HAWAI'I BRIEFS
City personnel rescue divers
Advertiser Staff
City Ocean Safety and Fire Department rescue crews yesterday pulled five people from rough waters off Portlock.
Three female visitors and a male diving instructor entered the waters off China Walls yesterday afternoon to go scuba diving. But they were unable to get back on shore.
A man jumped in and led the divers away from the rocks. "That guy who jumped in really, really helped," said Ocean Safety spokesman Jimmy Barros.
Other witnesses called 911. Two fire rescue swimmers jumped in to help secure the divers. Jet-powered water craft operated by Ocean Safety and the fire department, as well as the fire department's Rescue 2 boat, helped bring everyone to shore.
Paramedics treated the divers for cuts and scrapes, but no one required hospitalization.
"It's tough to come back in on that ledge when the ocean's flat," Barros said. "With today's 3-foot south swell and the easterly wind swell, it was even more dangerous."
STATEWIDE
OUTDOOR CIRCLE SEEKS NOMINEES
The Outdoor Circle is looking for nominees from all islands for its annual Beautification Awards, which recognize extraordinary efforts of homeowners, businesses and government to enhance the beauty of O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands.
Awards will be given in three categories: residential landscape (must be visible from a public street), landscape projects undertaken by government, businesses and corporations, and tree settings.
Nominations will be judged by representatives from the landscape and tree-care industry and by members of The Outdoor Circle's board of directors.
Call The Outdoor Circle at 593-0300. The nomination deadline is April 7. Awards will be announced at the group's annual meeting on May 20.
ACLU AWARD DEADLINE APRIL 30
The deadline for submitting nominations for the Hawai'i chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union's Guardians of Liberty and Justice Youth Awards has been extended through April 30.
The original deadline was April 15.
Nominations may be made by anyone, including teachers, counselors, community organizations, mentors, businesses and individuals.
For additional information about the program or a complete nomination packet, see www.acluhawaii.org.
HONOLULU
GRAND OPENING FOR BLAISDELL CAFE
The city will hold a grand opening today for the Lion Pride Cafe at Blaisdell Center.
The cafe is on the Diamond Head lanai of the Blaisdell Concert Hall and features Lion coffee, tea, soft drinks, pastries, sandwich wraps and other items.
It opened March 1. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WAIKIKI
EXPECTED RAIN CANCELS FESTIVALS
The Sunset on the Beach festivals scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday in Waikiki have been canceled in anticipation of wet weather.
WAI'ANAE
SUSPECT HELD IN ATTACK ON WOMAN
A 41-year-old Wai'anae man was arrested Wednesday after his former girlfriend told police he attacked her and held her against her will for about 14 hours.
The former girlfriend, 35, told police that the man first refused to let her leave his Hokuaiaina Place home at about 1:30 a.m. and assaulted her. She said she eventually was able to persuade him to take her to her home to pick up some belongings.
Police said that once the woman arrived at her home she alerted family members about what was happening and they called police.
MAKAHA
MAN, 42, ARRESTED IN DOMESTIC CASE
A 42-year-old Makaha man was arrested about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after a 48-year-old woman told police he held her against her will and assaulted her.
Police described the pair as a couple and said an argument escalated when the man began assaulting the woman at their home on Ala Mahiku Street. The woman told police the man threatened her with a knife and forced her to go with him to another location.
Police found the woman with minor injuries. A knife was recovered and the man was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a family or household member.
