Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, July 22, 1998

Red Cross officials offer guidelines for tsunami preparedness By Star-Bulletin staff Prompted by estimates of thousands killed or missing from the tsunami in Papua New Guinea, American Red Cross officials have released information of what to do when giant waves strike. "It can happen at anytime and people should get their plan together," said Russell Fujita, spokesman for the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross. Fujita said no volunteers from Hawaii are joining relief efforts in Papua New Guinea, although the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have set up a relief operation. A spokesman for the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said no decision has been made on whether to send troops from Hawaii. Huge waves caused by an offshore earthquake swept away villages in Aitape, Papua New Guinea, on Friday. American Red Cross officials here recommended these tips to prepare for a tsunami: Know your area's tsunami risks. Check the tsunami evacuation maps in the front section of the telephone book white pages. Make a family disaster plan and know your evacuation routes. Choose several places: a friend's home in a safe neighborhood or a shelter, for instance. Steel or concrete buildings of six or more stories should be safe if people move to the third floor or higher. Prepare a supply kit with a battery-powered radio, flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, canned food and can opener, bottled water and prescription medicines. Know the meaning of "watch" and "warning." A watch means tsunamis are possible and get ready. A warning means you should leave coastal areas for high ground immediately. When sirens sound, listen to radio and TV for instructions and wait for the all-clear before returning. To make a contribution for the Papua New Guinea and other disasters, send a check payable to American Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu HI 96816.Write "International Relief Fund" in the memo section.To donate by credit card, call 808-739-8109.

Lung group, HMSA
unite on asthma

The Hawaii Medical Service Association is joining the American Lung Association of Hawaii to address Hawaii's No. 1 school health problem -- asthma.

The partnership will support the Open Airways for Schools asthma management program in schools statewide.

The Lung Association trains volunteers to conduct Open Airways programs for asthmatic students in 3rd through 5th grades. Parent sessions are part of the program.

HMSA will provide some financial support for the program in a three-year agreement.

It also will sponsor 1999 Superkids pledge events for youth on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

The HMSA-Lung Association program is expected to increase the base for sampling Hawaii youths with asthma and improve research results.

American Judicature Society creating local chapter, board

The American Judicature Society will create a Hawaii chapter and board, the organization announced.

The society is a nonpartisan group that works to improve the administration of justice.

James S. Burns, chief judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, will chair the board.

The Hawaii chapter will continue to improve merit selections in Hawaii, promote expanded citizen involvement in the court system and assist in the administration of the justice system.

Hanauma Bay grenades are not from the Navy

The Navy has ruled out the possibility that the five training hand grenades found in the area of Hanauma Bay known as the "Toilet Bowl" this week came from its arsenal.

On Monday, the grenades were loaded onto a Navy boat and taken to Maunalua Bay Beach Park at Hawaii Kai, where they were transferred to a van and taken to Schofield Barracks for disposal.

Three grenades were found by scuba divers Sunday in waters around the Toilet Bowl ledges. Two more grenades were found by divers from the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team who were called to the scene.

Laniakea center issues call for volunteers

The Laniakea Women's Resource Center at the downtown YWCA needs volunteers to staff its "Clothes Closet," which provides business attire to women who are referred by social service agencies and need clothing for job interviews.

Clients may receive up to three outfits. In turn they will be asked to volunteer at the Clothes Closet.

Volunteers are needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call the center at 523-5630.

Col. Klewin takes post at Johnston Atoll

Col. Thomas Klewin has assumed command of the U.S. Army Chemical Activity on Johnston Atoll.

Klewin's last assignment was deputy chief of staff for logistics for the Army.

Johnston is one of nine chemical stockpiles.

The Johnston Atoll Chemical Disposal System in June destroyed more than 2 million pounds of sarin, also known as GB nerve agent.

Tourney will benefit Kaimuki-Waialae YMCA

The Kaimuki Y's Men Club is holding a miniature golf tournament to raise money for Kaimuki-Waialae YMCA youth programs and community service projects for the needy.

The tournament will be at the Jungle River Mini Golf Village, 98-1101 Moanalua Road, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $10 per person and $35 for a team of four.For more information, call 737-5544.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Child-care provider held involving tot's injuries

Police are seeking to charge a Navy-certified child-care provider with first-degree assault for allegedly injuring a 2-month-old Mililani boy.

The woman, 31, is the wife of a Navy man stationed at Pearl Harbor and cares for children in their military housing residence. She was arrested yesterday at 3 p.m.

The infant, whose mother is a civilian Department of Defense employee at Pearl Harbor, has been in critical condition at Kapiolani Hospital since Thursday, when the provider reported the child unconscious at 2:30 p.m.

Detective Walter Ozeki John Lim of the police Family Violence Detail said the boy has a subdural hematoma, a symptom of shaken-baby syndrome.

The woman had been caring for the child for about two weeks, Ozeki said. The only other child in the home at the time was her own infant, he added. The second child was not injured.

"We're certainly shocked," said Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Rod Gibbons. "We have a very rigorous, sound (certified child-care) program."

Man, 20, charged in standoff

Police yesterday charged a 20-year-old man with kidnapping and six counts of first-degree terroristic threatening in connection with Sunday's standoff on William Henry Road in Kaneohe.

Sye K.K. Texeira is also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon for being armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and first-degree burglary. His bail totals $150,000.

Armed-robbery suspect caught

Police chased down a 20-year-old Waikiki man who allegedly was driving a van stolen in an armed robbery Monday morning in Palama.

The suspect has not been charged. He was arrested after officers, checking out reports of gunshots at Pua Lane, saw him jump from a van fleeing the scene.

Police recovered a .22-caliber handgun on the roadway after chasing down the suspect.

Two men told police the van was stolen after they were assaulted by a group of men at 2:30 a.m. at Pua Lane.

Endangering charges in domestic dispute

Reckless-endangering charges are pending against a 42-year-old Moiliili man who allegedly fired two shots from a .22-caliber handgun during a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.

The woman told police her boyfriend fired one shot in the kitchen of their University Avenue residence at about 11:30 p.m. Monday. He allegedly fired a second shot yesterday while standing outside the residence.

There were no injuries reported.

The man was also booked for possession of an unregistered firearm.

Trio robs Waikiki cab driver

A cab driver was robbed of cash and a cellular telephone by three men Monday morning in Waikiki, police said.

The three suspects are still at large. The 50-year-old driver told police one of the men was armed with a knife.

No foul play in inmate's death

No foul play is suspected in the death of a Halawa prison inmate with a history of asthma and respiratory illness.

The man was pronounced dead at 10:53 p.m. yesterday after being taken to Kaiser-Moanalua Hospital.

Police have classified the case as an unattended death.

Two 'bad' brush fires on Oahu

Firefighters last night fought two brush fires described as "bad" which began within minutes of each other in different regions of Oahu.

The fires broke out at Kunia Camp and Dillingham Air Field around 7:45 p.m. Firefighters were still trying to extinguish the blazes after 11 p.m., fire officials said.

The causes of the fires were unknown. No residents or homes were threatened by either of them.

Molokai brush fire controlled

WAILUKU -- A fire that burned between 40 and 50 acres of brush on former pineapple land near the Kualapuu reservoir in central Molokai seemed to have been started intentionally, Fire Capt. Jerome Kalama said.

Firefighters had the blaze under control by about 2:30 this morning after battling the blaze since a little after 6 p.m. yesterday, Kalama said. He said no damage occurred to any crops or structures.

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