HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Driver killed in plunge was drunk
Advertiser Staff
The city medical examiner's office yesterday said the man who died after his car plunged into the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Jan. 14 had a blood alcohol level of .225, nearly three times the legal limit.
Honolulu attorney Michael McCarthy, 66, and his 15-year-old step-granddaughter were in the 1993 Cadillac he was driving. Police vehicular homicide investigator Sgt. John Agno said McCarthy's car struck a pickup truck and Lexus sedan in the parking lot before reversing into the water at 5:20 p.m.
A passerby rescued the girl.
EVENT TO HELP AIDS GROUP
Hula's Bar and Lei Stand presents DJs Against AIDS at 6 p.m. Thursday with proceeds to support the Life Foundation, Hawai'i's oldest and largest AIDS organization.
DJs Against AIDS will be hosted by popular personalities from the local club scene such as Flash, Matty Boy and Coco Chandelier. It will also include performances by more than a dozen DJs and an appearance by Cher impersonator Chad Michaels.
For more information, including ticket prices, visit www.hulas.com or call 923-0669.
MANOA
TWO ARRESTED IN DEC. ROBBERY
A man and a woman were arrested yesterday in connection with a December robbery in Manoa after police were led to one of the suspects by an ID card found at the scene.
The man, 41, of Kaimuki and woman, 38, of Kalihi were arrested yesterday afternoon at a Kapi'olani Boulevard address. Both were booked on one count of robbery. The woman also was arrested on suspicion of two drug counts.
Charges against the two were pending last night.
Police said a 63-year-old man found a man in his home on Dec. 16 and that the two struggled over some property. The suspect fled, but police found a woman's identification card as well as some drugs near a window that had been removed.
Police tracked down the two and arrested them without incident yesterday.
O'AHU
JELLYFISH CLOSE HANAUMA BAY
The city Ocean Safety Division closed Hanauma Bay yesterday and issued a box jellyfish warning through today for Waikiki and Ala Moana.
Other coastal areas sometimes affected by box jellyfish invasions are the north- and west-facing shorelines such as Waimea Bay and popular beach sites such as 'Ehukai, Sunset, Ma'ili and Makaha.
Lifeguards assess beaches for jellyfish during alert periods and post warning signs as needed.
Lifeguards advise people with allergies to stings to stay out of the water. Lifeguards are equipped to treat stings, but an effective treatment is to apply white vinegar.
For more information on ocean conditions and advisories, call 922-3888, ext. 51.
BIG ISLAND
MAUNA KEA SNOW SHUTS DOWN ROAD
Sleet and some snow closed the Mauna Kea Access Road yesterday afternoon as some of the moisture began to freeze on the pavement, causing unsafe driving conditions.
An announcement from Mauna Kea Observatories Support Services said there was a light covering of one to two inches of snow at elevations above 11,000 feet on the mountain, with more snow expected this week. The temperature was about 25 degrees yesterday afternoon.
The road likely will remain closed for "most of this week," and probably will be closed each morning, according to the announcement.
Travelers considering using the road can call (808) 935-6268, or check the Mauna Kea Weather Center Web site at mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current /road-conditions/index.cgi.
KAUA'I
VISITOR DIES AT KUNA BAY
A visitor from Kentucky died Sunday afternoon after being brought in from the surf at Kuna Bay, the popular but isolated beach north of Kealia that is also known as Donkey Beach.
Fire Department officials said Sandy Preston, 49, of Ft. Thomas, Ky., had already been brought to shore when lifeguards and rescue crews arrived at the beach. Preston did not respond to CPR and died at the scene.
WAIPAHU
PLANTATION DAYS' FOCUS ON KOREANS
Koreans will be the featured heritage group Feb. 4 at Hawai'i's Plantation Village's "Relive the Plantation Days — 2006" presentation, a series held on the first Saturday of each month.
Korean dance, costume-dressing and a video presentation of kim chee making will be among the events during the program, which will be from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In honor of Chinese New Year, Brandon Ho lion dance group will perform at 9:45 a.m. Offerings from other cultural groups include Chinese noodles, jai and gau demonstrations and sampling, Filipino cooking demonstration and tasting, Puerto Rican pasteles sampling and sales, Okinawan taisho koto demonstration, hula and Hawaiian crafts, plantation games, kite-making and songs of the 1940s performed by Way Back Wenn.
Admission is $7 per person and $4 for kama'aina and military personnel with ID. No admission charge for children 12 and younger.
MILILANI
COOKBOOK FUNDS GRADUATION EVENT
A cookbook featuring more than 400 recipes is being sold Fridays and Saturdays at Mililani Town Center's center court area, with proceeds going to Mililani High's 2006 Project Graduation.
Tickets for an $8 spaghetti dinner from Bucca di Beppo at Mililani High on Feb. 10 are also available at the cookbook sales area, but dinner from Roy's of Ko Olina on the same night at the school is sold out.
MA'ILI
MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING BEER
A 20-year-old man with no local address was arrested Sunday morning at Ma'ili'ili Beach after a clerk at a nearby convenience store on Farrington Highway told police the man had stolen beer from the store on Wednesday.
The clerk told police that the man took a 20-pack of beer and left the store without paying. The clerk confronted the man in the parking lot. The man punched the clerk in the head and ran off with the beer.
The clerk spotted the man at the beach Sunday and called police.
