iPhone version of video

Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Cherry blossoms blooming at Waimea's Church Row Park.

The Honokaa High School Jazz Band entertains the crowd at Parker Ranch Center.

Chef Toshi Kobayashi (left) from Imari Restaurant at the Hilton Waikoloa puts on a cooking demonstration at Kamuela Hongwanji.

Artwork by Zoe Johnson on display. Johnson demonstrated 'throwing' clay on a potter's wheel.

The festival celebrates the blooming of Church Row Park’s historic cherry trees and the Japanese tradition of viewing them – hanami – and to welcome the arrival of Spring. Get a free 2010 Cherry Blossom Calendar here.

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island Police are warning the public to beware of an Internet scam that promises to provide a job as a “mystery shopper.”

A 31-year-old Kamuela woman applied for the job on line. She received a check for $1,600 from the supposed employers, along with an e-mail asking her to cash the check, keep $300 and return $1,300 by Western Union. The woman complied with the request and later determined that the $1,600 check was bogus.

The case is being investigated as a theft.

Police advise the public to be suspicious of anyone who sends a check and then asks for some of the money back, as this is a common scam.

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawai’i Police Department has solved two unrelated burglaries at schools in the South Kohala District.

A 16-year-old Waikoloa boy was arrested on December 11 and charged with burglary in connection with the theft of a laptop computer and a desktop computer valued at $5,600 from Waikoloa Elementary School. The burglary was reported on September 28.

A 16-year-old Kamuela boy and a 14-year-old Kamuela boy were arrested on December 17 and charged with burglary in connection with the theft of eight laptop computers valued at $3,600 from Waimea Middle School. That burglary was reported on November 6. Police credited students and adults in the Waimea community for providing tips that helped them solve the second case.

Police recovered the computers stolen in both burglaries.

See related story

MEDIA RELEASE

Dustin Lewis

A Kamuela man is in police custody on theft and identity theft charges.

On September 7, a 23-year-old Kamuela woman reported losing her wallet. After the wallet was lost, an unknown person began using her bank card to remove cash from her account.

Police investigation led to a suspect. On Saturday (December 19), South Kohala patrol officers arrested 27-year-old Dustin Lewis of Kamuela. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section charged him with second-degree identity theft, second-degree theft and fourth-degree theft.

He is being held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $16,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

MEDIA RELEASE

Devin Johnson

Big Island police have opened a missing person case in connection with a missing fisherman.

Devin Johnson, 23, of Kamuela was last seen on a commercial fishing boat 60 miles south of Kona. He and his brother were taking turns tending the lines while the other slept. When Johnson’s brother woke up at 2 a.m. Friday (November 13), he discovered that Johnson was missing.

The U.S. Coast Guard and sailors on private vessels are searching for him. He is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Acting Lieutenant Myra Iwamoto at 326-4646, extension 281, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

UPDATE: U.S. Coast Guard continues search for missing fisherman who went overboard off the Big Island
Nov. 13, 2009

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard continues the search for Devin Johnson, a 25-year-old fisherman last seen early Friday morning before he went overboard approximately 60 miles west of the Big Island. Search patterns have been planned for assets through tonight into Saturday morning.

On scene today were crew members aboard an HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter, C-130 long-range search plane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, and the 18-person crew from the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska, a 110-foot patrol boat. The Kiska arrived on scene at 5 p.m., and the crew is coordinating their efforts with all rescuers in the area.

Rescuers aboard U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawks, from HSL Squadron 37 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, are also assisting on the search; which will have covered by nightfall more than 2,000 square miles – an area twice the size of the Oahu.

All members of the Coast Guard rescue party will search throughout the night. A C-130 search plane and a Navy P-3 Orion fixed-wing aircraft are slated for a first-light search Saturday morning.

Weather in the area is reported to be seas of eight feet and winds from the southeast at 25 mph. Devon Johnson was last seen wearing an olive green sweater and black shorts, but no life jacket. Anyone with further information about the missing man is asked to contact the Coast Guard’s 24-hour Honolulu Harbor command center at 808-842-2600 or via VHF marine band radio channel 16.
NOTE: Media are asked to contact the Coast Guard’s public affairs team at 808-535-3230 for more information about this release. Imagery is not available at this time.

MEDIA RELEASE BY U.S. Coast Guard

HONOLULU — U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching for a fisherman who went missing approximately 60 miles west of the Big Island Friday.

Rescue crews aboard an HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter and C-130 long-range aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point are on scene and searching for any signs of Devin Johnson, a 25-year-old fisherman who went overboard.

A second fisherman aboard the 34-foot Kealia, Dennis Johnson, stopped the vessel and called for help when he noticed his crewmate missing. Dennis and Devon Johnson are twin brothers. The two were about to switch helm duties aboard the vessel when Dennis noticed his brother missing.

Dennis Johnson called the Kealia’s owner, who in turned called the Coast Guard in Honolulu at 2:45 a.m. Friday. The Coast Guard launched the air crews immediately and two 110-foot patrol boats, the Honolulu-based Galveston Islandand Hilo-based Kiska, were underway before sunrise and en route.

Devon Johnson was last seen wearing an olive green sweater and black shorts, but no life jacket.

“The dark clothing and absence of a personal flotation device does present some difficulties with the search,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Barry Compagnoni, the commanding officer of Sector Honolulu and the senior officer directing the search. “But, we will continue to put as many assets out there as we can. We are hopeful we’ve put together an accurate search area.”

The Coast Guard has searched more than 1,600 square miles — an area more than twice the size of the island of Maui — and has asked the HSL Squadron 37 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii for aerial assistance with the search. The HSL Squadron 37 flies SH-60 Seahawks.

Also expected to join the search are as many as five private fishing vessels from the Kailua-Kona side of the Big Island and a family friend with an aircraft. The Coast Guard will coordinate the efforts of those searchers once the patrol boat Kiska is on scene. The 18-person crew was expected to arrive on scene early this afternoon.

Weather in the area is reported to be seas of eight feet and winds from the southeast at 25 mph. Anyone with further information about the missing man is asked to contact the Coast Guard’s 24-hour Honolulu Harbor command center at 808-842-2600 or via VHF marine band radio channel 16.

Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

Students at Waimea Middle School attend the family 'gear-up' for school event Thursday (July 30) afternoon. Students picked-up class schedules, school uniforms and registered for classes, athletics and school bus transportation.

MEDIA RELEASE

Keawe Liu

WAIMEA, Island of Hawaii—Headmaster Lindsay Barnes recently announced the following administrative appointments at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA), effective July 1:

Keawe Liu has been named director of advancement and special projects. He most recently was head of institutional advancement at Parker School, where he previously served as teacher, coach, and director of athletics. In his new position, Liu will oversee major fundraising and friend-raising initiatives and facilitate building relationships among all of the school’s constituencies. He is an HPA alumnus and previously held teaching and coaching positions at the school. Liu earned his master’s degree in education from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and also is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Fred Wawner

Fred Wawner has been named dean of student life. For the last 10 years, Wawner has been a member of the senior management team at The Miller School of Albermarle in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he most recently was director of athletics, director of discipline, and study skills teacher. At HPA, Wawner will oversee the school’s residential life program and all aspects of student life focusing on the Upper School conduct program. Wawner earned his master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University.