Bicyclists pedal through 100-mile ride
Nearly 1,900 cyclists took part Sunday in the Honolulu Century Ride, a 100-mile event that started at dawn at Kapiolani Park.
Participants rode at their own pace through Hawaii Kai, to Kailua and up the Windward side to Swanzy Beach Park and back again, although stragglers were asked to turn back early.
About 300 volunteers helped with logistics and provided drinks and locally grown fruit at rest stops. Back at the park there was food and live performances by Halau Hula o Kawaiho‘omulu and the Royal Hawaiian Band.
The annual ride is sponsored by the Hawaii Bicycling League, which also promotes bicycle commuting.
Last week the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Honolulu 12th in bicycle commuting among the 70 largest U.S. cities.
With an estimated 2.3 percent commute rate, Honolulu is still far behind cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, and Amsterdam, with nearly 40 percent bike commuters every day, and top U.S. cities like Portland, Ore., which has a 6.1 percent commute rate.
Driver charged in fatal crash
Hawaii County police have charged the driver of a pickup truck they say hit and killed a bicyclist Friday in Puna.
Police on Sunday morning charged 27-year-old Siaku L. Aholelei of Mountain View with first-degree negligent homicide and first-degree manslaughter. He was being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $275,000 bail, pending a court hearing scheduled for today.
At 11:56 a.m. Friday, police said, Aholelei was speeding south on Highway 11 in Keaau when he lost control, crossed the grass median and struck a bicycle traveling north on the shoulder of the road.
The bicyclist, Cenon Tranquilino A. Visaya, 66, of Keaau, died at the scene. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Pupil program receives grant
HILO » The Na Pua Noeau program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has received a $500,000 grant in support of its project to increase the number of Native Hawaiian students entering health fields.
The three-year U.S. Department of Education grant will help Na Pua Noeau provide pathways to health careers for students of Hawaiian ancestry from kindergarten through professional school.
The university said Thursday nearly 2,000 students and family members took part in the Ke Ola Mau project last year.
The project provides academic and cultural support and a stipend to eligible Hawaiian UH students majoring in a health career field.
Na Pua Noeau, a program for gifted and talented Native Hawaiian keiki, is funded by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
