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» The American Cancer Society Inc. and Hawaii Pacific Inc., on behalf of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaii, has received a matching grant of $150,000 to promote effective smoke-free air policies and tobacco prevention programs in Hawaii. The grant was part of a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

» The American Cancer Society has received several grants to support services to women with cancer on Maui, Molokai, Lanai and West Hawaii.

They include $5,000 from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation to help about 80 women in Hana and on Molokai and Lanai in the next year.

The gift will support the society's "Reach to Recovery" and "Look Good ... Feel Better Programs" to "provide comfort and hope to so many women who otherwise might face their cancer alone," said Teresa Hoon, executive director of the society's Maui/Molokai/Lanai Unit.

The society also received $1,500 from the Ironman Triathlon Corp. to expand Road to Recovery services for cancer patients in West Hawaii with transportation to Kona Community Hospital's radiation treatment center in Kealakekua.

The society's West Hawaii office is collaborating with the hospital staff, physicians and taxi companies to coordinate transportation for residents needing treatment who are unable to drive because of side effects of cancer treatment.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU
Family seeks help finding 'despondent' Laotian man

Police are asking for the public's help in finding a 28-year-old Laotian man missing since Thursday.

Police said Kham Saesam was last seen 8:10 p.m. Thursday leaving a relative's home on Makalea Street in Ewa Beach.

His family told them Saesam had recently moved to Hawaii and had been despondent.

He is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, 175 pounds, with kinky black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and gray shorts and might have a green backpack and gray suitcase with wheels.

Anyone with information is asked to call officer James Vasconcellos at 479-5452 or 529-3064.

HONOLULU
Neglect is suspected in death of woman, 87

Police are investigating the death of an 87-year-old Honolulu woman whose body showed possible signs of neglect.

The woman had died in her home and was taken to a mortuary before being properly pronounced dead, police said.

Police and the Medical Examiner's Office were called after the error was discovered.

The medical investigator found what appeared to be possible signs of elder neglect, police said.

The case is classified as an unattended death, pending further investigation.

Assailant is sought in Kapiolani robbery

Police are looking for a man who allegedly assaulted and robbed a 50-year-old woman early Tuesday in the Kapiolani area.

Police said the woman and her boyfriend were talking on the sidewalk about 3:35 a.m. when the suspect came up and assaulted the woman and took her belongings.

The suspect then fled on foot. The victim and her boyfriend were taken to an area hospital, where they were in fair condition.

3 men arrested after car smashed with bats

Police arrested three Honolulu men who allegedly used baseball bats early yesterday morning to smash the windows of a vehicle that pulled into a 7-Eleven store parking lot on Wilder Avenue in Makiki.

Police said a 27-year-old Honolulu man was driving into the store parking lot at 3 a.m. yesterday when a group of men rushed the vehicle. Three of six suspects took turns hitting and shattering the vehicle's windows.

The vehicle's three occupants -- the male driver, a 26-year-old woman and a man, 19 -- were showered with glass.

Police said the driver "accelerated his vehicle away from the scene" and struck a suspect, who refused medical treatment at the scene, police said.

Police rounded up six suspects and arrested three -- two 19-year-olds and one 18-year-old -- for first-degree criminal property damage.

Ocean Club patron is hit with beer bottle

Police arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly hitting another man with a beer bottle last weekend at Ocean Club at Restaurant Row.

The suspect and the victim, 25, were arguing when the suspect allegedly hit the victim on the head with a bottle, police said. The bottle broke and cut the victim on the chest and arm, police said.

The victim was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital for treatment. Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree assault.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Visitor is distracted and robbed by 2 men

Big Island police are looking for two men involved in what they described as a distraction theft-turned-robbery on Sunday in Kailua-Kona.

At about 11:22 p.m. two men in a small white sedan stopped a visitor from California on Alii Drive between Coconut Grove and the King Kamehameha Hotel and asked for the time, police said.

While the visitor was distracted, one of the men reached out and took his wallet, police said.

The visitor suffered minor injuries when he attempted to retrieve his wallet as the suspects drove away.

Anyone with information may call 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Second suspect sought in Hilo robbery

A 27-year-old man was charged with a robbery that happened Monday in the Hilo Bayfront area.

Edward J. Salas of Hilo was charged late Wednesday with second-degree robbery and is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

A 51-year-old man told police that a man and a woman had lured him to a secluded abandoned house Monday. Once there, he was restrained and his wallet stolen.

The victim was taken to the Hilo Medical Center for minor injuries.

Police were still looking for a second suspect in the case.