HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Wind advisory in effect until 6 p.m.
Advertiser Staff
The National Weather Service yesterday issued a wind advisory in effect through 6 p.m. today.
East to northeast winds of 30 to 35 mph with higher gusts can be expected, forecasters said.
An area of strong high pressure strengthening north of the state will cause strong trade winds. Winds are expected to diminish tonight as the high-pressure area moves northeast of the state.
The advisory is for all islands. Drivers of high-profile vehicles are advised to take extra caution. Homeowners should secure any loose outdoor objects.
4 HIGH SCHOOLS IN ROBOTICS CONTEST
Teams from Waialua and McKinley high schools will join Punahou School and Waiakea High School in Hilo in an annual high school robotics competition.
Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway scooter, was part of a group that founded and conducts the six-week competition. The schools will learn about this year's challenge this weekend when details of the competition are released.
Teams that emerge from regional competitions advance to the championship in Atlanta in April.
BUDGET, FINANCE DIRECTOR NAMED
Robert Piper has been appointed deputy director of the state Department of Budget and Finance.
He replaces Stan Shiraki, who retired in November after more than 30 years with the department.
Piper, previously chief of staff to Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, was an associate attorney with the law firm of Paul Johnson Park and Niles, as well as Tam O'Connor Henderson Taira and Yamauchi.
He held various positions at the Bank of Hawaii and is past president of the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce.
WAI'ANAE
FIREWORKS MAY HAVE STARTED FIRE
Fireworks are suspected of starting a brushfire yesterday that burned more than 10 acres on Ala Hema Street in Wai'anae.
Six Honolulu Fire Department companies, three tankers and a helicopter fought the fire, which started at 2:52 p.m., for about two hours. HFD spokes-man Capt. Kenison Tejada said the fire did not threaten property.
Arriving firefighters could hear fireworks and some were set off near a fire truck, Tejada said.
MANOA
'GREAT WARMING' TO SCREEN AT UH
"The Great Warming," a Canadian film on climate change with Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morissette, will be shown at 7 p.m. today and 5 p.m. Sunday at the University of Hawai'i Manoa campus Spalding Auditorium.
It is the first Hawai'i showing of the movie, which will be released in theaters next month. It has been described as covering some of the same topics that Al Gore covers in his movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," but in a different way.
"That movie is more science-based. This is what's happening to people around the world and what you can do. It's a heart movie more than a head movie," said Kat Brady, assistant executive director for Life of the Land, which is coordinating the screenings.
Many faith groups have embraced the film and it has been shown in more than 200 churches in pre-opening sceenings. The Hawai'i showings are sponsored by the Church of the Crossroads, 'Ohana Metropolitan Community Church, Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii, and First Unitarian Church of Hono-lulu. There is a suggested admission of $5.
For more information, go to www.thegreatwarming.com, or call Henry Curtis at Life of the Land at 927-0709.
KANE'OHE
POLICE IDENTIFY DEAD TOURIST
A woman visitor who died Tuesday at Castle Medical Center after encountering breathing problems while scuba diving was identified by the Honolulu medical examiner as Naomi Yamada, 35, of Japan.
Autopsy finding on cause of death is pending.
Witnesses told police Yamada was diving with a tour group near the sand bar in Kane'ohe Bay when she began having difficulty breathing and lost consciousness at about 12:30 p.m.
BIG ISLAND
POLICE SEEK HELP IN MONDAY'S FIRE
Big Island police are investigating a fire that did an estimated $500,000 damage to the Pana'ewa Family Center at 100 Ohuohu St. shortly after 6 a.m. Monday
Arson is suspected in the fire, which destroyed a portion of the center.
Police ask that anyone who has information about the fire call Detective Robert Hatton at 961-2380. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
MAUI
TANAKA APPOINTED DISTRICT JUDGE
Maui lawyer Keith E. Tanaka has been appointed by Chief Justice Ronald Moon as a Maui district judge, the state Judiciary announced yesterday.
Tanaka will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of District Judge Reinette Cooper.
Tanaka graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1983 and worked as a state deputy pubic defender before entering private practice in 1989 specializing in criminal defense work, according to the state Judiciary.
From 1975 to 1980, Tanaka was a secondary education teacher for the state Department of Education, the Judiciary said.
Moon selected Tanaka from a list of candidates submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission.
The appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation.
ALA MOANA
MAN CHARGED IN PURSE SNATCHING
A 27-year-old man was charged yesterday with second-degree robbery stemming from an alleged purse snatching in the Ala Moana area.
Kelii A. Harris, who has no permanent local address, was being held in lieu of $15,000 bail. Harris also was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is accused of snatching the purse of a 46-year-old woman on Ke'eaumoku Street on Tuesday about 5 p.m. The woman struggled to hang on to her purse.
A witness chased down Harris and applied a choke hold to subdue him until police arrived.
