Cruise ship sounds horn to warn boat
The Pride of America captain sounded the ship’s horn Wednesday morning as a warning to a small fishing vessel, a Norwegian Cruise Lines spokeswoman said Thursday.
“The horn is only used when absolutely necessary,” AnneMarie Mathews said by email. “As the ship was making its final approach toward anchorage position on Wednesday, a small fishing boat was in a position of possibly colliding with the ship. In order to avoid collision, the bridge team sounded what is known as the ‘danger signal,’ consisting of five short and rapid blasts on of the horn (they did first try to make radio contact with the vessel but they did not respond).”
Mathews apologized if the early morning horn noise woke any Kailua-Kona residents.
Hunting areas opened
Pohakuloa Training Area Army officials are opening several training areas for bow hunting from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Training areas 1-4, 10 and 11, will be open for bow hunting of mammals only. Hunters are allowed one pig, one goat and one sheep per day, in keeping with state bag limits. Shooting sheep with blue collars is not permitted.
All hunters must check in and check out at one of the following hunter’s check-in stations: Kilohana, located on Saddle Road between mile markers 43 and 44 or Puu Huluhulu, located at the intersection of Mauna Kea Access Road and Saddle Road near mile marker 28. Check-out time is no later than 7:30 p.m. each day. Hunting passes will be provided at the check-in stations beginning 5 p.m. Friday. These passes must be signed and placed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Hunters who do not have a signed hunting pass on their dashboard will be barred from hunting for 30 days.
Hunter access to training areas 1-4 is through any of gates 1-10 east of Mauna Kea State Park on new Saddle Road, Highway 200. Hunter access to training areas 10 and 11 is through gates 1-6 on the mauka side of new Saddle Road.
Firearms, alcoholic beverages, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and recreational vehicles are not allowed in the training and hunting areas. For more information, call the PTA Hunter’s Hotline at 969-3474, visit garrison.hawaii.army.mil/pta and click on the “Hunting” tab, or refer to instructions on the hunting pass.
Four isle high schools make U.S. News list
Four Big Island schools made U.S. News &World Report’s list of best public high schools for 2014.
Keaau, Kealakehe and Kohala High and Pahoa High &Intermediate schools, all of which received a bronze medal, were among 12 Hawaii schools on the list.
U.S. News &World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of education news and information, reviewed 31,242 U.S. public high schools on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.
The top schools in the state were: Kalani High in Honolulu, President William McKinley High in Honolulu, King Kekaulike High on Maui and Waialua High &Intermediate schools on Oahu. All four were given a silver medal.
Kalani High, identified as Hawaii’s No. 1 school, was ranked 1,009 nationally.
The other notable Hawaii schools included Education Laboratory Public Charter, James Campbell High, Kihei Public Charter and Myron B. Thompson Academy Public Charter schools.
To view the full list, visit usnews.com/highschool.
Two more coqui frogs captured on Oahu
HONOLULU — Two more coqui frogs were found recently on Oahu. One coqui frog was turned in by a grounds crew at a Waikiki hotel April 12 and the other was captured by Hawaii Department of Agriculture staff at a Kalihi Valley home April 17.
The coqui frog at the hotel was captured by staff in newly planted landscaping. The staff contacted agricultural inspectors who were dispatched to pick up the frog. Inspectors will be following up with the nursery that did the landscaping at the hotel.
The frog captured in Kalihi Valley was called into the department by a neighbor. When the crew went to the home, the owner said they had heard the coqui calling for months, but did not contact the department.
Agriculture officials are concerned about the reluctance to contact the department at the initial detection of the coqui mating call. Inspectors say the hotel was concerned about negative publicity, so their crews sought to capture the frogs themselves rather than calling experts.
“Our crews have developed successful strategies in capturing coqui frogs and have been able to eradicate them on Oahu,” said Neil Reimer, acting administrator of the Plant Industry Division. “People should not try to capture the frogs themselves because they may cause the frogs to scatter and widen the infestation area or make the coqui skittish and more difficult to capture.”
Suspected invasive species should be reported immediately to the state by calling 643-PEST.
TANF restrictions set
Recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Family funds are no longer able to withdraw cash benefits at automated teller machines or use the cash back option at the point of sale terminal at liquor stores, casinos, gaming establishments and retail establishments that include nude performers.
The Department of Human Services issued a reminder Thursday about the change, which took effect in February. The change is based on federal rule changes. The policy is an outcome of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. States were given time to determine how to best impose the restriction. Hawaii came into compliance this year.
The TANF program provides monthly cash benefits to families for food, clothing, shelter and other essentials. The federally funded program is designed to help families achieve financial self-sufficiency. Grocery stores and retailers that primarily sell products other than liquor, and restaurants, bars or clubs that serve liquor are exempt from the restriction.
Jury finds state owns historic trail on Maui
WAILUKU, Maui — A jury has found that a section of historic trail cutting across Maui’s largest family-owned cattle ranch belongs to the state.
The decision could clear the way for more public access on the 3.3-mile section of trail that crosses Haleakala Ranch.
The Maui News reported that after six weeks of hearings, jurors determined Wednesday that the government built the trail before the Great Mahele land division of 1848. That means the trail is considered a public highway under the Highways Act of 1892.
Public Access Trails Hawaii filed the lawsuit in 2011. This verdict will lead to a second trial phase to determine how much trail access the state gives the public.
Tom Pierce, an attorney for the nonprofit, said he hopes that phase begins in the next six months.
“Even though we’ve gotten to this stage, there (are) still questions as to whether we will get access,” Pierce said. “We will remain in talks with the state about that.”
Don Young, the president of the ranch, said in a statement that the ranch will consider appealing the decision.
“We believe all landowners in Hawaii should be concerned about the potential impact of this verdict and the risk of other claims arising from the Highways Act of 1892,” he said.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources earlier this year proposed a land exchange with the ranch. The state offered title to the trail section in exchange for a new access route to the Kahikinui Forest Reserve and the Na Kula Natural Area Reserve. It wasn’t immediately clear what effect Wednesday’s verdict would have on those discussions.
Military jury convicts Marine in murder
KANEOHE, Oahu — A military jury has convicted a Marine of murdering a prostitute visiting Hawaii, then dumping her body about 40 miles away in west Oahu.
Master Sgt. Nathaniel Cosby was convicted Thursday of murder, obstruction of justice and patronizing a prostitute.
His court martial will move into a sentencing phase on Saturday, when Cosby’s lawyers will call character witnesses.
Cosby was found guilty of murder while engaging in an inherently dangerous act, which carries the possibility of life in prison without parole. He was found not guilty of unpremeditated murder.
Cosby admitted to killing Ivanice “Ivy” Harris in May last year, but his lawyers argued it was in self-defense.
Harris was from Oregon, visiting Hawaii to celebrate her 29th birthday with her boyfriend, who was also her pimp.
Hannemann running for governor
HONOLULU — Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has announced he will run for governor as an independent, saying he is more likely to win if candidates from major parties split the vote.
Hannemann told the Honolulu Star Advertiser he has done well in General Elections where he can appeal to voters across the political spectrum.
“I think clearly people are not happy with the way both major parties sometimes push folks to accept party platforms — or the rigidity of party platforms — either having to appeal to the far left or the far right,” Hannemann said. “I’ve always been a moderate. I’ve always been a centrist. I’ve always been independent.”
By local and wire sources