State and local briefs 2-15

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By local and wire sources

Police seek pair for suspected probation violations

Big Island police are searching for two Ka’u men wanted for violating terms of probation.

Earl Camacho, 29, of Milolii is wanted on warrants for contempt of court and violating probation, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

Camacho, who is known to frequent South Kona, is also wanted for questioning in connection with a traffic accident, according to police. He is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Shannon Ke, 24, of Ka’u is wanted on two warrants for violating probation, according to police. Ke, who is known to frequent Hilo and Kailua-Kona, is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call the 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. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.


Police arrest 30 for suspected DUI

Police arrested 30 drivers for suspected drunken driving between Feb. 6 and Sunday; 10 were involved in traffic accidents and five were younger than 21.

Police have made 161 suspected DUI arrests this year compared with 162 during the same period in 2011, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

South Hilo officers nabbed 14 drivers, Kona officers 10 and Puna officers three. South Kohala officers arrested two motorists and Ka’u officers one.

There have been 154 major accidents this year compared with 169 during the same period last year.

To date, there have been two traffic fatalities on Big Island public roadways, compared with five fatalities during the same period in 2011, according to police.


Hawaii women inmates grow breadfruit trees

KAILUA, Oahu — Inmates at Hawaii’s correctional center for women are growing cloned breadfruit trees to help feed hungry people.

The state Department of Public Safety says inmates incarcerated at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua have grown the cloned trees with help from the Honolulu Garden Club and the Breadfruit Institute since 2008. The institute aims to produce food to help feed the hungry in tropical regions.

The 10 trees grown by the women started as 6-inch plants and are now more than 7 feet high and beginning to bear fruit.

By local and wire sources