Coast Guard: 7 rescued from ship west of Hawaii
Coast Guard: 7 rescued from ship west of Hawaii
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard says seven people have been rescued after their ship issued a distress signal in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii.
Petty Officer 3rd class Anthony L. Soto said Thursday a nearby ship — the Forestal Diamante — rescued all seven people from the Golden Eagle II some 300 miles northwest of Johnston Atoll.
They were found floating in a life raft.
Soto says the Coast Guard has heard reports the Golden Eagle had a fire but they haven’t confirmed that’s what caused the emergency. It’s now listing on its side.
The Golden Eagle began sending distress signals from a radio beacon at 4 a.m.
The Coast Guard didn’t immediately know where the Golden Eagle is from or where it was going.
Honolulu prosecutors angry over
furlough letter
HONOLULU — Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety is looking into why a letter was written misinforming prosecutors a convicted motorcycle theft ringleader would be considered for furlough after serving just five months of a 10-year sentence.
The letter from Warden Nolan Espinda caught the ire of prosecutors who called the decision to allow Thang Nguyen to be in a pre-release program irresponsible.
Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said Wednesday the letter was worded incorrectly and should have merely informed prosecutors Nguyen would be transferred to a minimum security facility.
Nguyen was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of theft, money laundering, criminal conspiracy and tampering with government records.
The charges stemmed from a motorcycle theft ring on Oahu in 2009 and 2010.
$30M in upgrades complete at Maui space complex
WAILUKU, Maui — Three years of upgrades to the Air Force’s Maui Space Surveillance Complex are complete, paving the way for new research.
The complex atop Haleakala houses the Department of Defense’s largest satellite-tracking telescope. Lt. Col. Michael Harvey of the Air Force research detachment that oversees the complex says the $30 million modernization will make the facility attractive for new research and development opportunities.
The upgrades included repairing floors, adding lightning protection for the telescopes and replacing outdated computers.
The Maui News reports county officials were among those who attended a blessing of the modernization project Wednesday at the complex.
Mayor Alan Arakawa says it’s impressive to see a small community like Maui play a role in science and in the nation’s defense.
By wire sources