Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, September 2, 1998

Marshall Islanders get radiation fallout care

Medical screening visits and full medical care for radiation-related conditions will be provided in Hawaii for 238 citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The U.S. Department of Energy has granted $5.5 million over five years to three local institutions for the program.

Participating are the Straub Clinic and Hospital, the University of Hawaii medical school's Family Practice Program and the Pacific Health Research Institute.

The 253 Marshallese in Rongelap and Utirik Atolls were exposed to high levels of radioactive fallout during the 1954 U.S. thermonuclear "Bravo" test in the Marshall Islands.

In announcing funding for the medical program, U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye said the first priority "is to monitor and care for illnesses related to this U.S. thermonuclear detonation."

A second goal is to provide on-site comprehensive medical care to the population as resources allow, he said.

Health care professionals from Hawaii and the Marshall Islands, using telemedicine links, will be able to deliver year-around care with emphasis on health promotion, diagnosis and treatment, Inouye said.

Directing the program will be Straub physician Henry Preston and Dr. Neal Palafox of the medical school.

Man charged with stabbing sister to death

Police yesterday charged a 25-year-old Makaha man with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his sister.

Herbert Cruz of 85-1337 Kenaki St. is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Lisa Cruz, 30, was found Sunday bleeding from multiple stab wounds outside the house she shares with her brother, police said.

The woman reportedly ran out of her house and was yelling for help at 6:45 p.m., police said.

She died at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center at 7:50 p.m. The man was arrested at the home at 7:20 p.m.

The medical examiner's office said Lisa Cruz died of a stab wound to the heart.

Public invited to HPD's Sherlock Holmes Night

Private investigator "Perryleen Mason" is hired by a wealthy British woman to solve the murder of a manapua vendor that took place 61 years ago.

That is the premise for this year's "Sherlock Holmes Night" sponsored by the Honolulu Police Department.

"Who Chopped Chang" will be presented at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The public is invited to organize investigative teams to solve the mystery.

Media personalities such as Sam Kapu Jr., Shawn Ching, Lee Cataluna, Sheryl Turbeville and Marvin Buenconsejo are cast in the program.

"Sherlock Holmes Night" is the brainchild of Gary Dias, a retired police major who began staging the program four years ago. Dias also writes the scripts.

Anyone interested in entering a team can call 529-3042. There is no entry or admission charge.

Retaining wall project a go for Farrington

The state Department of Transportation has awarded $504,783 to Projects Plus Inc. to build a retaining wall on Farrington Highway from Awanui Street to Waipio Point Access Road.

Work will include constructing a retaining wall and curbing; planting; replacing highway lighting and reconstructing the sidewalk.

Work is scheduled to begin by October.

Foster parent training set for Oahu, Big Isle

The Hawaii State Foster Parents Association will hold its annual training conference, "Enhancing the Lives of Foster Families," Sept. 24 at the New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hilo and Sept. 25 and 26 at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

Workshops will focus on family problem-solving, dealing with negative behaviors, the value of play in relationships, special education and reading aloud to children.

Workshops are geared for foster parents, relative care givers, social workers, guardians, teachers, therapists and interested community members.

The Hawaii State Foster Parents Association, a local chapter of the National Foster Parents Association, is a nonprofit organization with the mission to train, educate and advocate for foster parents and their families.

For more information and registration, call 263-0920.

You'd be flush with $100 toilet rebate

Owners of single-family homes are eligible for a $100 rebate if they replace their water-guzzling toilets with ultralow-flush models.

The procedure is to replace water-guzzling toilets with models that use only 1.6 gallons of water a flush. The rebate offer has been extended to July 1, 2003. Of the $300,000 funding, $75,000 was budgeted by the City Council and $225,000 by the Board of Water Supply.

A joint project funded by the city and Board of Water Supply, this rebate program began three years ago but was suspended when funding expired in June.

To get the $100 rebate, homeowners may pick up an application form from satellite city halls or at the city Department of Planning & Permitting at 650 S. King St. Forms also are available in the lobby of the Board of Water Supply at 630 S. Beretania St.

Once the rebate form is received, homeowners should arrange installation of the new toilet by a licensed plumbing contractor, required under state law. After installation, the form should be submitted along with a copy of the purchase receipt and invoice to the City Department of Finance, Honolulu Municipal Building, 650 S. King St., Honolulu 96813.

For further information, call 527-5109.

Mother of missing 'Peter Boy' fined $150

KEAAU, Hawaii -- Jaylin Kema, whose son "Peter Boy" has been missing since last year, was fined a total of $150 yesterday for traffic court offenses unrelated to her son.

District Judge Sandra Schutte fined Kema, 28, $1,500 for failure to have no-fault insurance but suspended all but $50 of the fine, since Kema has obtained insurance since April.

