Newswatch
One member will be a keynote speaker at the Tripler Army Medical Center Black History Month observance tomorrow. Col. Patricia Ross, Tripler chief of pediatric nursing, will speak at the cultural awareness program of education, entertainment and food from noon to 4 p.m. at the hospital entrance.
The group's president, Mercedes Foster, will be one of five people honored tomorrow night in a "Salute to African American Women," sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta black sorority, at Pearl Harbor Banyan Club. February is the month the local group celebrates its own history, and about 200 members and friends did so at a Feb. 9 anniversary banquet attended by Gov. Ben Cayetano. The local chapter was established only one year ago, when a nucleus of nurses ceremonially mailed their dues to the National Black Nurses Association.
The name is a historical marker to a time when black members were not accepted in national nurses' organizations. The local chapter has members from other races and "our concern is about all people, but we focus on the needs of African Americans and other minorities," Foster said.
"We envision ourselves taking care of people, especially the medically underserved or unserved, people with limited access to health care," she said. "We want to teach these people the importance of taking care of themselves."
Topping their list in the outreach is their message that diabetes and hypertension are silent killers, with a high rate among the black community, and that changes in diet and lifestyle are the key to survival.
The activity log of the organization shows that members - described by Foster as a "hands on" group of activist professionals - hit the ground running in their first year.
They've staffed booths at a health fair or community gathering at least once a month doing blood pressure testing, teaching breast self-examination, distributing brochures on diabetes and healthy diet and lifestyle.
They ran the first aid station at the city's July 4 Family Day in Ala Moana Park and are on deck for the next one.
Ng, 26, became a volunteer in late January after her cat died. The Makiki resident, who spends at least two afternoons a week at the shelter, has happily transferred her love to a cat at the facility.
Ng is the most recent in a long line of volunteers who for almost 100 years have helped the Humane Society to practice St. Francis' love for animals. The organization celebrates its centennial Thursday.
A statue of St. Francis, who loved all living things, graces the Humane Society grounds at 2700 Waialae Ave.
"The mission of the Hawaiian Humane Society is to prevent cruelty to animals, promote the humane treatment of animals and perpetuate the bond between humans and animals," said Charles Duncan, field services manager.
Residents have been asked to voluntarily reduce their overall consumption of water by 5 percent.
Craddick said the drought watch follows several weeks of unusually dry weather in the Kailua and Keanae watershed region.
Also, lower than normal flows of surface water have been reported.
He said the reservoirs serving the Upcountry region are still close to capacity.
But he said the Wailoa ditch, which feeds the reservoir system, is at only 25 percent of its normal flow for February.
Alaska, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Dakota have the highest rates, while Maryland and Tennessee reported the lowest rates.
The rankings are based on a 1993 telephone survey.
Two men, one of them with a knife, allegedly stopped her about 4:25 a.m. fronting 563 Kamoku St.
She was dragged into nearby bushes where one of the men raped her and the other stood watching, police said.
She also suffered superficial cuts to both arms and was treated at Straub Hospital.
The suspect and his companion are believed to be in their 20s. The man who assaulted her was wearing a blue T-shirt and shorts. The other man wore a white tank top and shorts.
The 2:45 p.m raid resulted in the arrests of four men, ages 18 to 21, three women, all 19, and a girl. All were released pending further investigation.
Police seized 4.6 grams of crack and drug paraphernalia.
An anonymous call to police reported a man calling for help in the area of 1617 S. Beretania St. Officers found him hanging by his right hand. He apparently had used a potted plant to step up to the vehicle window, which he had managed to pry open. He was trying to open the door when the plant gave way and left him hanging.
Officers booked him for suspicion of unlawful entry into a car.
- Palolo man faces wife-beating charge
- Man arrested for forging J. Riggins gift certificate
- Officer awarded HPD's medal of valor