HAWAI'I BRIEFS
200 acres seared at Schofield range
Advertiser Staff
Federal and Honolulu firefighters yesterday battled a large brushfire near the Schofield Barracks rifle range, Schofield public affairs officials said.
The fire began at 2 p.m. in an area west of the base and north of Kolekole Road, officials said. The fire was estimated to involve 200 to 300 acres but did not pose a threat to homes or personnel, officials said.
KALAELOA
COMPOST HEAP FIRE CONTAINED
Firefighters contained a two-acre fire in a compost heap at Kalaeloa late yesterday afternoon, Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said.
About two dozen firefighters worked to contain the fire near Midway Street that began at 2:45 p.m. Tejada said firefighters were concerned about the fire moving toward an area of brush but were able to contain it by 4:20 p.m.
EQUESTRIAN CLUB GAMES ON TAP
Barbers Point Riding Club is again hosting the Aloha State Games Equestrian Competition on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This year's games will feature more than three dozen classes in English, Western and Gymkhana divisions. "BPRC's Barn Olympics" will feature dummy roping, feed bagging and muck racing.
The event is open and free to the public. Walk-in registration for participants is available until 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Entry fees are $40 per person. Children younger than 12 may enter for $35. Competitors must provide their own horses.
To get to the facility, go makai on Fort Weaver Road, turn west on Geiger Road, left into the Barbers Point Golf Course and follow the signs to the Barbers Point Riding Club. See www.bprchawaii.com for complete rules and registration information.
KANE'OHE
FIRE STATION SHUT TO FIGHT TERMITES
The Kane'ohe Fire Station is closed for termite treatment until Friday.
Fire trucks and personnel are moving to the Kokokahi YWCA's Hale Nanea Lodge at 45-035 Kane'ohe Bay Drive and will be working out of there until Friday.
The temporary move is due to termite ground and tent treatment at the fire station. The city Department of Design and Construction determined that termite damage at the station is substantial and that immediate treatment is necessary.
The fire department's mobile command center will be at Hale Nanea to be used as a day office.
WAI'ANAE
HEALTH CENTER GETS $150,000
The Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, a nonprofit community health facility, has received a $150,000 grant from the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation. The health center will use the grant to help build a new family medical building.
"We deeply appreciate this major contribution," said health center CEO Richard Bettini. "So much of our success is linked to outstanding community-oriented companies like First Hawaiian Bank who have chosen to invest in our mission."
The health center has been providing healthcare for the area's needy children and families for the past 34 years.
The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation is First Hawaiian Bank's charitable arm, and in 2005, the foundation contributed $2.9 million to more than 330 nonprofit organizations.
MAUI
AUTO REPAIR TEAM WINS SCHOLARSHIP
A team from Maui High School finished fifth at the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills national finals June 27 at Ford Motor Co. World Headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.
Seniors Joey Hoopai-Souza, 17, of Wailuku, and Glen Bissell, 17, of Kihei, represented Hawai'i at the competition. Their instructor is Neill Nakamura.
Each team, one from each state, raced to repair a 2006 Ford Mustang convertible planted with the same mechanical problems in the vehicle's operating systems. The Maui students finished the repairs in 30 minutes and 3 seconds — less than a minute behind the first-place team from Paris, Texas.
Teams from Hawai'i have placed in the top five finishers in the national competition during the past three years. Maui High students finished second in 2005 and 2003, and won the national title in 2000 and 1995.
Teams placing second through 10th in the Ford/AAA contest received general education scholarships valued from $2,000 to $400 and partial scholarships to top-rated automotive technology colleges.
BIG ISLAND
'GUTS & GLORY' AWARD CAPTURED
Konawaena High School won the Ranger Class "guts & glory" award at the Marine Advance Technology Education's fifth annual International Student ROV (remote operate vehicle) Competition at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The Big Island team was cited for overcoming hardships with determination and resolve, according to official results released Friday by the competition committee.
Konawaena won a $100 gift certificate.
Representing Konawaena were Randy Yamauchi, Andrew Kouchi, Bryan Young, Joel Furuto, Aaron Smith and Brandon Kunitake. The team adviser is Craig Fuller.
Kailua High School also competed. The Surfriders fared well in completing their mission in under 20 minutes.
Top overall honors in the Ranger Class went to Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Science of Toms River, N.J., while the Eastern Edge Robotics Team of St. John's, Newfoundland, won the Explorer Class title.
KAPOLEI
LANDFILL TASK FORCE FORMED
A group of West O'ahu residents has formed the "Close the Landfill Public Education Task Force" to give the public a say in the city's plan to delay closing the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill.
The task force will hold a public information forum at 7 p.m. July 19 in the Kapolei High School cafeteria.
"There is no reason for the requested extension," said Cynthia Rezentes, a Wai'anae resident and former member of the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Landfill Siting. "Alternatives to keeping the landfill open are out there."
Advocates say some of the alternatives to the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill include plasma arc technology, expanding H-Power, recycling and shipping waste to the Mainland.
