A Washington state man has been sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to repay more than $100,000 as a result of a conviction for fraud and theft in Honolulu, the U.S. Attorney's Office said yesterday.

Toma Lelea, 40, misrepresented himself as a federal government employee to cheat more than 20 victims who thought they were getting help with their immigration problems, officials said.

At times, Lelea would display badges or clothing that indicated he worked for the FBI or the U.S. Marshal Service, although he was never employed by the government, according to a 2006 indictment.

He was convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, Social Security fraud and felony theft of public money, said U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

YOUTH THEATER GETS $20K GRANT

Honolulu Theatre for Youth will get a $20,000 grant from the city for its upcoming season.

The grant will support at least five free community performances.

"The Honolulu Theatre for Youth's educational outreach offerings has enriched thousands of children and their families throughout the community," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said in a news release.

The free performances will be for those unable to attend shows at Tenney Theatre or elsewhere.

They will take place by June 2008, and at least two will be held at the Olomana Correctional Facility.

NANAKULI HOUSE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL

A house fire Wednesday at 87-182 Helelua St. in Nanakuli was caused by arcing in an electrical outlet, the fire department said yesterday.

The fire started in a bedroom that was being used as a storage room. The room had no smoke alarms. Damage was estimated at $5,000.

Residents home at the time of the fire controlled the blaze before firefighters arrived to extinguish it. No one was injured.

The HFD fire investigator also reported that the cause of Wednesday's fire at 839-B 21st Ave. in Kaimuki remains under investigation. The investigator is still interviewing witnesses and evaluating evidence from the fire.

The fire destroyed the home, and damage is estimated at $600,000.

The fire department urges people without electricity to use flashlights whenever possible. If it is necessary to use candles, do not leave lit candles unattended in a room.

VOLUNTEERS CAN WORK ON HEIAU

Volunteers are needed to help restore Ulupo Heiau, which sits on the edge of Kawai Nui marsh in Kailua.

Those interested in helping to maintain this state historic site should meet today at 8:30 a.m. in the heiau parking area, behind the Windward YMCA at 1200 Kailua Road. Volunteers are instructed to bring lunch, water, rain gear, sunscreen and work gloves.

Ulupo Heiau is said to be the largest heiau on O'ahu and one of the oldest in Hawai'i.

The event is sponsored by the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi, the heiau's co-curators. For more information, call 593-0112.

MANOA STREAM CLEANUP TODAY

Community members will meet this morning to collect litter and debris scattered by this week's storm along Manoa Stream, as part of the city's Adopt-a-Stream program.

The cleanup is sponsored by Malama O Manoa, whose adopted portion of the stream extends from the Woodlawn Drive bridge near Longs Drugs in Manoa Marketplace to the Kahaloa Street bridge near Manoa Valley District Park.

Those interested in lending a hand should meet at the Woodlawn Drive bridge at 9 a.m.

For more information, call George Arizumi at 988-5069.