Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, June 11, 1998

HMSA marks 60 years of innovative isle care

The Hawaii Medical Service Association is observing its 60th anniversary with a growth in members from 671 in its first year to more than 600,000.

Gov. Benjamin Cayetano and Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris have declared June HMSA Month in Hawaii.

The state's largest health plan was conceived in 1935 during the Great Depression at a conference of social workers and teachers.

They wanted to give the poor access to health care. The association opened three years later.

In the first year, members paid $3 a month for $300 in annual coverage, and HMSA paid $10,000 in benefits. It paid more than $1 billion in benefits last year.

Among highlights of its growth over the years, HMSA says:

It was one of the first prepaid health plans in the country and the first to cover both doctor and hospital expenses.

It pioneered such services as major medical coverage, special plans for seniors and students, preventive care, and employer benefits and provider support services.

It worked with the state to develop the State Health Insurance Plan and Hawaii QUEST health care program.

It introduced the Community Health Initiative last year to improve community health through immunization and disease management.

Summer hours to begin at five state libraries

Five Hawaii public libraries will switch to summer hours beginning tomorrow.

Summer hours at the McCully-Moiliili, Waipahu, Kaneohe, Makawao on Maui and Molokai public libraries will continue until Labor Day, Sept. 7.

Hours for the other 44 public libraries will remain the same. Bookmarks listing new summer hours are being printed and distributed to all 49 public libraries.

Life Foundation names new volunteer director

Linda Kam has been appointed director of volunteer services for the Life Foundation, Oahu's AIDS service organization.

Kam, formerly with the Alzheimer's Association, will be responsible for recruitment, screening, placement and support of volunteers for the Life Foundation.

Volunteers are needed to help with a wide range of support services for HIV-positive people and community HIV-prevention programs, the foundation said.

Training for volunteers will be offered June 23 and 25 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and June 27 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call Kam at 521-2437 for more information.

New bus has ramp to handle wheelchairs

Riders of TheBus along major routes are getting a sneak preview of the city's new 60-foot articulated, "low-floor" vehicles in the next few months.

The city expects delivery of 30 of the buses in November 1999.

They cost $456,000 each and are built by New Flyer, a manufacturer based in Winnipeg, Canada.

New Flyer has given the city a 90-day loan on one experimental model allowing drivers and passengers to become acquainted with the six-wheeled buses.

It will also allow bus officials to work out logistical glitches.

A computerized hydraulic system allows the buses to lower their front ends, making it easier for passengers to step aboard.

The buses have fold-out wheelchair ramps.

The 60 percent of the 575-vehicle TheBus fleet that's now wheelchair-accessible have hydraulic wheelchair lifts.

Bus officials say ramps are quicker and less likely to break down.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all new buses to be wheelchair-accessible.

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

Taxi drivers hit with five armed robberies in Kalihi

Local taxicab companies have alerted their drivers and are considering security upgrades in their cars following five armed robberies of their drivers in the past few weeks.

Since May 22, five taxi drivers have been held up by knife or gunpoint in or near the Kalihi area. Detectives believe as many as four of the five cases were committed by the same three male suspects.

Dale Evans, president of Charley's Taxi & Tours, said although a description of the suspects has been passed to the more than 200 drivers, it does little good since they are required by law to pick up all passengers.

"It's a dangerous job," Evans said. "The driver does not have the freedom to decide on his safety. I feel it's an unfair burden I would like to see changed."

Evans acknowledged increased security measures but would not disclose what they were.

She also said she would like to see stiffer penalties for robbing taxicab drivers.

Tracy Mizota, manager of the TheCab, said he considered installing safety glass similar to mainland cabs but found it was too impersonal and not "Hawaii." He also said that harsher penalties would be more effective in deterring the "horrendous" crimes.

Police want help in locating missing Big Island girl, 16

HILO -- Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating Julia D. Porras, 16, of Puna, missing since Sunday.

She is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with straight, dark brown hair to the middle of her back, and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 961-8810 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.

Accident injures two men, backs up traffic on H-1

A one-car crash in H-1 west-bound lanes near Military Access Road left two men injured and traffic backed up to Waikele last night.

The accident occurred at about 9:30 p.m.

Police said alcohol may have been a factor.

The two injured went to St. Francis Hospital West. Both men are 42 years old, according to the hospital. They were treated and released.

Two Big Isle men charged with credit card theft

HILO -- Two men arrested Tuesday by Waimea police have been charged with using stolen credit cards taken from a car parked at Akaka Falls.

Shane Stallard, 24, of Paradise Park, and Phillip Kaina, 37, of Keaukaha, last night were charged with 14 counts each of theft, credit card theft and fraudulent use of the credit cards.

Stallard is being held in lieu of $13,550 bail. Kaina, who was also charged with breaking into the car, is being held in lieu of $11,800 bail.

Three busted for allegedly counterfeiting, using fake bills

Federal authorities have cracked a counterfeiting ring of three people alleged to have passed or concealed phony $100 bills.

Roy Castro Jr., Lannette De Reis and Kerstan Ho are accused of conspiring with others to pass bills counterfeited through use of a computer scanner/printer.

The federal grand jury indictment yesterday says the three purchased the scanner/printer May 11, then went to a hotel where they used the device to make counterfeit $100, $50, $20 and $10 bills.

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