Police identify Kua Bay drowning victim
Police have identified the 54-year-old man who died last week in waters off Kua Bay in North Kona.
Police said the victim was Robert Gregory Osborne of Holualoa.
At 1:25 p.m. on April 16, Kona patrol officers responded to a report of an unresponsive man who had been pulled from the water at Kua Bay. Officers learned he had been observed floating and was pulled to shore by bystanders, who attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Fire Department personnel arrived and took him to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At autopsy revealed that he died of saltwater drowning, police said.
Firefighters battle brush fires near Highway 11, Punaluu
Hawaii County Firefighters from Captain Cook and Ocean View extinguished a brush fire yesterday evening near the 96 mile marker on Highway 11.
Responding to the approximately 5:20 p.m. alarm, firefighters used two brush trucks to contain the 30-by 100-foot burn area in dense brush a couple of hundred yards makai of the highway.
The cause of the fire was not known. Firefighters were also working to contain a blaze near Punaluu at press time.
Sale makes initial court appearance
A 24-year-old Hilo man was scheduled for his first court appearance Tuesday on kidnapping, sexual assault and terroristic threatening charges, according to online court records.
Keahi Sale was scheduled to appear in District Court in Hilo early Tuesday afternoon. His bail was set at $80,000.
No additional information about the hearing was immediately available.
‘Wheel of Fortune’ returning to film
on Big Isle
“Wheel of Fortune” will return to Hawaii Island this fall to tape four weeks of shows for its 32nd season.
Host Pat Sajak, co-host Vanna White and the entire Los Angeles-based crew will set up shop at Hilton Waikoloa Village in September to tape four weeks of shows, according to Sony Pictures Television.
The return marks the fifth time “Wheel of Fortune” has taped in Hawaii since 1996. The production will ship 37 trailers and containers with 1.8 million pounds of equipment. More than 225 staff and crew will be on hand to produce 20 episodes and share the beauty of Hawaii with the show’s 25 million weekly viewers.
“We have taped ‘Wheel of Fortune’ on location 65 times,” said Executive Producer Harry Friedman. “But no destination creates a greater sense of excitement than Hawaii. The scenery, the hospitality and the warmth of the aloha spirit simply can’t be found anywhere else.”
Contestant auditions will be held on the Big Island in late May for individuals 18 and older, and married couples, as well as best friends who are not related.
“Wheel of Fortune” is seen weeknights in Hawaii at 6:30 p.m. on KHON 2.
To apply to be a contestant, go to wheeloffortune.com/be-a-contestant.
Machinists union, Schatz urge United
to keep jobs in Hawaii
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz have asked United Airlines to rethink its outsourcing plans in Kona and Lihue and on Maui.
United announced in mid-March that it would solicit bids from subcontractors in an effort to lower the carrier’s costs by outsourcing fleet and passenger service operations.
“I am asking United Airlines to cease its efforts to proceed with the outsourcing process,” Schatz said. “These are 220 jobs, essential to working families in Hawaii and central to our visitor industry and local economy. We all trusted United to follow through on their commitment and that’s what’s so terrible about this. United Airlines needs to keep its promise. In Washington, I will do everything in my power to ensure that happens.”
“With many years at United, I was hoping for a gold watch, not a pink slip,” said IAM member Maria Drey, who works for United on Maui. “This is about greed. Pure and simple.”
The IAM has enforced contractual provisions that require United to enter into negotiations with the union before any outsourcing can take place. The first meetings were held in the middle of April and future meetings have been scheduled.
“The Machinists Union will utilize every available option to keep IAM members working in every location United has targeted for outsourcing,” said IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “There’s no good justification to upset families and communities just to pad the bottom line. I’d also like to thank Senator Schatz for stepping up and doing the right thing for those he represents.”
The IAM represents more than 30,000 ground workers at United Airlines and approximately 4,000 active and retired members in the Hawaiian Islands.
Hilo airport to get $3.3M to improve rescue station
Hilo International Airport will receive $3.3 million for aircraft rescue and firefighting facility improvements, according to the governor’s office.
These construction funds are for a new aircraft rescue and firefighting facility station, which will replace the current one that doesn’t meet the requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration. The current building will be used for storage upon completion of the new facility.
The funds are among the more than $335 million recently released for various capital improvement projects.
The projects were identified by state legislators and approved by the governor.
Coast Guard responds to Ala Wai harbor diesel spill
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard responded Monday to a diesel spill in the Ala Wai small boat harbor.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center received notification of the spill from the National Response Center at 6:30 a.m. Monday and dispatched pollution responders to investigate.
The Coast Guard stated the sheen is believed to be diesel fuel or another petroleum product. The area impacted is approximately 200-by-30 feet. The amount spilled is unknown at this time.
No responsible party has been identified, Coast Guard officials said.
The Coast Guard opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted the Pacific Environmental Corporation to clean up the spill.
Groups, companies settle Maui water dispute
HONOLULU — Native Hawaiian and environmental groups are settling a decadelong dispute with Hawaiian Commercial &Sugar and Wailuku Water Co. over the diversion of water from four Maui streams.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Monday the state attorney general and the state Commission on Water Resource Management reviewed and approved the agreement.
Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake said his clients Hui o Na Wai Eha and the Maui Tomorrow Foundation are happy with the resolution. He said water will be flowing in four Na Wai Eha streams 10 years after litigation began and more than a century after diversions began drying them out.
Moriwake said the settlement establishes how much water should flow in the streams. It doesn’t establish how much water the companies may divert.
Arbitrator awards raises to Hawaii principals
HONOLULU — About 850 principals, vice principals and other education officials at the school and district level are getting raises.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported an arbitration panel has awarded 4.5 percent annual pay raises to the Department of Education employees.
The raises will have a retroactive start to the start of the current fiscal year in July, when the current contract expired, and continue through June 2017.
The deal will cost the state about $14 million.
Arbitrators did not resolve the dispute between the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the state over evaluations for principals.
Cause of death at issue in death of child
HONOLULU — A defense lawyer for a former soldier accused of punching his 5-year-old daughter to death said an autopsy shows evidence of lasting injuries that weakened the girl before she died.
A federal prosecutor countered during closing trial arguments Tuesday that medical exams proved that 40-pound Talia Williams died of head trauma when her father struck her in the chest, dislocating her shoulder and knocking her to the floor.
The arguments illustrated how defense attorney John Philipsborn and prosecutor Steven Mellin disagree on the cause of death.
Defendant Naeem Williams and the girl’s stepmother, Delilah Williams, have acknowledged beating, confining and restraining the girl in the seven months before her death in 2005.
If convicted, Naeem Williams could face the death penalty.
By local and wire sources
