Firefighters put out homeless camp blaze
Hawaii County firefighters put out a blaze in a culvert near the intersection of Hina Lani Street and Queen Kaahumanu Highway Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters responding to reports of thick black smoke pouring from both ends of the culvert found what appeared to be a homeless camp with a 10-by-10-foot area involved in flame. Using a single hose from a fire engine, firefighters were able to knock down the blaze in minutes, Capt. Charles Spain said. The blaze appeared to have started in what looked like furniture or rubbish. An engine, rescue truck and ambulance responded to the scene. Firefighters used a fan to blow smoke out of the culvert.
Fire trucks were pulled to the side of the road and police directed traffic around the scene.
New coral damage rules start today
The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ changes to rules regulating the taking and selling of certain marine resources take effect today.
“The purpose of the amendments is to strengthen the rules and stiffen penalties for intentional or negligent large-scale damage to stony coral and live rock, such as by vessel groundings, introduction of sediments, biological contaminants, and other pollutants. It remains unlawful for any person to take, break, or damage any stony coral or live rock,” DLNR officials said Tuesday in a press release. “It’s also unlawful to sell stony coral or live rocks.”
Frazer McGilvray, administrator for the Division of Aquatic Resources, said the rules “tighten up” the state’s ability to enforce damage to a habitat “that provides millions of dollars in ecosystem services through fishing and tourism.”
Stony corals belong to the order Scleractinia, marine corals which generate a hard skeleton, that are native to the Hawaiian Islands. All reef corals, including mushroom corals, belong to this order. Live rock is defined as any natural hard substrate to which marine life is visibly attached or affixed. Virtually every hard substrate in nearshore waters has something living attached to it.
The full text of the rule is available at state.hi.us/dlnr/dar/rules/ch95.pdf or at any Division of Aquatic Resources office.
No one attended a December hearing in West Hawaii on the proposed rule change.
Police have issued 14K traffic citations
Hawaii Police Department officers have issued more than 14,000 traffic citations this year related to the use of cellphones, seat belts and child restraints, as well as speeding, moving and regulatory violations.
Officers between Jan. 1 and March 26 cited 774 motorists islandwide for using an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. The officers also cited 1,001 motorists for seat belt violations and 97 for child passenger restraint violations, according to information provided by the department.
Islandwide, drivers were cited 2,587 times for speeding and 4,425 times for moving violations. Officers cited 5,230 motorists for nonmoving or regulatory violations, according to the department.
Police find dead woman’s car
Hawaii Island police located the car of a woman whose body was found in Hilo over the weekend.
The tan 1997 Toyota Camry sedan was found in Honomu just after midnight Wednesday. Information from the public helped police find the vehicle.
A fisherman discovered the body along the shoreline off Hawaii Belt Road in the Wainaku area shortly before midnight Saturday. She was identified as Jodi L. Masutomi, 48, of Hilo.
An autopsy conducted Tuesday showed her injuries were consistent with a fall from a height. The cause of death is being deferred, however, pending a toxicology report.
Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Police find teen missing since 2012
Police have located Abcidy Santos, 18, who was reported missing in 2012. She was found in good health Wednesday in Kona.
Town’s eateries no longer use plastic foam
LIHUE, Kauai — No restaurant in Kilauea on Kauai’s north shore uses plastic foam disposable containers.
Starting this week there are two signs at the entrance to the town saying “Welcome to Kilauea. A Styrofoam Free Community.”
The Garden Island newspaper reported the designation is the result of a campaign by the Surfrider Foundation and Zero Waste Kauai to stop eateries from using nonbiodegradable containers.
Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter Treasurer Gordon LaBedz said plastics — including Styrofoam — present litter, pollution and health problems.
The foundation said plastics break down into small particles that persist in the ocean, absorb toxins and enter the food chain through fish and other marine life.
Thirty-five percent of the nearly 250 restaurants on Kauai have already done away with single-use plastic to-go containers.
Obama applauds minimum wage hike
HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is commending Hawaii lawmakers for raising the state’s minimum wage to $10.10.
The president said in a statement released Wednesday that Republicans in Congress should follow Hawaii’s lead and raise the minimum wage for 28 million Americans. Later Wednesday, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a bill seeking a federal minimum-wage increase.
The Hawaii measure was approved by legislators Tuesday. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has indicated he will likely approve it.
The increase from $7.25 is the first since 2007 and would be phased in over four years.
Obama said Hawaii joins a large coalition of states, counties, cities and businesses to give individuals a raise.
Obama said it’s time “for Republicans in Congress to listen to the majority of Americans who say it’s time to give America a raise.”
Inmate to judge: Send me back to Halawa
HONOLULU — Three inmates who waged a hunger strike to protest conditions at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center are asking to move to a different prison.
Attorneys for William Shinyama, Tineimalo Adkins and James Moser argued Wednesday they are unfairly isolated in a segregated unit, where they’re subjected to conditions including extreme cold, a lack of medical attention and retaliation from guards when they complain.
The inmates are among 18 men indicted on charges of being part of a prison gang.
Shinyama told U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi he pleaded guilty to the charges because he was so desperate to get out of there and wants to go back to Halawa Correctional Facility.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar said Shinyama shouldn’t go back to the facility where he’s a gang leader.
Planned addition to Waikiki hotel proposed
HONOLULU — The Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki would gain a 350-foot hotel tower and meeting space under a proposal by Outrigger Enterprises Group.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the addition would be the fifth new tower of its size planned for Waikiki.
Preliminary plans call for construction of a 31- or 32-story, 200-room tower near the Outrigger Reef.
Outrigger president and CEO David Carey said preliminary renderings have been submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning. The approval process would include an environmental assessment.
Permits and entitlements are expected to be completed in about three years. Construction would begin in 2017, with completion slated for 2019.
Mark Harpenau, an owner of the Four Paddle condominium, said it’s wrong for developers to build view-blocking towers.
Meth parcel sent to Hawaii nets 15 year sentence
HONOLULU — A man found guilty of trafficking methamphetamine from California to Hawaii has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Ernesto Hernandez also faces deportation to Mexico after his prison sentence.
The 51-year-old was sentenced Monday.
Prosecutors said he arranged with others to distribute meth that was sent from California via Federal Express.
Prosecutors said Hernandez arranged the shipment of 213 grams of pure meth, which was intercepted by Federal Express security at the Honolulu airport.
By local and wire sources