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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Free brochure from AAA pushes booster seat use
In recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week, AAA Hawaii is offering a free brochure to help families understand the new booster seat law that went into effect Jan. 1.
The law requires children ages 4 through 7 to ride in a booster seat whenever traveling in a vehicle.
Exceptions are allowed for children taller than 4 feet 9 inches or if the vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear seat.
AAA Hawaii is participating in a statewide campaign to inform residents of the law and urge parents, caregivers and drivers to follow it.
Richard Velazquez, regional manager of AAA Hawaii, said in a news release that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among children older than 1.
Properly installed child safety seats can reduce deaths by as much as 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers, he said.
The free brochure, "Birth to boosters: A parent's guide for child passenger safety seats," is available at AAA Hawaii's office, 1130 N. Nimitz Highway. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Violators must attend a four-hour class and could be fined $100 to $500, depending on the number of offenses.
Oahu conference to focus on healing powers of music
Music therapists from around the world will participate in presentations about music therapy for a wide range of physical and mental health problems at a conference March 8-10 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
The Western Region Chapter of the American Music Association is holding its annual regional conference in Hawaii for the first time.
Dr. Michelle Hairston, association president, will give the keynote. She is a member of the Executive Council of the World Federation for Music Therapy and professor and chairwoman of Music Education and Music Therapy at East Carolina University.
She has worked extensively with children with developmental disabilities.
Presentations will include music therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, children of war, early childhood, hearing loss, hospice and palliative care, immigration, clinically improvised music therapy, intensive care, mental health and psychiatry.
Facilitator training in HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment will follow the conference March 11-13. HealthRHYTHMS is a conference sponsor with Remo, a manufacturer of percussion instruments.
The Hawaii contact for the conference is Bonnie Chan, 236-8322. For more information, visit www.wramta.org.
Film shows response to 'Great Warming'
"The Great Warming," a film about global climate change, will be shown at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Ave.
The film explores evidence that human activities are "provoking an unprecedented era of atmospheric warming" and documents America's faith community urging action on climate change.
The film is based on the book "Storm Warning: Gambling with the Climate of Our Planet," by Lydia Dotto, according to its Web site, www.thegreatwarming.com.
SHINING STARS
Waianae student wins scholarship and trip
Aprilyn Baniaga will receive a $1,000 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to collect the award in Washington, D.C., March 17-24, with other representatives from their states. The Waianae High School student, whose second language is English, won the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship.
Farrington High School's Century Program Scholars, a college preparation program, was awarded $5,000 by the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation.
The program offers college visitations, college and career fairs, guest speakers and PSAT/SAT preparatory workshops.
Four La Pietra students were top winners in the Scholastic Photography Awards, sponsored by Eastman Kodak Co. and Scholastic Magazine.
Tanya Nichols, a junior, won a Gold Key Award and will go on to mainland competition for scholarships. Silver Key awards went to senior Won Kyung Na, junior Ashley Huang and seventh-grader Victoria Davis. Their photos will be on display at 1133 Bishop St. until March 24.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WAIKIKI
83-year-old arrested in murder
Police arrested an 83-year-old Canadian man yesterday who told police he killed his 82-year-old wife at the Ilikai Waikiki Hotel.
Police said they found the woman's body at about 9:25 a.m. while responding to a complaint about an argument. Her husband was booked for second-degree murder, police said.
The couple had been renting the Ala Moana apartment unit. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
WINDWARD OAHU
Police investigate dead body on beach
Police are investigating the death of a partially clothed woman who was found yesterday along the beach at Kahana Bay.
Two people walking near the Kahana Bay fishpond found the woman face down on the beach below a small ledge at about 1:30 p.m.
The woman had facial and head injuries, police said.
The Medical Examiner's Office said the woman was 56 years old, but had not confirmed her identity.
An autopsy is scheduled for today.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Bicyclist is hurt in collision with SUV
A bicyclist sustained serious injuries yesterday when a sport utility vehicle broadsided her on Kuhio Highway on Kauai, Kauai officials said.
Lily Morinaka, of an unknown address, was riding her bike at about 10 a.m. against traffic on the northbound shoulder of Kuhio Highway in Hanamaulu near King Kaumualii Elementary School.
A northbound Ford SUV struck Morinaka as she tried to cross the highway on her bicycle.
Morinaka was taken to Wilcox Hospital, and two men in the vehicle were unharmed.
Big Isle police suspect murder in Waa Waa
Big Island detectives are investigating a possible murder in lower Puna yesterday morning.
The Hawaii Police Department found the body of a man off Highway 137 in Waa Waa following a 4 a.m. call about a gunshot in the Nanawale Estates subdivision.
Police do not have a suspect in custody. The victim's name is being withheld pending positive identification.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are investigating the case as a murder.
Police say anyone with information about the case may call 961-2379 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.