HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Court-resurfacing project sickens 17
Advertiser Staff
Ten wards of the state and seven staff members at the Judiciary's Detention Home on Alder Street were taken to Straub Hospital & Clinic yesterday after being overcome by fumes from a resurfacing project at the facility.
The 17 people complained of headaches and nausea.
Visitations were suspended for part of the day.
Fire Department hazardous materials specialists and the contractor assured officials at the facility the materials used in the resurfacing of a basketball court were nontoxic.
FREE SCREENING OF AL GORE FILM
The global-warming film "An Inconvenient Truth" will be shown at a free screening today at the state Capitol auditorium.
Sierra Club Director Jeff Mikulina, who recently received training from Al Gore on the presentation featured in the film, will speak before the 1 p.m. screening.
The 110-minute film looks at the affects of global warming. A question-and-answer session and discussion will follow.
"It is critically important for Hawai'i's lawmakers to learn exactly what they will face and how it can be stopped," Mikulina said.
KAUA'I
TREE CUTTER WAS FROM WAILUA
A state Department of Transportation worker who was killed Wednesday while cutting down a tree along Kuhio Highway has been identified as Johnathan Hirata, 30, of Wailua.
Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said Hirata was using a chain saw to fell a tree near the Kalihiwai Bridge. The falling tree hit another tree on its way down, causing the base of the felled tree to spring back and hit Hirata.
PART OF KAPA'A BYPASS TO OPEN
The northern extension of the Kapa'a bypass road, from the existing intersection at Olohena Road to Kuhio Highway near Hau'a'ala Road, will be opened Monday for southbound traffic only.
Drivers seeking to bypass the heart of Kapa'a town will be able to turn mauka off Kuhio Highway onto the one-lane bypass and connect to the two-lane bypass at Olohena Road.
KANE'OHE
BOMB LEADS TO STUDENT'S ARREST
Police arrested a Kane'ohe-area middle school student yesterday for allegedly bringing an explosive device to campus.
The pipe-bomb type explosive was confiscated by an adult about 8 a.m. It was turned over to police bomb specialists for disposal. The student was arrested as a juvenile for investigation of first-degree terroristic threatening.
KALIHI
SUSPECT SOUGHT IN WOMAN'S BEATING
Police are asking for the public's help in finding Tilton Lasua Jr., who is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder and other charges stemming from a Jan. 11 incident involving his former girlfriend.
The woman told police she was asleep in the back seat of her car when she was awakened as Lasua tried to break in through a back window.
Lasua got into the car and allegedly punched his former girlfriend before she was able to drive away, police said.
They said Lasua got into his car and pursued his former girlfriend mauka on Kalihi Street, ramming his car into the back of the woman's car 13 times, finally causing her to collide with a parked car and then a utility pole. The ex-girlfriend suffered minor injuries.
Police ask anyone with information about Lasua to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *Crime on cellular phones.
NANAKULI
TEEN ARRESTED IN ROBBERIES
A 17-year-old Nanakuli boy was arrested Wednesday night after he allegedly held up a convenience store and then robbed two people at gunpoint.
At 10:30 p.m., police said, a teen pulled out a gun inside a convenience store and demanded money.
A short time later, a teen confronted a 16-year-old boy and his girlfriend and demanded money.
