information should call Detective Greg McCormick at 529-3417, or anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on your cellular phone.
The man is described as being in his 40s, with dirty blond hair and a mustache. He was last seen wearing a green tank top, faded blue jeans and work shoes. Police said he fled the scene in the truck.
Judiciary looking for comments
The state Judiciary is seeking written comments on judicial nominees for the vacancy at the District Courts of the First Circuit.
Nominees are: Nancy Ryan Harada, Ronette M. Kawakami, David J. Minkin, Edwin C. Nacino, Peter T. Stone and Michael K. Tanigawa.
To comment about the character and qualifications of any nominee, write or fax by Feb. 21 to Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon, Supreme Court of Hawai'i, 417 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Fax number 539-4703.
All comments are confidential. The selected individual must be confirmed by the state Senate.
Kailua High janitor arrested
Police arrested a veteran Kailua High School custodian yesterday on suspicion of drug-related offenses after she was found passed out on campus.
Avis Apana, 38, was booked at the Kailua police station, and the case has been turned over to narcotics detectives.
The state Department of Education also will conduct an internal investigation of the incident, a spokeswoman said.
Apana has worked at Kailua High since 1993.
The University of Hawai'i School of Architecture chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students is hosting the Great Hawaiian Sandcastle Event from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 19 at Kailua Beach Park. This year's theme is "A House For Your Head," and is expected to draw challengers from across the architecture field.
Police capture escapee, woman
HILO, Hawai'i — Police yesterday captured a Hawai'i Community Correctional Center escapee and his female companion in a raid on a Mauna Kea State Park cabin.
Winston Hoapili, 31, and Helenamae Pang, 20, were arrested at 7:30 a.m. by Special Response Team members after police received an anonymous tip about Hoapili's whereabouts. A stolen Toyota pickup truck was recovered.
Hoapili was awaiting trial on theft and drug charges when he escaped Jan. 28 as corrections officers were escorting him to an appointment at the Ponahawai Medical Clinic near the jail. He jumped into a waiting car and sped away with Pang at the wheel, police said. One of the guards fired a single shot at the vehicle's tires in an attempt to stop the pair.
On Jan. 31, the fugitives were spotted in the Keaukaha area, and police gave chase before calling off the pursuit for safety reasons.
Judge dismisses religious lawsuit
WAILUKU, Maui — U.S. District Judge Samuel King has dismissed the U.S. Justice Department's religious discrimination lawsuit against Maui County.
In a written statement issued Wednesday, the judge granted the department's request to drop the suit and ordered each side to pay their own attorney fees.
County attorneys were hoping King would order the government to explain the basis of the suit, which grew out of a land-use dispute and litigation involving Hale O Kaula, a church that was denied a permit to build a worship center on agricultural land in Pukalani in 2001.
County officials deny any discrimination, saying the dispute merely arose in the course of following the state land-use law that requires counties to handle zoning matters on state-designated land of less than 15 acres.
King, in his written statement, did offer the county this much: He dismissed the case "with prejudice," which means the same suit can't be filed again.
Librarians will honor principal
Kapolei High School Principal Alvin Nagasako will be honored by the Hawai'i Association of School Librarians for his contributions in furthering the role of the library and its development.
Nagasako was selected for the annual award because of his strength in leadership, constant supportive action and dynamic interschool and public relationships. He will be publicly honored at the association's spring conference at Lincoln Elementary on Saturday.
Man in red truck sought in attack
STATEWIDE
WINDWARD O'AHU
See pros build sandcastles
BIG ISLAND
MAUI
KAPOLEI
