Liliha’s Lee is named Narcissus Queen
Honolulu native Brittany Wei Lin Lee was crowned the 2014 Narcissus Queen Saturday at the Hawaii Theatre.
Lee, 24, of Liliha, is an ultrasound sonographer at Pali Momi Medical Center.
A Roosevelt High School graduate, she attented Seattle University, where she received a degree in diagnostic ultrasound.
Also crowned were Eula Mai Chu, first princess; Taj’a Kam Lin Wong, second princess; Trisha Naomi Chong, third princess; and Diane Simeng Qu, fourth princess.
A coronation ball will take place Feb. 1 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The women will represent the Chinese community at numerous events throughout the year, including upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s annual goodwill tour to China.
Drier weather, northwest swell in forecast
A weather trough near Hawaii island is moving away to the east and weakening, ending the possibility of thunderstorms, which threatened that island and Kauai on Sunday.
A ridge aloft is expected to produce much drier weather through the rest of this week, the National Weather Service said.
There were no warnings or advisories in effect Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, a northwest swell arriving Sunday night will maintain modest surf heights along north and west shores today and Tuesday, the weather service said. Today surf will be 4 to 6 feet along north and east shores, 2 to 4 feet along west shores and 2 feet or less along the south shores.
A much larger northwest swell arriving early Wednesday morning is expected to gradually build to near advisory levels along north and west shores by Wednesday night, the weather service said. Surf is expected to reach warning levels Thursday and Friday.UH-Hilo opens language center
The new home of the Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke‘elikolani College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo officially opened with ceremonies Saturday.
The $21 million Hale‘olelo complex is on Nowelo Street in the University Park of Science and Technology.
The faculty and staff have "worked long and hard to establish the College as a leader in indigenous language and cultural revitalization," Chancellor Don Straney said in a news release. "At long last, they have a permanent home in a facility that is worthy of the quality programs that have earned them international recognition."
Plea deal made in sex assault
A Lihue man will serve 10 years in prison after pleading no contest Thursday in a case of sexual assault against a child under 14.
Alfred Kyle Lopes, also known as Alfred K. Lopes Jr., 30, made a plea deal rather than risk a 20-year term with a guilty verdict at trial, the Garden Island newspaper reports.
Lopes was accused of three counts of first-degree sexual assault against a minor who was under 14 at the time of the offenses, between Dec. 1, 2009, and Jan. 31, 2010. He pleaded no contest to one count of second-degree sexual assault.
Deputy Prosecutor Lisa Arin said in court that count two of the indictment was an offense of penetration but did not specify the gender of the victim.
Two other counts will be dismissed after sentencing on April 17.
Lopes was sentenced to five years in prison in 2005 after losing his probation for vehicle-related felonies.
