Air Force officer dies of injuries suffered in fall off of building
A Hawaii-based Air Force staff sergeant has died at a military hospital several days after falling from a building in Thailand.
The Air Force said Thursday that Staff Sgt. Danny Hollister was pronounced dead Tuesday at Tripler Army Medical Center.
The C-17 loadmaster assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron suffered a head injury March 9 after falling from a one-story building while deployed to Udon Thani, Thailand.
He was in Thailand in support of Exercise Cope Tiger 2012.
The cause of the fall is under investigation.
Hollister was assigned to the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Firefighters group endorses Hannemann for U.S. House seat
The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association announced Thursday that it is endorsing former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary race for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands.
Hannemann is running to replace U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is vacating the seat to run for the U.S. Senate.
He faces City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard, former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Advocate Esther Kiaaina, Hilo attorney Bob Marx and Honolulu attorney Rafael del Castillo in the Democratic primary. No Republican has declared for the race.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Missing boy, family reunite
A 9-year-old Puna boy who had been missing since Wednesday afternoon was found unharmed Thursday, Hawaii County police said.
Police said Disen Heu-Aragaki left his Kurtistown home, near the J. Hara Store, at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after an argument with his mother.
Police reported he was found in Hilo at 2:40 p.m. and reunited with his family a short time later at the South Hilo police station.
A family found him wandering alone on 40th Avenue in Orchidland Wednesday about two miles from his home, fed him and let him spend the night.
On Thursday the family learned the boy had been reported missing and called police.
Grants target road safety
The federal government is giving Maui County two grants worth more than $600,000 to improve the safety of roads children use to walk or ride bicycles to school.
More than $450,000 of the grant money is going to the county Public Works Department and the Keonekai Neighborhood Association to make improvements near Kamalii Elementary School.
The state Department of Transportation said Wednesday the project will replace and build new sidewalks, build a midblock crossing with rectangular flashing beacons, and install radar signs.
A project to build new curb ramps, revise crosswalk striping and revise signs near Princess Nahienaena Elementary will receive $155,000.
