Air Force One makes isle refueling stop

Fresh from his appearance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia, President Barack Obama made a brief pit stop back in Honolulu Saturday en route to Washington, D.C.

The stop was confirmed by an Air Force 15th Wing spokeswoman and a White House pool report.

Air Force One stopped at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam around 11 a.m. for refueling, leading to a temporary flight restriction in the area.

Obama, who was in Honolulu last week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, met with southeast Asian leaders in Bali on Friday to discuss regional concerns.

The plane touched down at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 1:18 a.m. Eastern time today, or 8:18 p.m. Saturday Hawaii time, the White House pool report said.

Obama is expected to return to Hawaii next month for his annual holiday visit.

State joins Green Ribbon Schools program

Hawaii schools are joining a national environmental program.

The state Department of Education said last week Hawaii is joining about two dozen other states in the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools competition.

The program recognizes schools that show progress in minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and producing students are who environmentally and sustainability literate.

Public and private schools can participate. Hawaii education officials will nominate four schools for national recognition. The nominees will be submitted to the federal education department in March.

NEIGHBOR  ISLANDS

Hilo man faces charges over stolen checks

Hawaii County police have charged a Hilo man with 19 offenses in connection with stolen and forged checks belonging to a former employer.

Patrick John Lindsey, 24, was arrested Wednesday at Hawaii Community Correctional Center, where he is being held on unrelated charges. He was charged Friday afternoon with nine counts of theft, eight counts of forgery and two counts of ID theft. His bail was set at $160,000.

Lindsey is accused of cashing checks made out to himself that were reported stolen from a 26-year-old Hilo man.

His initial court appearance for the financial crimes is scheduled for this week.

Officers warn of driver offering rides to girls

The Kauai Police Department has issued a warning about a suspicious male driving a black or dark-colored Ford Mustang, possibly a convertible.

The driver reportedly has been offering rides to juvenile females in the Wailua and Hanamaulu areas. He is described as tall, thin, Caucasian or fair-skinned, bald and roughly 25 to 30 years old. He is reported to be wearing large glasses and speaks with an accent — possibly from the southern United States.

"We want to alert the community so that they can be aware," said Capt. Michael Contrades of the Patrol Services Bureau. "We ask parents to take the time to educate their children to ensure that they do not accept rides from strangers and that they immediately tell a trusted adult and notify the police if they are offered one."

Kauai police are continuing to investigate the incidents. Anyone with information should call police dispatch at 241-1711 or CrimeStoppers at 241-1887.