By local sources
Hilo man reported missing
Police are looking for 55-year-old Larry Allen Wall who failed to return to his Hilo home Jan. 3 and was reported missing.
Wall is described as 6-foot-1, about 220 pounds with a fair complexion, brown short hair and brown eyes. He usually wears glasses. He was last known to be wearing shorts and an aloha shirt, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Officer Sean Phelan at 961-2213 or the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo.
Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Cause of death released
An autopsy has determined Kailua-Kona resident Bonifacio Pako Alip III, 48, died from a medical condition and not in a one-vehicle crash Nov. 8 on Route 11 in South Kona, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The Big Island’s fatality count for 2011 has been reduced from 23 to 22, police said.
Police seek several individuals
Police are seeking 30-year-old Derek S.K. Fontes, wanted on two arrest warrants for violating probation and three bench warrants. He is described as 5-foot-6, 180 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He may be in the Pahala area.
Police are also asking for help in locating 50-year-old Jamie Cuizon, who is wanted on two bench warrants and two warrants of arrest. She has no permanent address but frequents the Hilo area. She is described as 5-feet tall, 125 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
Police are also seeking help locating two men and a woman wanted on bench warrants for failure to appear in court. George Tejada, 24, of Puna is described as 5-foot-6, 250 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Richard Correa, 48, of Hilo is described as 5-foot-10, 190 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Mory Koi of Hilo is 39 years old. She is described as 5-foot-4, 110 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
Anyone with information about any of these cases should call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Crime Stoppers does not tape record phone calls or subscribe to caller ID.
Police find missing girl
Police on Monday located a 14-year-old Hilo girl, who was reported missing.
Shyla Sakurai-Rilveria was found unharmed in Hilo.
2011 ended on a soggy note in E. Hawaii
The year 2011 ended on a soggy note in East Hawaii, but that was not enough to keep most of the Big Island from recording another year of below-average rainfall.
The National Weather Service’s Honolulu Forecast Office said in its monthly roundup of precipitation tallies that a gauge in Glenwood recorded the island’s highest amount of rainfall, at 149.27 inches.
Still, this is only 64 percent of what the Puna mauka town gets in a regular year.
On the other end, sunny Kaupulehu in West Hawaii received 6.32 inches on the year, just a third of the regular amount. No other gauge in the state recorded lower rainfall.
“Most of the gauges across the Big Island ended 2011 with below-normal totals with most leeward sites at lest than 50 percent of normal,” wrote NWS hydrologist Kevin Kodama. “Several windward gauges pushed up into the near normal range following the wet December conditions.”
He was referring to the wettest portion of the month, between Dec. 19 and Dec. 24:
“Notable six-day totals included 18.14 inches at Saddle Road Quarry, 15.24 inches at Glenwood, and 13.38 inches at Waiakea Uka. While the six-day totals were impressive, the hourly totals were less than an inch which helped prevent serious flooding problems.
“As wet conditions were occurring along the windward slopes, most leeward areas were very dry, especially in the North Kona District where gauges recorded totals at less than 20 percent of normal.”
The prevailing trade wind pattern, as well as a La Niña that has not been as strong as expected, has helped to keep leeward areas dry. As Kodama noted in his Jan. 6 drought information statement:
“Pastures and general vegetation from Kawaihae to Pohakuloa are in very poor condition and brush fires continue to be a significant concern. Ranchers in these areas have already destocked cattle and water hauling operations have been ongoing for several months. South Ka’u finally received significant rainfall and some recovery has occurred but more rainfall is needed.”
By local sources