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Hawaii meets 8 of 11 national health goals

Kauai residents have the highest seatbelt use in the state; Lanai residents have the lowest obesity; Maui babies have the healthiest birth weight and Honolulu residents are the most active physically.

These are among findings of a survey of Hawaii's health status by the state Department of Health and the Hawaii Outcomes Institute, a project of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

The report, "Toward a Healthy Hawaii 2010," shows Hawaii met national goals for eight health indicators: mammography use, Hepatitis A infection, teen pregnancy, physical activity and low death rates from coronary heart disease, lung cancer, breast cancer and motor vehicle accidents.

But improvements are needed in reducing adult smoking, unintentional injuries and infectious disease incidence.

State Health Director Chiyome Fukino said "Toward a Healthy Hawaii 2010" will help public and private health agencies identify priority health needs and target resources more effectively.

The public is encouraged to examine the health reports to see how their county or community compares with the rest of the state and the nation.

Visit www.hawaiioutcomes.org to download the health profiles and data for health indicators.

Bank's foundation helps Waikiki Health Center

The Waikiki Health Center has received a $5,000 grant from First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank.

The money will help the center's clinics and outreach programs provide medical care to some of Oahu's most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents.

"We're pleased to support the Waikiki Health Center and all the valuable services they provide to the uninsured population in our community," said Sharon Shiroma Brown, senior vice president of First Hawaiian Bank and the foundation's president.

Waikiki Health Center's mission is to provide high quality medical care and social services to anyone in need regardless of ability to pay. Emphasis is given to people with limited resources who are generally uninsured or under-insured, people of Hawaiian ancestry, the frail elderly, those with HIV and the homeless.

The center operates clinics and social service outreach programs in Waikiki, Haleiwa, Punaluu and Kahaluu.

Nurses and outreach specialists also travel across Oahu in medically-equipped vans to bring medical care, social services, food and clothing to the homeless in their own environment.

2-day camp offers kids a safe place to grieve

Hospice Hawaii's annual bereavement camp for kids who have suffered the death of a loved one will be held June 25-26 at Camp Mokuleia.

Children entering third through 12th grades are invited to participate in Camp Ka Pilina Pulama "The Caring Connection."

A pre-camp gathering will be held May 14 for all campers and their families.

Besides outdoor activities, the camp will offer kids who have lost a loved one an opportunity to talk about feelings of sadness, loneliness or abandonment with trained counselors and peers who have had similar experiences.

The fee for the two-day camp is $50 per child. Some scholarships are available. For more information, call Christa Otake, bereavement coordinator at Hospice Hawaii, 791-8044.

Festival promotes world peace via Dahn Hak

The Dahn Yoga Wellness Center will hold a Hawaii Healing Arts Festival from 9 a.m. to noon March 26 in the East-West Center's Keoni Auditorium.

The festival's goal is to promote world peace through the Dahn Hak practice of breathing, meditations and yoga.

Demonstrations will be shown for children as young as 6 and adults of all ages. Guests will be able to experience the Healing Family Program and practices of Dahn Hak and brain respiration to increase energy and reduce stress.

Dahn Hak is the "study of energy" in Korean with classes emphasizing stretches and poses similar to yoga. Brain respiration is an educational method and system of training to enhance brain functions through integrated exercises for the body and mind.

The Dahn Yoga Wellness Center has locations in Honolulu and Pearl City. They are part of a worldwide network.

The cost for the festival is $25 for adults, $10 for students. Parking will be validated. Call 942-0003 for more information.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Waianae man charged with sex assault and kidnapping

Honolulu police charged a 46-year-old man with raping a woman after he allegedly lured her to stop by posing as a stalled motorist who needed help.

Wendell Rodrigues, 46, was charged with first-degree sex assault, robbery, and kidnapping yesterday for the incident which took place on Feb. 21, as the victim was driving westbound on Paakea Road in Maili.

Police said Rodrigues pulled a knife on the victim, a 41-year-old woman, after she stopped to help him and forced her to drive to a location nearby where he tried to rob her.

When the victim fought back, the suspect allegedly beat her, then raped her, police said.

Rodrigues' criminal history includes 94 arrests and more than 30 convictions. Police arrested Rodrigues on Thursday in Waianae. He is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

9-year-old girl injured by truck on Big Island

A 9-year-old girl was injured Friday when she was struck by a pickup truck on Mamalahoa Highway in front of Waimea Elementary and Intermediate School

The girl was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was treated and released.

The accident happened about 2:33 p.m., when a 2000 Mazda pickup truck driven by a 57-year-old man was heading south on the highway and struck the girl in the southbound lane. The girl was not in a marked crosswalk, police said.

A witness told police that she ran out between northbound vehicles that were stopped in traffic.

Speed and alcohol were are not believed to be factors in the case, police said.

Second man charged after Waimea drug raid

A 43-year-old Honokaa man arrested in a drug raid Tuesday has been charged with eight drug counts, including promotion of a dangerous drug.

Thomas Pahio was among eight people arrested. He is being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $16,500 bail.

Earlier in the week, police charged Randall L. Cruz, 48, of Waimea, with attempted murder for allegedly trying to run over a Big Island police officer during the raid. He was also charged on several drug counts, and his bail has been set at $206,750.

The raid happened Tuesday night at a Waimea home near the 55-mile marker of the Hawaii Belt Road.

Cruz and a passenger in the sport utility vehicle were arrested. Two other men, 27 and 31, and three women -- 39, 32, and 29 -- who were at the home when police arrived were also arrested.

Except for Cruz and Pahio, they were all released pending an investigation.

HONOLULU

Man held in muggings near Thomas Square

Police arrested a 45-year-old man who has allegedly been attacking people and taking their belongings near Thomas Square over the last week.

On the night of March 6, police said the suspect accused a 23-year-old woman of taking his backpack and demanded that she return it. When the victim denied that she had his backpack, the suspect allegedly took her backpack and fled.

Then, on Friday, a 46-year-old man was walking on a sidewalk near Victoria and King streets and was allegedly punched in the mouth by the suspect, who then started searching through the victim's pants pockets and threatened him with a knife for money.

Police said the suspect punched the victim again while he was using a phone to call 911.