HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Ala Wai cleanup at debris trap
Advertiser Staff
A two-day manual cleanup of the Ala Wai debris trap and the Ala Wai Boat Harbor is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has contracted with a hazardous-materials company to remove wood and other debris in the trap.
According to tentative plans: Small bits of debris will be removed from the trap with fine-mesh scoop nets; drained for about 20 minutes; sprayed with a disinfectant approved by the state Board of Health; and hauled to the Waimanalo Gulch landfill.
On Monday, the company will focus on cleaning the boat harbor's front row, the moorings fronting the Prince Hotel. The front row of moorings is where debris accumulation in the harbor has been abundant through the years.
The company may also retrieve debris from other trouble spots in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, along the 600 row and near the harbor's floating docks.
FREE SHREDDING OF FILES TOMORROW
People can have documents shredded for free tomorrow at a special event at the state Capitol from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
AARP Hawaii and Shred-it are conducting the event, with the help of the Chinatown Lions Club and Roosevelt High School's Leo Club.
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and lawmakers will speak at noon about identity-theft bills being considered at the Legislature.
WAIKELE
FIRE DAMAGES 9-BEDROOM HOME
A fire damaged a Waikele home last night, but there were no reports of injuries.
Firefighters were sent to a nine-bedroom home at 94-1004 Leihaku St. at about 8:45 p.m. The first engine company at the scene reported the second floor of the home in flames.
But firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control in about 10 minutes and prevent the flames from spreading to the rest of the home, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The second-floor master bedroom had the most damage and three other upstairs bedrooms had heat and smoke damage, according to Tejada, who said portions of the first floor had water damage.
The house's two residents were not at home when the fire broke out. The American Red Cross was called to assist the couple last night.
The cause of fire was under investigation and a damage estimate pending, Tejada said.
WAI'ANAE
FOSTER PARENTS SUSPECTS OF ABUSE
A pair of foster parents from Wai'anae were arrested Wednesday after police investigated the alleged beating of five foster children by the couple over a period of more than two years, police said.
Three boys, ages 15, 14, and 8, and two girls, ages 11 and 13, were taken into protective custody by the state, police said. Police did not disclose information tied to the investigation.
The foster parents, a 29-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of two counts of second-degree assault, one count of first-degree child endangerment, seven counts of abusing a household member, and two counts of second-degree child endangerment.
HANAUMA BAY
1946 TSUNAMI FOCUS OF DISPLAY
In a ceremony tomorrow, state and city officials will unveil an educational display at the Hanauma Bay visitor center commemorating the April 1, 1946, tsunami that killed six people on O'ahu as well as devastating Hilo.
Although many people refer to it as the Hilo tsunami, said John Cummings, O'ahu Civil Defense spokesman, "death touched every major island in Hawai'i that day."
The ceremony will begin at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Tsunami survivors have been invited to share their experiences.
BIG ISLAND
SCAM EXPLOITS NEW BLOODHOUND
Police on the Big Island are warning the public about a scam in which people are claiming to seek donations in connection with a police dog that the department recently acquired.
Residents told police that someone called them at home soliciting money for Tucker the bloodhound. Tucker joined the department on April 7 to help officers search for missing children and others in peril.
The Police Department issued an announcement saying it is not soliciting any money for Tucker.
