Posted on: Tuesday, May 10, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Two robbers beat store owner
Advertiser Staff
Police are looking for two men who beat and robbed the owner of a Waialua liquor store early yesterday.
The store owner said he went to his establishment about 5 a.m. and was unlocking the door when he was confronted by two men. One of the men hit him in the face with a handgun and then both men forced their way into the store and stole an undetermined amount of cash from a safe.
One suspect was in his late 20s to early 30s, 5 feet 10, 170 pounds with a medium build, mustache and brown, wavy hair. The second suspect was about 5 feet 6, 140 pounds with a slim build.
A 34-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning after police said he refused to leave a city bus and then threatened its driver in Wahiawa.
Police said the 69-year-old bus driver parked the vehicle on California Avenue near Mango Street about 5 a.m. and got out to get a newspaper. The driver said that when she returned, she found a man was sitting in her seat.
The driver ordered the man to leave, but police said he refused and demanded to be taken to the airport. He then repeatedly threatened to kill the driver, police said.
Police were called and needed to use pepper spray to subdue the man. He was arrested for interfering with the operator of a public vehicle.
KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — The Hawai'i County police station in Kona yesterday reported problems with its new telephone system. Officials said some callers have been disconnected or their calls were not answered.
Assistant Chief Ronald Nakamichi said the problem is being worked on, but in the meantime, callers experiencing trouble when they dial the police station should try to call back. Emergency calls should be directed to 911; nonemergency calls can be made to (808) 935-3311.
HILO, Hawai'i — Computer gear can be dropped off for recycling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21 at the Aupuni Center conference room, 101 Pauahi St.
Usable equipment will be refurbished and made available to schools and nonprofit groups through the Community Technology Center Hawai'i.
Government agencies may drop off used computer equipment from 2 to 4 p.m. May 20.
For more information, contact the county recycling coordinator at (808) 961-8942 or Recycle Hawai'i at (808) 961-2676. To sign up for a refurbished computer, call the Community Technology Center Hawai'i at (808) 934-7748.
The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle will hold a plant sale to benefit programs for women inmates from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Kailua Elementary School, 315 Ku'ulei Road.
Students in the Environmental Sciences Vocational Training program at the Women's Community Correctional Center grew the plants in a nursery at the prison. Money raised at the sale will go back into the nursery program.
Palm trees, bougainvillaea, ti, iris, red ginger, crotons, spider plants, dwarf mondo and many other plants will be available. Last year the plants sold out in an hour and a half, said Margaret Brezel, vice president of the Lani-Kailua group.
The women from the facility are responsible for cleaning and caring for several landscape areas in Kailua at beaches, medians and roadsides.
KOKE'E, Kaua'i — Preparation and drilling of a new exploratory well is under way to expand the water supply to the Koke'e/Waimea Canyon State Park water system.
Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman Peter Young said the project is needed to address chronic water shortages, especially during the summer months, and to provide adequate water supply for wildland firefighting.
The two existing Koke'e wells serve approximately 2,000 people at the state park and its camping facilities, leasehold lots, the Koke'e Lodge restaurant and rental cabins, the Koke'e Natural History Museum, Navy facilities in Koke'e and at Makaha Ridge and other places, Young said.
The work by contractor Valley Well Drilling, which started yesterday, is not expected to result in park closures or to affect water service.
The new exploratory well will be in the park just east of Rice Camp, alongside the road to Camp Sloggett, and about 200 feet in from Camp 10-Mohihi Road. Completion of drilling and testing is expected to finish by the end of August.
PUKALANI, Maui — The Public Utilities Commission will convene a hearing at 4:30 p.m. today on a proposed wastewater rate increase by Pukalani STP Co. Ltd. The hearing will be at the King Kekaulike High School cafeteria.
Pukalani STP Co. provides wastewater treatment services to hundreds of homes and a handful of businesses in Pukalani. The company last sought a rate increase in 1989. If its proposal is approved, residential customers who pay $11.99 per month would pay $36.66. Commercial user rates would rise from $1.03 to $3.15 per 1,000 gallons of water used per month.
For more information, including a link to reports and other documents filed with the PUC, and a public meetings link that contains tips on how to participate at a public hearing, please visit the Web site www.hawaii.gov/dcca/dca.
LAHAINA, Maui — Master canoe carvers from Hawai'i and across the Pacific will participate in the International Festival of Canoes, from Friday to May 29.
The carvers will work daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., creating canoes from wood logs at Kamehameha Iki Park and Banyan Tree Park in Lahaina town. Represented will be the Cook Islands, Tonga, New Zealand, Tahiti, the Marshall Islands and Palau. A team of woodworking and carpentry students from Lahainaluna High School also will participate.
The festivities will kick off with a traditional protocol ceremony Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.
For more information, visit www.mauicanoefest.com or call the Lahaina Event Hotline at (808) 667-9194 or toll-free at (888) 310-1117.
Bus passenger, 34, arrested
Phone problems at police station
Used computers to be recycled
Plant sale to aid women inmates
Drilling starts on exploratory well
Pukalani utility seeks rate hike
Master carvers at canoe festival