Schutte also fined Kema $50 for contempt of court for failure to appear on a previous occasion.

For each item, the judge also imposed $25 to be paid into a criminal injury claim fund.

Kema agreed to pay the fines at the rate of $50 per month.

Kema and her husband, Peter Sr., have received public attention since the husband told police he left "Peter Boy," 7, with family friend Rose Makuakane on Oahu last year.

The boy has not been found, and police found only limited evidence that Makuakane ever existed.

While the police investigation continues, closed-door custody hearings are going on in Family Court regarding two other Kema children, born by Kema from a previous relationship with William Collier of Honolulu, who is seeking their custody.

Those hearings are set to conclude Sept. 15, but since Family Court proceedings are secret, it is uncertain whether their outcome will be made public.

$11.5 million for Isles pending in Congress

It's $11.5 million for job training and community development in Hawaii if funding makes it through Congress.

Sen. Daniel Inouye said yesterday that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education approved the funding initiatives.

Included is a $2.5 million Lanai Project to expand and provide training, education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, as announced last week by Vice President Al Gore, according to Inouye.

The funding also will aid rural communities on other islands.

The subcommittee approved $5 million for a comprehensive community resource center, for American Samoans and Pacific Islanders at Kuhio Park Terrace. It will provide a place to practice cultural traditions and serve as a recreation center.

The subcommittee also approved $1 million for a High Technology Training initiative on Maui, with a focus on women.

Another $3 million won approval for the American Samoan/

Asian Pacific Job Training Program in Hawaii.

Vets Appreciation Day rally at state Capitol

BRAVO, Brotherhood Rally of All Veterans Organization, plans a Veterans Appreciation Day on Sept. 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the state Capitol.

BRAVO Hawaii says it is extending an invitation to all veterans, veterans organizations, military active duty, families, friends and supporters.

Volunteers are needed to help veterans apply for benefits, BRAVO said. For information, call 351-4456 or fax 533-4798.

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

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Man critical after hit by car at Bishop, King

A man was critically injured when he was hit by a car at the intersection of Bishop and King streets in downtown this morning.

Bishop Street and four lanes on King Street were closed while traffic investigators examined the scene of the 5:16 a.m. accident, police said.

The man was taken to Queen's Hospital.

Waimanalo men held in game room robbery

Two Waimanalo men are in police custody after allegedly robbing several patrons at a game room in the Ala Moana area yesterday.

The two men entered the game room by force at 818 Sheridan St. at about 7:55 p.m., police said.

The men then reportedly robbed three people and kicked the cashier in the face.

As the suspects were leaving, the victims of the robbery attacked them with bats and clubs, police said.

One suspect was taken to Queen's Hospital for treatment.

The suspects are also believed to be involved in extorting money from a Keeaumoku Street business just prior to the robbery case, police said.

The men were each booked for three counts of second-degree robbery, kidnapping, second-degree extortion, second-degree criminal property damage and third-degree assault.

Wahiawa man accused of beach robbery

A 29-year-old Wahiawa man was arrested in connection with the robbery of another man at Sunset Beach Park.

A man, 30, returned to his car at the park to find the suspect allegedly removing items from the trunk at 10:45 p.m. last night, police said.

The suspect bit the man's thumb during the confrontation. The suspect also threatened he had a gun, but none was seen.

Police spotted and apprehended the suspect in the Wahiawa area at 2:13 a.m. this morning with the assistance of the K-9 units.

Waikiki woman arrested after watch stolen

Police last night arrested a Waikiki woman for allegedly stealing a man's $18,000 watch.

The man, 53, went to the woman's Waikiki apartment for a $100 massage at about 10:35 p.m., police said. The two showered together at the apartment.

When the shower was completed, the woman blocked the man from leaving the bathroom, police said. He pushed his way through and discovered that his $18,000 Rolex watch was missing.

Police were called and the woman was arrested for felony theft.

Drunken-driving checks set for holiday weekend

Police will set up drinking-driver checkpoints at unannounced times and locations from tomorrow night through Tuesday morning in an effort to curb drunken driving.

According to police, alcohol has been a contributing factor in 17 of Oahu's 42 fatal traffic crashes, which have killed 43 people this year.

Police inform public about phone scam

Police are alerting the public about a telephone solicitation scam in which residents are asked to pay taxes on prize money they've won.

The caller asks for advance payment by cashier's check or money order payable to "Linda Walsh" to be sent to a company in Canada.

Police in Canada say there is no "Linda Walsh" associated with the companies mentioned in the scam, and add that laws do not require advance payment of taxes for prize money won.

For further information, call the Ontario province police department's Project Phonebusters toll-free hot line at 1-888-495-8501.

Project Phonebusters handles all telemarketing scam investigations involving Canada, police said.

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