Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, May 21, 1998

Three hurt seriously on a flight
from L.A. to Honolulu

As many as nine passengers were injured, three seriously, when a Continental Airlines DC-10 hit turbulence today over the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles authorities said.

The jet, initially headed to Hawaii, was forced to return to Los Angeles International Airport.

As many as nine of the 285 people aboard were injured, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Ambulances met the aircraft and paramedics boarded the jet.

Flight 75 was 150 miles out from Los Angeles en route to Honolulu when it encountered moderate to severe turbulence at 33,000 feet, said Mitch Barker, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Seattle.

The nine hurt were reported to have suffered "varying degrees of injury," said Humphrey.

The incident, reported by the airport tower at 1:35 p.m. Los Angeles time, occurred over the Pacific, he said.

Kailua Beach Park is Dr. Beach's No. 1 spot

Kailua Beach Park, with powder white sand, nearby bed and breakfasts and plentiful parking, earned the No. 1 ranking in the annual list of the nation's top beaches.

Hawaii, with its volcanic formations and clear water, earned six of the top spots, said Stephen Leatherman, an environmental studies professor who has released his list as "Dr. Beach" for eight years.

Florida can boast eight of this year's Top 20.

The news of Kailua's move to the top -- it was No. 2 last year -- came as no surprise to Peggy Hastings of the Kailua Chamber of Commerce. "Well, yes, of course," she said matter of factly.

There are no hotels near the beach, but the area features many bed and breakfasts. It's also known for windsurfing, kayaking and is home to the University of Hawaii's sand castle competition.

Sen. Inouye, Cayetano, Harris discuss 'issues'

Mayor Jeremy Harris has not agreed to step away from a primary election challenge against Gov. Ben Cayetano this fall, according to both men.

Both the governor and mayor said yesterday that they met with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye recently.

"Nothing was decided at that meeting," Cayetano said, stressing that Inouye called the meeting to discuss a number of issues.

"Sen. Inouye, I nor anyone else suggested at that meeting that he not run for anything."

Cayetano added, "In fact, I told him that no incumbent has a right to any office and that if he runs I'll accept that."

Harris, through spokeswoman Carol Costa, said, "I did not tell them what my plans were, nor did I agree I would not run for governor." The mayor has refused to be pinned down on a decision. A self-imposed January deadline was moved to February, then to after the Legislature's completion. Later, he said he has until the July 21 filing deadline to decide.

Fish from urban canals show pesticides, lead

Fish caught in the Ala Wai Canal contain health-threatening pesticides and lead, the state Health Department warned today.

The public is cautioned not to eat fish from that canal or other Honolulu urban streams.

In tests of whole fish from the canal, the DOH found three organochlorine pesticides: DDE, dieldrin and endosulfan. DDE and dieldrin also were detected in fish fillets. Lead was found in all samples, with higher levels in whole fish than in fillets.

Bruce Anderson, deputy director of environmental health, said surface runoff from the surrounding area is the likely source of the chemicals. Fish from other urban streams also could pose a health risk from contaminants because the compounds were used abundantly in the past, he said.

Libraries have Internet Explorer and Netscape

Internet Explorer and Netscape are now available at your neighborhood library.

Ameritech Library Services, which operates the Hawaii State Public Library System's automated computer system, recently upgraded 58 public-access computers with Windows 95, a virus protection program called McAffee and the two Internet browsers at no cost to libraries statewide.

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

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Police/Fire



By Star-Bulletin staff

Two men are shot at Maili Point campsite

Two men were shot and wounded last night while camping at Maili Point.

The men were sitting at their campsite near Farrington Highway and Kaukama Road at 10:30 p.m. when they heard two gunshots, police said.

A 33-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder, and a 45-year-old man was shot in the neck. After seeking medical attention, The older man was taken to Queen's Hospital and the other was taken to Kaiser Hospital. They were in fair condition this morning.

Police nail man who got cocaine in the mail

HILO -- Police arrested and charged Leroy Padilla, 28, of Hilo yesterday after he accepted a mailed package containing five pounds of cocaine, they said.

Vice Section Detective Henry Tavares called the case a major drug seizure with the cocaine having a street value of more than $200,000.

The package was first detected by Los Angeles police, who alerted Big Island officers. Police here delivered the package to Padilla at his home, they said.

After receiving it, Padilla refused an order to stop and drove away but was arrested in Keaau, police said.

In other news . . .

Police yesterday arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly passing a counterfeit $100 bill at a Kalihi lounge. The man, who has no local address, allegedly paid for drinks and food at the C&S Lounge with a fake bill, police said. Officers were called and he was booked for first-degree forgery.

A Coast Guard H-65 helicopter from Barbers Point yesterday rescued two fishermen at sea about 8-1/2 miles west of Kekaha, Kauai.

The two men were clinging to a sinking boat.

They had used a cellular telephone to call Kauai police at about noon to report the Ku'u Ipo was taking on water.

A heavy-set man, about 6 feet tall and 240 pounds, with a goatee robbed Bank of Hawaii's Mapunapuna branch yesterday of an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect, dressed in a purple T-shirt and shorts, entered the bank at 2969 Mapunapuna Place at about 1 p.m. and presented a demand note to the teller.

HILO -- Police are warning residents about an apparent credit card scam. In one case, a woman called telling a card holder he would receive $1,300 in airline coupons and a Diner's Club card if he would sign up for a credit card insurance program.

The caller asked for the man's credit card numbers.

Police yesterday arrested 39-year-old Waipahu man in connection with beating his girlfriend and breaking her nose.

A 26-year-old Ala Moana man was arrested last night after allegedly threatening his roommate with a knife.

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