MEDIA RELEASE
Hawaiʻi Island police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 51-year-old South Kona man wanted for outstanding warrants.
Shawn Allan Peete is described as being 5-feet-11-inches, 165 pounds with short brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who may have information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
MEDIA RELEASE
Hawaii, HI, November 20- Average retail gasoline prices in Hawaii have fallen 3.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.42/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 355 gas outlets in Hawaii. This compares with the national average that has fallen 2.6 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.54/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Including the change in gas prices in Hawaii during the past week, prices yesterday were 55.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 7.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 8.9 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 40.4 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.
According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on November 20 in Hawaii have ranged widely over the last five years:
$2.86/g in 2016, $2.83/g in 2015, $3.91/g in 2014, $3.96/g in 2013 and $4.09/g in 2012.
Areas near Hawaii and their current gas price climate:
For Hawaii Island gas prices and trends visit — www.hawaii247.com/gas
By Hawaii 24/7 Staff
Fire/rescue crews responded to a 3:12 p.m. alarm Saturday (Nov 18) toand area near the Fern Forest subdivision at the end of Kahaulea Road for a report of a missing hunter.
The hunter, in his 60s, was lost after following his dogs in pursuit of a wild pig in the forest about 2 p.m. The hunter’s friend who lost sight of him him tried to use his truck’s horn to guide him back to the street on Kahaulea Road but was unable due to the dense forest’s thick growth, and high canopy. The friend then called 911 to initiate the rescue.
Fire dispatch was able to zero in on the lost hunter using his e911 call’s GPS position and dispatched Chopper One to the scene. The Helicopter crew located the hunter and was able to airlift both the hunter and his dogs to safety.
The hunter and his dogs did not require any medical attention. The police and DLNR are investigating the event.
MEDIA RELEASE
Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at about 12:45 p.m., Wednesday afternoon, (November 15), in the area of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Palani Road in Kailua-Kona.
At approximately 12:19 p.m., police responded to the report of a barking dog. Upon arrival, an officer located a female dog with puppies that appeared injured. The officer requested assistance from the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society. While waiting for the arrival of additional officers and the Humane Society personnel, a 49-year-old male party identified as William Cook, removed the female dog before it received aid. The officer attempted to contact Cook as he left the area.
Secondary personnel arrived, including Humane Society personnel, and attempted to recover the puppies in distress.
While rescuing the puppies the female dog returned and attacked the Humane Society personnel. The officer in the area first utilized his issued pepper spray in an unsuccessful attempt to fend off the attack. The dog then turned to the officer and began to charge, at which time the officer discharged one round from his service firearm in the direction of the dog.
The dog’s reported owner, Cook, was arrested at the scene and later charged for Dangerous Dog, Failure to Control Widely Dangerous Means, Disorderly Conduct, and Cruelty to Animals.
No one was injured or property damaged as a result of the firearm discharge. The Humane Society personnel sustained dog bite injuries which we treated at the scene.The dog and puppies are currently in the custody of the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society.
As is standard practice in any police-involved shooting, the Police Department’s Area II Criminal Investigations Section will investigate the shooting, and the Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
MEDIA RELEASE
An 86-year-old Hilo woman died following a vehicle and pedestrian crash Thursday morning, (September 21) in Hilo.
She has been identified as Yoshie Oshiro.
Responding to a 10:51 a.m., call, police determined that a 2016 Toyota sedan was traveling south on Kinoʻole Street at the intersection of Mamo Street when it struck two pedestrians who were within the crosswalk.
The woman who died was taken to the Hilo Medical Center and medevaced to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oʻahu in critical condition. She was later released from The Queen’s Medical Center, but remained under health care and succumbed to her injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on, (October 20), at 10:35 p.m.
The second pedestrian that was struck was an 86-year old female from Honolulu. She was taken to the Hilo Medical Center in stable condition for treatment to her injuries.
The driver of the Toyota sedan, an 88-year old female from Hilo, was not injured.
Police have reclassified this case from a Negligent Injury to a Negligent Homicide investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Clarence Acob at (808) 961-2329 or at Clarence.Acob@hawaiicounty.gov.
This is the 30th traffic fatality this year compared with 28 at this time last year.
MEDIA RELEASE
This is a Department of Water Supply (DWS) Deepwell breakdown message for Thursday afternoon, November 16, 2017 at 3 p.m.
At this time, the HOVE Deepwell in Ocean View, Kaʻū is down. Troubleshooting is being done to further analyze the problem, determine the needed repairs, and develop an estimated repair timeline. DWS is monitoring consumption and tank levels.
