By local sources Assault suspect sought ADVERTISING Big Island police are asking the public’s help identifying a man wanted for questioning in connection with a Jan. 12 assault at Punaluu Black Sands Beach. A 29-year-old Meadow Lake, Ore., man reported
Assault suspect sought
Big Island police are asking the public’s help identifying a man wanted for questioning in connection with a Jan. 12 assault at Punaluu Black Sands Beach.
A 29-year-old Meadow Lake, Ore., man reported to police that while he was taking pictures of turtles a man confronted him, told him to stay away from the animals and then punched him in the left eye, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The suspect then allegedly took the Oregon man’s camera and wrestled him to the ground.
The victim’s girlfriend retrieved the camera and took a photo of the suspect after bystanders had separated the men, according to police.
Anyone with information on the man’s identity should call Officer James Lorenzo at 939-2520 or 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 renew search for missing teen
Big Island police are asking the public’s help in locating a 17-year-old Kailua-Kona boy reported as missing since October.
Austin Imholt failed to return home on Oct. 29, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
He is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds, with a fair complexion, blond curly hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing green, red and yellow surf shorts, a white tank top and black slippers, according to police.
Imholt also has a black outlined “gothic-style” tattoo on his right forearm and a tattoo with the word “IMHOLT” in Old English-style lettering on his back.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Officer Robert Sakata at 326-4646, ext. 276, or 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.
Earthquake swarm continues
HILO — Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has recorded more than 100 earthquakes in an ongoing swarm that began around 1:17 a.m. on Wednesday.
The earthquakes are located about three miles north-northwest of Kilauea volcano’s summit, near Namakanipaio in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, at depths of one to three miles.
The largest earthquakes of the ongoing swarm have been a magnitude 4.1 quake at 9:02 p.m. Thursday night and a magnitude 4.3 quake at 3:52 a.m. Friday morning. These earthquakes were widely felt on the Island of Hawaii.
The effects of the early Friday morning temblor caused a few books and other items to fall off shelves and dislodged some small ceiling fixtures at HVO. Several residents of nearby Volcano Golf Course subdivision also minor damage such as items falling from shelves.
As of Friday morning, the seismic swarm has also included three earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 3.9, and 25 earthquakes with magnitudes of 2.0 to 2.9. The magnitudes of another 88 located earthquakes are between 1.0 and 1.9.
The earthquakes are located in the Kaoiki Fault Zone, where similar earthquake swarms occurred in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2006, all without an eruption. Some of these swarms were stronger than the current one, HVO Geologist Janet Babb said.
According to Jim Kauahikaua, HVO’s scientist-in-charge, it’s likely that high rates of seismicity could continue in this area for several days. He added that the earthquake swarm has not caused any obvious changes in Kilauea’s ongoing eruptions, but that the magnitude 4.3 earthquake did cause a small rockfall in the active vent located within Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea.
For more information on recent earthquakes in Hawaii and eruption updates, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website at hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
Water rates set to increase
HILO — The county Water Board is set to increase its power cost charge from $2.31 to $2.35 per 1,000 gallons.
The 1.7 percent hike requested by the Department of Water Supply is in response to higher energy costs assessed by Hawaii Electric Light Co.
The power cost charge is a direct pass-through of the department’s costs and goes directly to Hawaii Electric Light Co. to cover the costs of pumping water. The Water Board has the authority to adjust the amount every two months as the price of oil fluctuates.
So as gas prices go up, so does the water bill. In January 2009, the power cost charge peaked at $2.38 before plummeting as the nationwide recession reduced the demand for oil.
In October 2010 the power cost charge was at its lowest level — $1.66. Since then the price has increased every two months. If the $2.35 power cost charge is approved it would represent a 42 percent increase since October 2010.
If approved, the increase would mean that a typical family of five, consuming an average of 20,000 gallons of water every two months, would pay a power cost charge of $47, or $23.50 a month.
That is an increase of 40 cents a month.
The Water Board’s public hearing on the increase will begin at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at 889 Leilani St. in Hilo. The board’s regular meeting will follow at 10 a.m.
By local sources
