Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, April 9, 1998

UH-West Oahu settles in new home

When West Oahu College opened in January 1976, faculty offices and classes were scattered at sites throughout Leeward Oahu.

Today, University of Hawaii-West Oahu occupies 19 refurbished portables on the Koko Head end of Leeward Community College's parking lot.

Students, faculty and administrators today celebrated its recent expansion with an open house and blessing of new structures, the temporary home until a permanent campus is built in Kapolei.

For nearly two decades, West Oahu's administrative and faculty offices, student services and one classroom were housed in three cramped portables on the Ewa end of the Leeward parking lot.

Last October, the University of Hawaii began moving unoccupied portables that Kapiolani Community College no longer needed.

The buildings were renovated and repainted. Air conditioning, carpeting and handicap access were installed.

Faculty and administrators began moving in March 23 and welcomed students in their new location when they returned from spring break.

The expansion was in response to recommendations made by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges during an accreditation visit February 1997.

Although the accreditation commission was impressed with West Oahu's academic program, it warned the school that it faced sanctions if it did not expand.

State's hospitals ask patients to evaluate care

If you were a patient at any of 12 Hawaii hospitals in the past three months and you receive a questionnaire about your treatment, send it in.

The hospitals need to determine how patients feel about their treatment.

The nonprofit Hawaii Health Information Corp. is coordinating and assisting with the survey.

A random sampling of patients will be done through 6,600 surveys sent later this month.

People are encouraged to complete and return the questionnaires in postage-paid envelopes included in the packets, said Mary Cahill, Hawaii Health Information project coordinator.

"The more surveys completed, the more accurate our results will be," she said, explaining hospitals will use the information to improve care and services.

If people receive different surveys, they should complete and return them, she said.

Participating on Oahu are Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Kuakini Medical Center, the Queen's Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center-West and Straub Clinic & Hospital. Also, on the neighbor islands: Hilo Medical Center, Kona Community Hospital and North Hawaii Community Hospital; Maui Memorial Hospital; and Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Jill Miyamura, Hawaii Health Information senior data analyst, said the Joint Commission Accrediting Health Care Organization asked hospitals to obtain patient satisfaction information from an independent agency.

Maui County to choose new chief of police

WAILUKU -- The Maui County Police Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss procedures for selecting a new police chief.

Acting Commission chairman Augustine "Gus" Fuentes said he doesn't know how long the commission will take to select a successor to Maui Police Chief Howard Tagomori who will be retiring June 1.

Tagomori, 57, has served 35 years in the police department.

Hearing set on plan to ship chemical waste

The Army will hold a public hearing 7:30 p.m. April 21 at Kawanakoa Intermediate School on a proposal to ship 65,000 gallons of liquid chemical waste from Johnston Atoll to the mainland.

Since June 1990, the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System has destroyed 72 percent of the military's chemical weapons stored at Johnston Atoll, which is located 700 miles southwest of Hawaii.

The Army is requesting a modification to its original permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1985. The Army wants to ship decontamination solutions, which have been stored on Johnston since the early 1970s, to a mainland disposal facility.

Copies of the permit modification can be viewed at the EPA office in Honolulu; University of Hawaii's Hamilton Library; and the state public libraries in Lihue, Hilo and Kahului.

City Council OKs zoning for Pearl Junction site

Opponents say Home Depot is not out of the picture when it comes time for the city to select a buyer for a Pearl City Junction site.

The City Council yesterday voted 8-1 to approve commercial zoning for the 13.75-acre site. Unlike other "up-zonings," however, this one has no known developer or specified use.

Home Depot, in February, backed out of a deal to purchase the parcel for $17.5 million after objections raised by small business owners who charged the hardware chain received political considerations when it was selected by city officials. The Council then moved on the zoning without a purchaser or plan.

David Lundquist, who has opposed Home Depot's purchase, said conditions drawn up for the zoning will make it impossible for anyone but Home Depot to present a new plan.