Due to this breakdown, the following are in effect:
Again, the HOVE Deepwell in Ocean View, Kaʻū is down. The drinking water spigot station remains open for community access. The standpipe facility is now closed to water haulers. Troubleshooting the repair continues. Updated information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
The Department requests your cooperation, patience, and understanding during this emergency. If you need additional information, please contact 961-8790.
Mahalo,
Department of Water Supply
(Volcano Watch is a weekly article written by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.)
Route 200, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, crosses Humu‘ula Saddle, which separates Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the two largest volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi. This Saddle showcases outstanding volcanic geology and is easy to reach for “roadside geologists.”
For the first 19 miles (30.6 km), Highway 200 ascends almost a mile (1.6 km) above sea level through mostly young native forest. The road crosses lava flows and patches of ashy soil ranging in age from 150 to 4000 years old. Rainfall is so abundant here—up to nearly 300 inches (760 cm) per year—that vegetation covers most outcrops.
Around Milepost 19, Highway 200 emerges onto young-looking, lightly-vegetated ‘a‘ā lava from the 1855–1856 Mauna Loa eruption. This flow is one of seven that travelled from Mauna Loa toward Hilo in recorded history. The 1855–1856 eruption lasted a year and a half! Imagine the commuter’s nightmare were this to occur today.
Between Mileposts 19 and 20, tall trees occupy numerous kipuka growing on Punahoa pāhoehoe lava erupted from Mauna Loa 3100–3200 years ago. Near Milepost 21 the road drops into a kipuka floored by the 400-year-old Mauna Loa ‘Ᾱinahou ‘a‘ā flow.
Near Saddlehouse Road, the road rises onto Mauna Loa ‘a‘ā lava erupted in1935–1936. This flow was the first-ever in the United States that authorities tried to “manipulate” to protect property downslope. The U.S. Army Air Corps, advised by Thomas Jaggar, Director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at the time, dropped 600-pound (272 kg) bombs on the active flow about ten miles (16 km) southwest of the intersection. The goal was to disrupt the lava channel, causing the flow to spread laterally rather than continue downhill. The impact was negligible.
On the right side of the highway just after Saddlehouse Road, the 1935–1936 lava is rumpled into a spectacular series of low compressional ridges (“lava ogives”). These features are easiest to spot in early morning or dusk light. Each ridge indicates that you are near the end of the flow, where the lava became too stiff to continue. The actual terminus is about two miles (3.2 km) away.
South of the road between Mileposts 22 and 23, a pullout marks the start of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail, which crosses a landscape of diverse kipuka and younger flows. Spectacular old-growth ōhiʽa and tree ferns appear in scattered groves. The trail, which used to continue all the way to Volcano ranchlands, now ends after four miles (6.4 km) at the edge of the 1984 flow, the youngest lava to head toward Hilo.
Past Milepost 22, road builders deliberately constructed Highway 200 atop the 1935–1936 āʽa flow. That’s because rubbly ‘a‘ā is much easier than solid pāhoehoe to grade.
Near Milepost 23, Highway 200 approaches the base of Mauna Kea. The lumpy, grassy landscape to the right of the road results from the eruption of hawaiite, a unique type of lava that is notably stiffer and richer in silica and potassium than Mauna Loa flows. The numerous upslope cones belong to the Pu‘uloa volcanic field, which last erupted about 4,600 years ago and was the source of the hawaiite. Pu‘uloa vents extend to the top of Mauna Kea.
A well-loved local landmark, Pu‘uhuluhulu, is at the crest of the Saddle. This densely-forested Mauna Kea cinder cone is entirely surrounded by younger Mauna Loa flows. An abandoned quarry at its eastern end exposes the cone’s interior, showing that sometime after eruption of loose, porous cinders, narrow dikes of basaltic lava worked their way into the edifice. The dike rock matches the chemistry of Mauna Loa’s lavas, suggesting that they intruded much later. But how and why they did remain a head-scratcher for geologists.
Near the northwestern foot of Pu‘uhuluhulu is a stone wall, built by hand in the late 19th century by local cattle ranchers. The 1935–1936 lava lapped around and overtopped the wall in places. Stunning inflation features illustrate that the flow inflated like rising bread crust on both sides of the wall after initially coming to rest against it.
Other interesting features may be discovered in the Humu‘ula Saddle, such as ancient dune fields, glacial deposits, and rocks from Earth’s deep interior. We’ve described only a few here, hopefully instilling a new appreciation for our spectacular ‘āina.
Hawaiʻi Island police report that the 13-year-old Nāʻālehu girl who was reported missing has been located.
Melelani Leaverton was found in Hilo last night, (November 14), in good condition.
