The state House observed about 30 seconds of silence yesterday in memory of Hawai'i Army National Guard Sgt. Deyson Cariaga, the first citizen-soldier from Hawai'i to be killed in Iraq, at a special one-day session called to override some of Gov. Linda Lingle's vetoes.

House Speaker Calvin Say honored the Roosevelt High School graduate as well as five Pearl Harbor-based Navy SEALs who were killed in Afghanistan, and the victims of the terrorist attacks in London.

Then the members heard from another citizen-soldier, Sgt. Brent Miyagi, a House tech support employee and member of the National Guard home from his tour in Iraq for a two-week leave. Miyagi said he was proud to be part of the "fall of a destructive government and the rise of democracy."

Northwestern islands

Work continues on grounded ship

Workers continue to remove fuel and oil from the 145-foot ship Casitas after it ran aground in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 10 days ago.

The Coast Guard Walnut's crew removed diesel fuel on board the Casitas Monday and the motor vessel American Quest has begun removing the remaining oils from the ship.

Officials said the removal of those oils is more complicated than that of the diesel fuel and is expected to take considerably longer. After all oil and fuel is removed, the Casitas will be removed from the reef.

The Casitas ran aground at Pearl and Hermes Atoll shortly after midnight on July 2.

MAUI

Officer injured in inmate attack

A Maui corrections officer suffered a broken finger in a scuffle with at least four inmates at Maui Community Correctional Center yesterday morning, officials with the state Department of Public Safety said.

MCCC acting warden Alan Nouchi said Corrections Officer Nathan Walker was trying to establish order as a group of inmates congregated at breakfast at 7 a.m., and words were exchanged.

Walker took an inmate aside to a sally port area near Module A, and another inmate followed and began arguing with Walker. The inmate then attacked Walker, and other inmates rushed through an open door to the sally port to join in the melee, said Public Safety spokesman Michael Gaede.

Other corrections officers helped Walker and quickly broke up the fight, and there were no other injuries to staff or inmates, Gaede said.

Waikiki

Charges filed in Monday robbery

A 24-year-old homeless man was charged yesterday in connection with the robbery Monday of a Japanese tourist in Waikiki.

Robert Zimmerman was charged with one count of second-degree robbery. He was being held last night in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Zimmerman is accused of taking four bank cards from the wallet of a 19-year-old man about 6:15 a.m. Monday. Police said that Zimmerman allegedly threatened the tourist and then took him to five automated teller machines to try to withdraw money.

But police said the cards work only in Japan and that the visitor was unable to withdraw cash. The suspect then told the tourist to go to his hotel room and get money or the suspect would kill him, police said.

When the tourist refused, he was punched, police said. The visitor ran and called for help. Security guards from a nearby hotel detained the suspect until police arrived.

BIG ISLAND

N. Kona crash victim identified

HILO — A 45-year-old woman who died Friday of injuries she suffered in a one-vehicle crash in North Kona has been identified as Kailua, Kona, resident Michelle Warren McLean.

McLean, who was also known as Michelle Ann Taylor, was driving a 1994 Mitsubishi pickup truck east on Kaiminani Drive shortly before 7:45 p.m. when the truck ran off the right side of the road about 180 feet west of Ilimano Street, police said.

The truck struck a rock wall and overturned. McLean was wearing a seat belt, but was partially ejected from the vehicle.

WINDWARD

Outdoor Circle to recognize pair

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle will recognize two longtime dedicated members by planting trees in their honor at Kailua District Park and Pohakupu Park Friday.

Maude Nielsen, a lifetime member of the group, will be remembered with the planting of two rainbow shower trees at 10:15 a.m. in a ceremony starting at the Kailua Library.

The organization will then acknowledge the contributions of Dot Wright at 11 a.m. at Pohakupu Park with the planting of a royal poinciana tree.

The public is invited.