Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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UH terms termite guru 'outstanding' alum

Dr. Nan-Yao Su, whose research led to the first termite baiting system, was recognized by the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources as its 2007 Outstanding Alumnus at a dinner this month.

The Taiwanese native began studying subterranean termites while working at UH on his doctorate degree, which he received in 1982.

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System manufactured by Dow AgroSciences resulted from his research and has protected more than 2 million structures, according to a news release.

Don Ho show is put on hold

The Ohana Ho Show, as the Don Ho show at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel has been called in two performances since the legendary singer's death April 15, is on hold.

"We have suspended the Don Ho show for the moment so everyone involved can take time to plan the future," Ho's wife, Haumea Hebenstreit Ho, said in a statement released yesterday.

Shows on April 17 and last Friday, featuring regular members of the Ho show cast, "were packed," said Donna Jung, the late Ho's publicist. "But we decided to stop until further notice."

Friends and family of Ho are working on details for a May 5 event at Waikiki Beach celebrating his life.

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COURTS

Sex abuser gets 40-year term

LIHUE » Arthur Vinhaca was sentenced to 40 years in jail yesterday after being convicted for abusing two minors over a period of time.

Vinhaca, 41, of Kapaa, already had multiple prior convictions for theft, burglary and other crimes prior to being found guilty of first-degree sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and second- and third-degree sexual assault, prosecutors said.

First Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Winn said she asked for the 40-year sentence because of the immense emotional, psychological and physical injuries suffered by the victims.

Man sentenced for police threat

LIHUE » A judge sentenced Tavis Apo yesterday to five years in jail after he threatened police with a knife and pellet gun and drove into a police car.

Apo, 32, of Waimea, turned up in front of Kauai Police Department headquarters in September 2005 and pointed the gun and knife at cops who responded. When Apo got into his vehicle, he tried to leave and hit a patrol car. A police officer shot him in the face.

Apo pleaded guilty in February to three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.

Ex-museum chief trafficked bone

PHILADELPHIA » An antiques dealer and the former director of a Maui whaling museum pleaded guilty yesterday to charges they illegally imported hundreds of sperm whale teeth from England and sold them to U.S. merchants who specialize in scrimshaw.

Martin Schneider, 60, of Blue Bell, Pa., got the teeth of the endangered whale in Britain and smuggled them into the country. Prosecutors said he sold more than $500,000 worth of teeth from 1995 to 2005.

Lewis Eisenberg, 61, former director of the Whalers Village Museum in Lahaina, bought teeth and resold them to collectors, many of whom trade in scrimshaw, an art form in which designs are etched into whale bone. Eisenberg, of Oak Harbor, Wash., sold teeth he got from Schneider for more than $45,000.

Both men pleaded guilty to violations of the Endangered Species Act, the Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act, which forbids the import or export of wildlife that is illegally transported or sold.

Authorities said the arrests came as part of a nationwide investigation that has led to one other conviction in Hawaii.

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Coming this weekend in your Star-Bulletin:

SATURDAY

Keeping Faith: More than 150 schoolchildren anticipate their weekly reunions with adult mentors from neighborhood churches in the Common Grace program, which targets lonely, isolated youngsters.

SUNDAY

Today: Anna Peach created a lace dress fit for a queen -- a giant queen, one who can wear a dress that is 8 feet high, 16 feet wide and weighs 52 pounds. Peach worked on the piece for two years in her Honokaa studio and is now taking it on tour.

Business: A Makakilo resident who used to run a travel agency has found treasure in a junk-removal franchise, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Since opening last year, the Oahu franchise has grown more than 50 percent in business volume.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Victim of wave dies despite CPR

A swimmer died Wednesday after being hit by a wave at a remote black-sand beach below a sea cliff on the Puna coast of the Big Island, according to a Hawaii County Fire Department news release.

The victim was identified as Douglas Christopher Dutton, 27, of the Eden Roc subdivision in the Puna District.

Several crews were called to Kehena Beach just past noon after bystanders had pulled the man from the water, the release said. The bystanders were performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim when fire crews arrived but were unable to revive him.

The man's body was airlifted off the beach by the county's rescue helicopter.

HONOLULU

Hit-and-runners hurt pedestrians

Police are looking for hit-and-run drivers who struck two pedestrians in separate collisions Wednesday night and yesterday.

At 7:47 yesterday morning, a 60-year-old woman was hit by an unknown vehicle at Kuakini Street and Nuuanu Avenue. She was in good condition.

At about 10:25 p.m. Wednesday, the driver of a Nissan 240SX was heading makai on Atkinson Drive and struck a 25-year-old Aiea man who was walking Diamond Head in a marked crosswalk at the Mahukona Street intersection.

Police said the pedestrian was in critical condition and are looking for the driver, who fled the scene makai on Atkinson.

Witnesses told police the pedestrian had the right of way.

The man suffered critical injuries with abrasions, possible internal injuries and broken bones.

Speed was not a factor, and it is not known whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.

Police described the car as a two-door 1989 Nissan 240SX with black and gray primer paint and front-end damage.

Flasher in truck spurs UH caution

University of Hawaii-Manoa campus security is looking for a flasher near the campus.

Security reported that a man in his late 20s or 30s with a bald head flashed a student as she walked to campus along Seaview Avenue at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The student reported that a white pickup truck pulled alongside her, and the driver asked for directions to Dole Street. The woman said the man was stroking his penis and told her, "Look at this."

Campus security warned students in an e-mail to be careful while walking to campus and be alert of their surroundings.