MEDIA RELEASE
Hawaiʻi Island police charged two people in connection with a robbery stemming from a road rage incident on Kīlauea Avenue in Hilo.
At 8:49 a.m., Monday morning, (November 13), police responded to the courthouse parking lot in Hilo for an incident involving two motorists. The victim, a 53-year-old Keaʻau man, told police that a Nissan sedan followed him into the parking lot where the female driver of the sedan approached him. During an argument with the woman, a male passenger got involved and assaulted the victim.
During the assault, the female suspect went into the cab of the victim’s truck and stole his backpack. Both suspects shoved the victim when he tried to retrieve his backpack then both suspects fled the area in their vehicle. The victim sustained minor injuries and declined medical treatment.
Yesterday, (November 14), 25-year-old Chantel Takabayashi, and 31-year-old Rendell Naiga, both of Pāhoa, were arrested in Hilo after turning themselves in to police.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and charged both suspects with second-degree robbery and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Their bail was set at $7000 each. The suspects were released from police custody after posting bail and are expected in District Court on (December 19).
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any other information about it is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Jesse Kerr of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2382 or Jesse.Kerr@hawaiicounty.gov.
UPDATED (11/15/2017)
Hawaiʻi Island police report that the wanted person in connection with a counterfeit investigation in Pāhoa was located on, (November 15), at 1:15 p.m., in Keaʻau.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police ask anyone having information on the case to call officer Kimo Veincentof the Puna Police at (808) 965-2716, or the police non-emergency number, (808) 935-3311.
MEDIA RELEASE
Effective Wednesday, November 15, 2017, the Halawa Correctional Facility (HCF) is implementing changes to its “Searches of Visitors and Staff” policy. This is part of ongoing efforts to crack down on contraband entering the correctional system. The policy will also be enacted at the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) on November 22, 2017.
All bags that enter HCF and OCCC shall be clear, see-through plastic tote bags that expose all contents. They can be no larger than 12”L x 8”W x 12”H. Briefcases, backpacks, coolers, gym bags and purses and other bags that are not see-through are no longer allowed.
Any soft drinks or store bought beverages must be in containers with the factory seal intact. All beverages must be sealed and unopened until cleared for entry into the facility. Clear non-glass water bottles/containers shall not exceed 64 ounces. Individual snack items will be in a see-through bag or container.
“Contraband is a problem in prisons across the country. We eliminated one contraband pathway when we converted our visitation room to non-contact visits. We are constantly working on ways to block other contraband pathways, to better protect both staff and inmate safety, as well as the public we serve,” said Scott Harrington, Halawa Correctional Facility Warden.
“This policy is in line with best practices in prison systems nationwide,” said Nolan Espinda, Department of Public Safety Director. “A majority of staff come to work and do a great job. Most staff don’t intentionally introduce contraband into our facilities, however, we have had instances where such misconduct has occurred. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Anyone who is caught intentionally bringing in contraband will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Eventually, after consultation, the Department will be rolling out this new procedure to all of its facilities statewide.
MEDIA RELEASE
Parker School debate team won both sweepstakes trophies at the November 11 Punahou School Non-Qualifying Speech and Debate Tournament in Oahu.
Parker’s 37 debaters won 79 ballots, winning the trophy for the largest overall number of wins. Punahou School placed second with 51ballots.
Parker went on to win a second trophy for the highest percentage of winning ballots, coming out on top with 64% of the wins. ‘Iolani School finished second with 53% of the winning ballots.
Parker School was one of 15 schools that participated in this state-wide tournament. As the only neighbor island school and the smallest school to compete, it is proving to be a strong force standing up against much larger schools. The team has been working hard in class and after school, in addition to holding practice rounds with Hilo High’s debate team to prepare for tournaments.
“It is exciting to go against the best schools in the state. To be successful represents a strong effort on the part of our students and I am really proud of them.” said Carl Sturges, Parker School Headmaster, and Debate Coach.
Highlights include the following seven Parker debaters who went undefeated: beginner public forum debate seniors Jaipal Brar and Owen Matsuda; sophomores Tyler Thomas and Hiroki Soler; junior varsity policy debate senior Shione Mochizuki and junior Emma Laliberte; and junior Zoe Vann in Championship Lincoln Douglas debate. Other noteworthy performances were senior Spencer Corabi & junior Macy Note winning five out of six rounds in advanced public forum; senior Riley Herendeen and sophomore Katie Carey winning five out of six rounds in junior varsity policy debate, and junior Colin Klimt’s superior rating in Student Congress.
Parker School’s next debate team competition will be at McKinley High School on December 16 in ‘Oahu.