HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Frozen aviator identified by lab
Advertiser Staff
Officials in Hawai'i yesterday confirmed the identity of a World War II aviator found encased in ice in a California mountain range as Aviation Cadet Leo Mustonen of Brainerd, Minn.
Mustonen, 22, was one of four soldiers aboard an AT-7 Navigator that crashed Nov. 18, 1942 on Darwin Glacier in the Sierra Nevada range.
A friend of Mustonen's family last month identified the aviator, but the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Hickam Air Force Base, which examined the remains, said at the time the findings were "preliminary" and still under review.
Hikers found Mustonen's well-preserved body in 2005 in Kings Canyon National Park. The remains were transported to Hawai'i for identification.
Mitochondrial DNA and other evidence were used to identify Mustonen. A name could be read on a faded badge on the serviceman's clothing. Funeral arrangements are pending.
WIRELESS INTERNET AT STATE CAPITOL
Work began yesterday on a $146,380 project to install a wireless Internet network at the state Capitol.
Once completed, the Capitol will be the first government building in the state to offer a comprehensive WiFi site free to the public.
No registration will be required to use the service, but users must abide by all state and federal laws regarding downloading and licensing requirements and prohibitions.
The wireless Internet access is expected to be available to the public in mid-April.
The service will be available in the House and Senate conference rooms, Capitol auditorium, Public Access Room (Room 401), central corridors along the railings on floors 2 through 4, and chamber level hallway fronting the auditorium and conference room 016.
AUDITIONS FOR BAND, ORCHESTRA
Hawai'i Pacific University is holding auditions for its band and orchestra. Auditions are open to current and prospective HPU students as well as community members.
Auditions will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Central Middle School's band room, 1302 Queen Emma St., Building D.
To schedule an audition or for more information, call Teresa McCreary, director of HPU Instrumental Programs, at 544-0887, or visit www.hpu.edu /band.
ROTARY PROMOTES PEACE MONTH
To promote the basic principles of peace, the Rotary Club of Honolulu will mark its first Peace Month this month.
The club, which meets in the Royal Hawaiian hotel ballroom at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, has coordinated a series of speakers who represent and promote the principles of peace.
The series will begin today with Christina Kemmer of Communications Pacific. The public is welcome. Cost for lunch is $18.35; pay at the door. Call 922-5526 for information.
JAPAN AWARDS GRANT FOR RESEARCH
The Japanese government has awarded a $207,936 grant to the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research for continued support of PICHTR programs throughout the Pacific.
The money will be used to provide solar electric power to villages in Fiji that do not have electricity and to continue technical training activities.
KALIHI
POST OFFICE NAMED AFTER SEN. FONG
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to name the post office at 1271 N. King St. after the late U.S. Sen. Hiram L. Fong, the nation's first senator of Asian ancestry and a member of the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee.
The bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka and co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, moves on to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie introduced a companion bill in the House.
Fong served 20 years in the U.S. Senate, where he contributed to civil rights legislation in the 1960s, fought to end discrimination against Asian immigrants and sought equal pay for women, said Akaka in a news release.
STATEWIDE
11 SCHOOLS GIVEN REPAIR GRANTS
The Hawai'i 3R's program has awarded its 18th round of grants for repair and maintenance to 11 schools. The grants total $256,000, but may yield nearly $600,000 in improvements when volunteer labor is factored in, officials said.
Grants were made to Aliamanu Elementary School, King Intermediate School, 'Iao Intermediate School on Maui, Maui Waena Elementary School, Kahuku Elementary School, Kahuku High & Intermediate School, Mililani High School, Momilani Elementary School, Kalihi Elementary School, Pearl City High School and Kanoelani Elementary School.
Hawaii 3R's has received funding from the state and federal governments and from the Hawai'i Community Foundation, Campbell Estate and the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation and the AT&T Foundation.
For more information, see www.hawaii3rs.com.
HAWAI'I KAI
ALUMNI GROUP TO ELECT OFFICERS
The newly formed Kaiser Alumni Association will have its next meeting at 6 p.m. March 14 at the Kaiser High School library.
McKinley Alumni Association president Tom Katsuyoshi will make a presentation. The group hopes to encourage enough alumni to come to elect officers and adopt resolutions that will establish the group's purpose and organizational structure.
For more information, contact Sylvia Lee at 394-1253 or at sylvia_lee/kaiser/hidoe@notes.k12.hi.us. Dinner will be provided, but interested people must RSVP.
NORTH SHORE
2 SUSPECTS HELD IN SERIES OF THEFTS
Two men were arrested Sunday for allegedly breaking into cars on the North Shore.
The men, ages 36 and 37, were seen driving around in a truck and acting suspiciously. Patrol officers responding to a tip from an anonymous caller pulled the men over.
Police found items reported stolen from other vehicles over the past two days. Officers also found drugs in the car, police said.
The men were arrested on suspicion of stealing a car, theft, possession of stolen property, possession of dangerous drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