Council members say the selection is starting from scratch and they have few alternatives to selling the land.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Rape drug lab seized

An ex-Mr. Australia is charged
with promoting dangerous,
harmful drugs

By Jaymes Song, Star-Bulletin

A former "Mr. Australia" was charged by narcotics enforcement officials in connection with processing gamma hydroxybuterate (GHB), more commonly known as a "date rape" drug.

Eugene Berezenski, 30, was charged with two counts of first-degree promoting dangerous drugs and eight counts of first-degree promoting harmful drugs, state narcotics officers said.

He is being held on $250,000 bail.

Police, U.S. Customs and state public safety officials raided Berezenski's Honolulu apartment on Monday.

In addition to a GHB lab, anabolic steroids, marijuana, pain killers and $1,291 in cash were seized. The GHB was valued at $35,000.

"This seizure is significant because we have prevented women in our community from becoming victims," said Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro.

Drug experts said small dosages of GHB could cause death or put someone in a coma.

Berezenski's clientele mainly were bodybuilders and people who would frequent night clubs, officials said. Some of them believe that GHB helps to repair fatigued muscles.

Kaneshiro said the investigation is the first GHB distribution and possession case since the Legislature last year classified the substance as a dangerous drug.

Berezenski, a citizen of Australia, faces deportation or 20 years in prison.

Two killed, 3 injured in Volcano car crash

HILO -- Two people were killed and three injured in a three-vehicle accident on Volcano Highway about 7 p.m. last night, police said.

One of the drivers who died was identified as Leonard Garcia, 56, of Volcano.

The name of the second person killed, a 51-year-old Volcano man, was withheld pending notification of his next of kin.

Police said the 51-year-old man was in the Volcano village area heading toward Hilo when he crossed the center line and side-swiped an oncoming car driven by Blaine Takaki, 17, of Volcano.

The man's car continued on, hitting head-on a pickup truck driven by Garcia. Takaki was taken to Hilo Hospital in satisfactory condition. His mother and sister, who were riding with him, were treated and released.

Man arrested in assault of tenant

Police yesterday arrested a man alleged to have entered his tenant's room and fondled her.

The woman reported that her landlord entered her Nalii Street room in Waipahu at 7 a.m. and started fondling her while she was sleeping, police said.

The man was booked for first-degree burglary.

Kalihi man booked for arson, abuse

A 19-year-old Kalihi man was arrested yesterday for allegedly setting fire to his former girlfriend's Kaneohe home.

The woman, 19, and the suspect were arguing at the Waiohia Street home when he started to physically abuse her, police said. After officers interviewed the woman, they learned that the suspect was still inside the home in a second-floor bedroom.

Later, the officers observed the fire, arson detectives said. Officers found the man in the kitchen.

He was booked for first-degree criminal property damage and abuse of a household member.

Fire investigators estimated $60,000 in damage to the structure and $20,000 in damage to the contents.

Man confesses to assaulting girl, boy

Police yesterday charged a 38-year-old Pacific Palisades man after he confessed to sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy over six months.

Michael F. Hodges of Aapi Place was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault and six counts of third-degree sexual assault, police said.

Hodges is being held is lieu of $130,000 bail.

The sexual assaults took place between September 1997 and February 1998, police said.

Bankoh fire causes $1,000 damage

A fire yesterday on the 22nd floor in the Bank of Hawaii's downtown office building caused an estimated $1,000 damage.

The suspected cause is electrical, said Battalion Chief Craig Matthew.

Police seek 'All-Star' check writer

Police are seeking information about a man who opened a business checking account last month and altered the starter blank checks he was issued to make large purchases at a major Waikiki hotel and three local businesses.

The man presented false identification and opened an account March 18 at the McCully branch of American Savings Bank in the name of "All-Star Financial Services." The man is Caucasian, in his late 30s, of medium weight and very pale complexion.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.