Newswatch

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff and wire

---

Maui group challenges shopping center plan

WAILUKU >> A Valley Isle group has filed suit to challenge the legal procedures used by Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Inc. in planning the proposed Upcountry Town Center in Pukalani.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday in Maui Circuit Court, Malama Maui alleges that Maui Land had "deficiencies" in its environmental impact statement that adversely affected public participation rights.

The lawsuit also named as a defendant the state Land Use Commission and alleged it accepted the final environmental statement for the 40.6-acre site without allowing the document to be reviewed by Malama Maui and other members of the public.

The suit seeks to reverse the commission's acceptance of the impact statement.

The lawsuit said the land has been designated for agriculture in the county's Makawao-Pukalani-Kula Community Plan.

Malama Maui, represented by attorney Isaac Hall, said its purpose is to protect and preserve rural, agricultural and open-space areas.

The Upcountry Town Center proposal includes a 107,000-square-foot shopping center and 6- to- 8-acre parcel for either senior housing or a multifamily condominium.

Seminar to teach use of pain treatment tool

Jerald Tennant, a Dallas ophthalmologist, will present a seminar on use of a biofeedback device to treat pain at 7 tonight in Room T-208 of the University of Hawaii-Manoa Biomedical Sciences Building.

Tennant's lecture, "What Works for Wellness," will describe NeuroSCENAR, medical technology developed and patented by the Russian government as part of its space program.

Russian scientists and doctors developed a biofeedback device called SCENAR (Self-controlled Energo-Neuro Adaptive Regulation) to treat acute and chronic illness.

It has been used since the 1980s for Russian health care.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the device for relaxation training and muscle re-education. It is about the size of a cell phone and powered by a 9-volt battery to stimulate the nervous system when applied to the body.

The public is invited to the free lecture, presented for the Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

People are asked to RSVP to Senergy Medical Group in Irving, Texas, by calling toll-free 866-514-8221 or sending e-mail to info@senergymedicalgroup.com.

[ BRIEFLY ]

---

Dental care offered free to the needy

An unusual Valentine's gift will be offered to needy residents Feb. 13 through a "Dentists With a Heart" program.

Dentists Wilfred Miyasaki and Chad Kawashima and their staff will provide free dental care, such as cleaning, X-rays, fillings, extractions, diagnoses, consultations and pain control.

Miyasaki's "Dentists with a Heart Program," in its third year, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at A Downtown Dental Group, 1139-B Bethel St., near the Hawaii Theatre.

The staff will begin scheduling appointments at 8 a.m. No advance or phone appointments will be made.

Patients must be at least 12 years old and accompanied by a parent or guardian if they are under 18.

Miyasaki, a Honolulu dentist for more than 20 years, said the voluntary services are not intended to provide comprehensive care.

"Rather, we will attempt to satisfy patients' immediate and acute needs in the time we have available," he said.

He said an effort will be made to see as many people as possible.

Miyasaki said he would like to see the program spread throughout the country.

"Dentists are dedicated, compassionate, caring professionals who work hard to provide an excellent service for their patients," he said. "It would be great for our profession and for needy people nationwide if this event caught on."

For more information, call 533-0000 or see Miyasaki's Web site, www.dentisthonolulu.com.

Tripler is a 95 percent mercury-free facility

Tripler Army Medical Center has become the first Army medical facility to become 95 percent mercury-free.

Tripler began the program in 2001 under a memorandum of understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency and American Medical Association.

Claire Yee, Tripler's environmental quality manager, said all public, federal and private medical facilities are challenged under the program's criteria to use mercury-free equipment whenever possible.

Honolulu Zoo gets pair of defibrillators

The Honolulu Zoo has received two defibrillators, emergency response devices used to restore the heart rhythm for victims of heart attacks.

The defibrillators were donated by the American Heart Association, thanks to a grant from the Weinberg Foundation.

Ten employees at the zoo have been trained to use the devices.

[ TAKING NOTICE ]

---

HONORS

>> Linden H. Joesting has been named deputy director of the Harbors Division, and Brian H. Sekiguchi, deputy director of Airports, within the state Department of Transportation. They will assist in addressing immediate and long-term transportation needs. Joesting previously worked for the state Attorney General Department in the Commerce & Economic Development Division, while Sekiguchi was a division director of the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command at Pearl Harbor.

>> The Hawaii State Judiciary's Distinguished Service Award has been presented to Elberta Usui, of the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, who joined the Judiciary in 1976.

The Meritorious Service Award, which is given to those who have consistently maintained a high level of excellence and improved efficiency and operations, was given to Corrine Gushiken Miyazu of Probation Services, District Court, on the Big Island; Rockne Maunupu, of the Juvenile Detention and Shelter Services Branch on Oahu; Iris Murayama, Office of the Deputy Chief Court Administrator on Oahu; and Barbara Tomita, of the Recruitment and Examination Branch in the Office of the Administrative Director.

Recipients of the meritorious award in the group category include the Driver Education Division on Kauai and the Restitution Recovery Enhancement Project on Oahu.

