Several large donations have brought the Rotary Club of Honolulu more than halfway to its $550,000 goal for the creation of the first neighborhood park in central Waikiki.
A vacant gravel lot at 2551 Aloha Drive will be turned into a 35,000-square-foot park, which will be named Centennial Park to commemorate the club’s centennial. The club has raised more than $293,000, including $25,000 donations from the Kobayashi Group, MacNaughton Group, Bank of Hawaii Foundation and Queen’s Healthcare System. Irongate Capital gave $20,000, the Waikiki Improvement Association gave $10,000 and dozens of Rotarians and other individuals also have made contributions.
When Rotary raises enough money and completes the park, it will be given back to the city, which will pay for the park’s maintenance. The gated park will be open to the public daily but will be locked around 8 p.m. nightly to prevent camping.
To donate, visit centennialparkwaikiki.com or call 922-5526.
Maui
Public meeting Tuesday on lifeguard tower at Hanakaoo
The proposed relocation of the Hanakaoo Beach Park lifeguard tower to Kaanapali is the subject of a community meeting Tuesday in Lahaina.
The Department of Fire and Public Safety would like to hear community input on the proposal to move the tower to the vicinity of Black Rock at Kaanapali Beach, the scene of frequent drownings.
The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Kaunoa West Maui Senior Center, 788 Pauoa St. The proposal has the support of Fire Chief Jeff Murray and Mayor Alan Arakawa.
Hawaii island
Wife who allegedly burned husband to his death indicted
A woman who allegedly set her husband on fire in a jealous rage has been indicted for murder by a Kona grand jury.
Renee Kaaihue, 55, of Kailua-Kona was charged with second-degree murder and arson, West Hawaii Today reports.
Police said Renee Kaaihue confronted her husband, Ghenghis Khan Kaaihue, 55, as he was with another woman in a van parked at Kahaluu Beach Park on Feb. 15, 2015.
When Renee Kaaihue began pouring gasoline on the van, police said, her husband got out and a struggle ensued. Both got gasoline onto their clothing and bodies.
According to witnesses, the woman used a lighter to set herself and the man on fire.
Ghenghis Khan Kaaihue died of third-degree burns on Feb. 18, 2015. Renee Kaaihue continues to receive treatment.
Mold can be present in clay craft kits
About 6,000 “totally me!” clay craft kits are being recalled. The model number of AD11244 is printed on the bottom of the box. The “totally me!” logo is printed on the front of the craft kit box. They were sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores nationwide from January 2017 through October 2017. The mold can be present in the clay, posing a risk of respiratory or other infections in individuals with compromised immune systems, damaged lungs or an allergy to mold. There have been three reports of mold in the clay. No injuries have been reported. Call Toys R Us at 800-869-7787 from 4 a.m. to noon Hawaii time Monday through Friday or visit www.toysrus.com and click on “Product Recalls.”
