Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, September 10, 1998

State looking into property-tax scam

Some Hawaii homeowners have received official-looking documents
like the one above that include inaccurate assessment data. It's part of
what state officials say is a scam that targets property owners. A preliminary
investigation shows the Honolulu addresses listed on the mailings come from
a mail-forwarding service that a Las Vegas company obtained on Aug. 22.

Fallen pole reduces Kualoa area to 1 lane

Only one lane was open early today to traffic going in both directions on Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Park due to a fallen utility pole.

The pole fell at about 1:45 a.m., forcing police to close the Kailua-bound lane.

New equipment saves Maui cardiac victim

WAILUKU -- The Maui Police Department has used newly installed medical equipment to revive its first heart attack victim.

The recipient was science fiction writer Don McQuinn, who was playing volleyball in a swimming pool at the Grand Wailea Resort, Hotel & Spa Monday afternoon.

"I went up to make a kill shot, killed the shot and it killed me," said McQuinn, 68.

McQuinn said he remembered awaking to cheers from a crowd gathered around him, as police Officer Nelson Johnson used a defibrillator from his patrol car to revive him.

The defibrillators were put in many Maui patrol cars two months ago.

McQuinn said he's grateful the police decided to install the defibrillators.

"If they hadn't, I'd be a dead man," he said. "I feel like a million dollars."

Nature Conservancy helps fight Molokai fire

Officials with the Nature Conservancy have been putting out "hot spots" in a fire that burned about 150 acres at the Kamakou Preserve in central Molokai last week, the group's deputy director, Alan Holt, said.

Holt said the fire, which began on Aug. 30, has been contained since last week Tuesday, but officials have been at the preserve to make sure it does not start again and spread to new native forest.

He said about 50 acres of the burned area covered land growing rare dry-forest trees and shrubs.

Holt said his group is surveying the damage, but wants to make sure the fire is extinguished.

UH forum: colonization's impact on Hawaiians

A forum on Hawaiian culture, sexuality and spirituality will be held tomorrow at the University of Hawaii Center for Hawaiian Studies on Dole Street.

The free forum, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will focus on the impact of colonization in altering the values, organization and spirituality of native Hawaiians.

Presenters will be Noenoe Silva, a Hawaiian-language instructor and UH doctoral candidate in political science; Kuumeaaloha Gomes, UH director of Kua'ana Student Services and a member of Na Mamo O Hawaii; and Kaleikoa Kaeo, an activist and political science graduate student.

The discussion is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Na Mamo, Marriage Project Hawaii, Center for Hawaiian Studies, Kua'ana Student Services, Task Force on Sexual Orientation, Pacific Families Network, Queer Student Union and the UH Student Equity Excellence and Diversity Office.

'Palolo Pride' event focuses on environment

Residents and supporters of Palolo will gather at Palolo Valley District Park on Saturday to celebrate the area's community spirit.

"Palolo Pride IV" takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year's event will focus on the environment and include displays of a presentation by Palolo residents to the Environmental Protection Agency on the future of the Ala Wai Canal watershed.

Parking is available at Jarrett Intermediate School and St. James Church on Palolo Avenue.

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

Pharmacy worker faces charge of stealing pills

Theft charges are pending against a pharmacy employee who allegedly stole pain-killing pills from prescriptions filled for pickup by customers.

The suspect was employed as a cashier at a Moiliili area pharmacy, said Ed Howard of the state Narcotics Enforcement Division.

She was arrested on Sept. 8 after she was filmed taking pills and money, Howard said.

Pharmacy officials were alerted by complaints from customers about shortages in their orders.

The woman was arrested but released pending further investigation, Howard said.

Bank robbery suspect may have struck again

A man suspected in the Aug. 20 robbery of American Savings Bank's Kapiolani branch is also a suspect in yesterday's robbery of the Bank of Hawaii at Ala Moana.

He weighs 180 pounds, with dark eyes and hair and a mustache.

Arson likely in fire at Kailua-Kona store

KAILUA-KONA -- Arson is suspected in a fire yesterday afternoon at the Wal-Mart store in Kailua-Kona, investigators said. The fire burned an area that contained baby supplies, officials said.

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