Spirit of the Judiciary Awards, which recognize employees who convey a helpful, courteous attitude and a positive image, were given to Amy Donlin, of the Office of the Chief Court Administrator on Oahu; Kathryn Nishiki, of the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution; Wanda Shimizu, of the Traffic Violations Bureau on Kauai; and Susan Vivad, of the Staff Attorney's Office.

Certificates of Commendation were awarded to Pamela Martin, of the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution; Dorothy Morioka, of the Documents Section in Maui; LSI-R Trainers, Interagency Council on Intermediate Sanctions of the Adult Client Services Branches on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island; and the Clerical Support Unit of the Adult Client Services Branch on Maui.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Victim in fatal stabbing was on probation

WAILUKU >> A man whose body was found with multiple stab wounds in a South Maui park has been identified as Kenneth J. Haffner Jr., of Wailuku.

Haffner, 35, was found dead by park security personnel in Kalama Park in Kihei at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday.

Maui Police Lt. Glenn Cuomo said yesterday detectives have no suspect and are unaware of any motive for the stabbing.

Haffner was being sought by police after allegedly violating his probation following his release from jail on Nov. 18 and failure to report to a probation officer, according to Maui Circuit Court records.

Haffner was sentenced in November by a Maui court to 30 days in jail and placed on probation for five years, after being convicted of breaking a truck window of a former roofing employer, stealing a radio and threatening a roofing supervisor.

He had been homeless in Kihei during part of last year, court records said.

Big Isle police search for hit-and-run driver

Big Island police are renewing their request for help in identifying the driver of a pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run collision with two pedestrians last month.

The collision occurred about 8:44 p.m. on Dec. 12 on Kinoole Street near the Hilo Lanes bowling alley. Police said two female pedestrians, ages 50 and 57, were crossing Kinoole Street when they were hit by the pickup truck, which was traveling north.

The driver of the pickup fled. Police said that after hitting the pedestrians, the truck may have stopped at a Chevron service station at the corner of Kinoole and Haili streets.

The pickup truck was described as a late-1990s dark blue or black Toyota with the letters "TRD" on its left side.

The truck had a large rectangular cooler and two paint or drywall buckets in the back.

The driver was described as a male in his 30s with a dark complexion.

A passenger was described as a male in his 30s.

The two pedestrians were taken to Hilo Medical Center.

They were later flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu and have since been released from the hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to call officer Aubrey Auna, of the South Hilo Patrol, at 961-2213 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

EAST OAHU
2 men charged after burglary goes wrong

Police have charged two men with a burglary-turned-robbery in Kahala earlier this week.

Conrad Silva, 28, of Waipahu, was charged with robbery, and James Kiyabu, 27, was charged with burglary and robbery. Silva is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail while Kiyabu is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Police said a Papu Circle resident came home to find two burglars in his living room at about 11:15 a.m. Monday.

The resident chased both suspects through the house until one of the men allegedly pulled a gun and threatened him, according to police.

Both suspects ran across the street and fled in a silver Dodge Intrepid. Not long after police arrested Silva, they then arrested Kiyabu the following evening.

Investigators say fire on golf course was set

Honolulu police are investigating what appears to be an intentionally set fire at the Hawaii Kai Golf Course earlier this week.

Police said that at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, an unknown suspect set two tractors and a motorized cart on fire. The case is being investigated as first-degree criminal property damage.

HONOLULU
Suspect is sought in video camera theft

CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are asking for the public's help in identifying a man who stole a parking lot's video surveillance camera yesterday morning.

Police said that at 4:30 a.m. a security video caught the suspect as he was removing the camera at a parking structure at 802 Punahou St.

The suspect is described as in his 20s, 6 feet tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with a thin build, short dark hair and a medium complexion.

He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, jeans and driving a light-colored Mercury Grand Marquis.

Anyone with information may contact Detective Malcolm Uehara directly at 547-7214. Anonymous calls may also be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Man allegedly burns woman with cigarette

Police arrested a 42-year-old homeless man Tuesday for allegedly burning a 40-year-old homeless woman and assaulting her in the Kapahulu area.

Police said the man and the woman had met Friday and had an intimate relationship. On Sunday the man restrained the woman and held her against her will, police said.

The man burned her knee and other parts of her body with a lit cigarette and lighter and physically assaulted her.

The woman reported the injuries and alleged assault to police on Tuesday.

WINDWARD OAHU
Officer reports missing gun after car break-in

A Honolulu police officer reported that her off-duty pistol was stolen when her car was broken into earlier this week.

The break-in involved the officer's subsidized vehicle, which was parked near her home in Nanakuli on Monday. The gun is described as a Smith & Wesson model 3913 9-mm semiautomatic.

LEEWARD OAHU
13-year-old a suspect in 11-year-old's rape

Police have charged a 13-year-old Pearl City boy with raping an 11-year-old girl.

Police said the girl disclosed she was sexually assaulted Tuesday in Pearl City by a family friend. The boy's parents turned him in Tuesday to the main police station, where he was arrested on three counts of first-degree sexual assault.

---

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers