Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, November 4, 1996

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Carl Viti

The 52-year-old father of one and husband of Star-Bulletin layout editor Ruby Mata-Viti, was struck from behind by a car yesterday morning in Wahiawa as he rode his bicycle north on Kamehameha Highway near Leilehua Golf Course Road.

The car - described as a blue-gray, late 1980s model 4-door compact with a cracked windshield - stopped momentarily, but left the scene without rendering aid or providing any information, police said.

The accident occurred shortly before 10:30 a.m.

Viti was flown to Queen's Hospital and died of head and body injuries at 12:44 p.m. He was wearing a helmet, police said.

Viti, who began his career with the Advertiser 13 years ago, was remembered as a devoted family man, a passionate photographer, an avid surfer and a true friend.

Viti is survived by wife Ruby; son, Taylor; an aunt; and a sister.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or have information about the driver to call them at 529-3499.

Dozens of kayakers joined in a weekend "Paddler's Play Day" at Keauhou Bay to protest the ban, said Betsy Morrigan, one of the organizers and a kayak tour operator.

But others support the ban, saying vandalism and other damage at the parks must be curbed.

State Rep. David Tarnas said: "I've got more phone calls on this (ban) than any other question in the last six months. This touches a raw nerve."

When Sierra Club officer Nelson Ho put out an alert on the ban, he got 150 responses, he said.

The protesters' voices have already been heard. The ban at the Old Kona Airport State Park has already been lifted and another ban at the Kona Coast State Park will by modified, said Chris Yuen, Big Island member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

"We've ruled out any kind of a major response, although there may be really subtle effects we haven't seen yet," said Adam Frankel, who is leading the marine mammal research effort in Hawaii for the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate project.

Frankel based his statement on the analysis of data collected this past spring, when he and other scientists conducted playback experiments off west Hawaii.

They observed whale behavior while producing sounds similar in intensity to those that would be produced by the underwater "boom box," a source to be installed eight miles north of Kauai for a global warming study.

But even though scientists were "desperately trying to find an effect," Frankel said, they failed to "detect any changes in behavioral rates as a result of playback."

Project opponents, however, said the research underway cannot measure the full impact of the sound transmissions on whales and other marine life, especially fish.

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

The victim, 24, and suspect were involved in a 10:20 p.m. traffic incident Thursday at the intersection of Waialae Avenue and St. Louis Drive.

Witnesses told police the suspect got out of a van, pulled the visitor from his Jeep and allegedly began kicking and punching him repeatedly. The visitor, who may have struck his head on the road after being pulled from his vehicle, made no attempt to defend himself, according to witness statements to police.

The visitor suffered severe head injuries and is critical condition at Queen's Hospital, police said.

The suspect and another Palolo man, 25, turned themselves into police late Saturday night.

Charges are also pending against the second man.

The suspects, ages 19, 20, and two who are 21, were looking for the victim when they found him at Augie's Amusement Center early yesterday morning, police said.

The four allegedly cornered the victim and beat him with pool cues, sticks and balls.

The victim was taken to Queen's Hospital where he was treated for broken teeth and facial bruises and lacerations. He was also allegedly under the influence of drugs, police said.