U.S. attorney joins airport kickback probe
The U.S. attorney's office has joined the state in its ongoing investigation of an alleged multimillion-dollar kickback scheme of small-purchase maintenance contracts at Honolulu Airport.State Attorney General Earl Anzai said he requested the involvement of the U.S. attorney's office because of the significant additional investigative resources available from federal law enforcement officials.
Harsher sentencing guidelines are imposed in the federal system which would lead to longer sentences. Anzai also said parole is not considered under the federal system.
The investigation is focused on small-project contracts under $25,000 that were awarded between 1999 and 2001. The investigation has since led to 10 arrests, Anzai said.
State puts emergency rules on incoming birds
The state Board of Agriculture approved emergency rules yesterday that aim to keep West Nile virus out of the state by quarantining incoming birds.New rules require that before shipment to Hawaii, birds must be isolated in a mosquito-free, mosquito-proof enclosure under the supervision of a veterinarian for at least seven days.
Also, all birds and poultry coming into the state must have import permits from the state veterinarian and enter the state through the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility.
Exceptions are chickens less than 4 weeks old. The emergency rules will be in effect for 120 days after approval of the governor.
West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, is primarily a wild-bird disease but can affect people and horses. The virus has been identified in 42 states and three Canadian provinces. More than 2,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus, resulting in 104 deaths.
Hawaii officials are making a concerted effort to keep the virus out of the state. The virus also could have a devastating effect on native forest birds, most of which are endangered species.
For more information, visit www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa or call 973-9560.
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[ TAKING NOTICE ]
Joey Humel, a Hawaii Pacific University senior, is the first recipient of the St. Francis Medical Center Cancer Screening and Education-Susan G. Komen Foundation Breast Cancer Screening Internship. HPU senior wins
cancer internship
A nursing major from Waimanalo, Humel will work on culturally sensitive outreach programs to disseminate information on breast cancer screening programs for medically underserved women. She will focus on partnerships with community agencies serving native Hawaiians.
Terri Imada, program coordinator, said the unique internship is intended to train new health-care providers to provide optimal breast health care and screening to their own ethnic communities and medically underserved populations.
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>> Francis W.O. Chock, 71, who died Monday in St. Francis Hospice, was incorrectly referred to as "she" on second reference in an obituary on Page C8 yesterday. Also, an obituary on Alice Masako Shimabuku left out information on services. Both corrected obituaries are republished today on Page C9. Corrections and clarifications
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Man at City Hall says bomb was put in car
Police converged on Honolulu Hale this morning after a man drove up to the front of the building and said he had a bomb in his car.Police were alerted about 8:30 a.m. by a City Hall security guard about a man wanting to see Mayor Jeremy Harris.
The man said he was being harassed and that some people had put a bomb in his car. He was taken to Queen's Medical Center for psychiatric examination. An officer from the police Specialized Services Division also was dispatched to the scene to investigate if there was a need to deploy the police bomb squad.
Man caught in sting is suspect in earlier case
A 36-year-old man arrested for auto theft investigation Monday in a police sting operation in Manoa is also a suspect in a car break-in at Ala Moana Center earlier this summer, police said.The car break-in on June 19 was captured on video by a surveillance camera and was featured last week in a CrimeStoppers bulletin.
The suspect was released without charges pending further investigation.
WINDWARD OAHU
Woman, 2 sons escape house fire in Kailua
Fire destroyed a home in Kailua this morning but a woman and her two teenage sons escaped without injuries.The fire apparently began in one of the bedrooms at 185 Kailua Road about 12:37 a.m., fire officials said. By the time firefighters arrived shortly later, flames had engulfed the home.
The fire caused an estimated $285,000 damage to the home and its contents and $30,000 damage to a nearby studio.
Makapuu body could be missing hiker
Firefighters recovered the body of a man believed to be a missing hiker at the Makapuu Lighthouse this morning.Firefighters received a call about a missing hiker at 6:39 a.m. and spotted the body about an hour later at the bottom of a cliff.
Firefighters said the man apparently fell at least 200 feet.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Escapee arrested after 3 weeks at large
A 37-year-old woman who escaped from the Hawaii Community Correctional Center in Hilo three weeks ago has been captured.Holly Okelani Kanakamaikai was arrested at 12:35 p.m. yesterday at a Kaieie Road home in Papaikou, northwest of Hilo. Kanakamaikai, charged with escape, was being held in a Hilo police cellblock without bail.
On Sept. 5, Kanakamaikai escaped after she was taken from the Hilo courthouse to the correctional center, police said. She fled in handcuffs after a sheriff helped her out of a parked van at the facility, police said.
Big Isle officers seek suspect in sex assault
Police are looking for a man who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman Wednesday morning in a Waiakea Houselots apartment on the Big Island.At about 5:36 a.m., police said, a man broke into the victim's home and sexually assaulted her.
Police said the man left with the victim's maroon, flower-patterned backpack, which contained a small amount of cash and her medical cards.
The rapist was described as about 5-feet-6 with a slim build.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Randal Ishii at 961-2278 or 935-3311.
