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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Input solicited on OHA salaries
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs salary commission is asking for public comment on its recommendation that the pay for OHA trustees be raised to $50,000 a year from $41,000.
The commission also advises increasing the chairperson's salary to $57,000 from $47,000 and giving all board members 3.5 percent annual raises in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Commissioners said they wanted to bring trustee salaries on par with members of the Legislature and the County Councils. The draft recommendations can be found on the OHA Web site at www.OHA.org.
Written comments must be submitted by Jan. 28 to the 2008 Salary Commission for the OHA Board of Trustees. It will also accept oral remarks at its meeting Jan. 29. Written comments may be mailed to P.O. Box 2433, Ewa Beach, HI 96706, or sent electronically to oha.salary.commission@gmail.com.
The commission must submit its final recommendations by mid-February. The new salary schedule will take effect unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution this session to reject it.
Ramp closures planned for H-3
The H-3 freeway Pearl City offramp will be closed tonight for roadwork along with other lane closures near the merge of H-1, H-3 and Moanalua freeways, a state Department of Transportation news release said.
During the 9 p.m.-to-5 a.m. closure, crews will stripe lanes and install markers. Besides H-3 exit 1-A west, road crews will also close two right lanes of H-1 westbound and the leftmost lane of Moanalua Freeway.
Westbound H-3 motorists should take the previous Stadium/Halawa offramp (exit 1-C west) and turn left onto the H-1 freeway westbound onramp at the Halawa Valley Street intersection.
Motorists should use caution in the area and allow for more travel time.
Saiki is reappointed to board
Former U.S. Rep. Pat Saiki was reappointed to a second term on the East-West Center Board of Governors, the center said in a news release.
In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently appointed four new members to three-year terms.
The new members are Lori Forman, Microsoft director of community affairs for Asia; Theodore B. Lee, president of the Urban Land Co. in San Francisco and Las Vegas; S. Linn Williams, executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer of the Mirant Corp.; and Michael K. Young, president of the University of Utah.
The Board of Governors consists of 18 members, including five appointed by the governor of Hawaii, five appointed by the U.S. secretary of state, five members from Asia and the Pacific islands who are elected by the full board, and three ex-officio members who include the governor of Hawaii, the assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, and the president of the University of Hawaii.
Maui hospital expanding services
WAILUKU » Maui Memorial Medical Center plans to expand its services to include angioplasty and open-heart surgery by the end of this year.
The expanded service is part of the financial restructuring of the hospital and follows a state go-ahead to proceed with the development of a $100 million tower specializing in heart, brain and vascular procedures.
Wesley Lo, regional chief executive officer for Maui Memorial, said the angioplasty and open-heart surgery will be relocated in the new tower once it is built.
Groundbreaking for the tower is expected to take place in 18 to 24 months, following its design.
Lo said the medical center is currently looking for an open-heart surgeon.
He said the population of Maui County has reached a critical mass that enables the hospital to perform 200 open-heart surgeries a year -- the number necessary to support such a service.
Lo said the number of angioplasty procedures exceeds 200.
The hospital received a state certificate of need last year to perform angioplasty and open-heart surgery.
Under a new state law, Maui County regional hospitals also are expected to gain more financial autonomy.
Maui Memorial announced yesterday it has selected JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as its financial partner in securing $30 million in interim financing and $100 million in permanent financing for the development of the tower.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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LEEWARD OAHU
2 teens arrested in game thefts
Police arrested two teenagers who allegedly robbed five other teens of their PlayStation Portable game consoles.
Police said the five victims -- two 16-year-old boys, two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man -- were at the Fun Factory in the Kapolei Shopping Center about 11 p.m. Tuesday when the suspects confronted them.
One of the suspects, a 17-year-old boy, held a screwdriver under his shirt during the robbery, police said.
The suspect fled on foot with the PlayStations, police said.
Officers later found them on a city bus, police said. After the victims identified them, police arrested the suspects, the 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, for investigation of five counts of first-degree robbery.
WAIKIKI
Sitting victim attacked, robbed
Police arrested a 34-year-old woman Wednesday who allegedly attacked and robbed another woman in Waikiki.
Police said the suspect approached the 45-year-old victim while she was sitting on a bench in Waikiki at about 11:40 a.m.
The suspect suddenly assaulted the victim and stole personal property, police said.
A 46-year-old man intervened, but he was punched by the suspect, police said.
The victims held the suspect until officers arrived. Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree robbery and assault.
Man is robbed while sitting in car
Police were looking for a man who robbed a motorist at gunpoint Wednesday night in Nuuanu.
Police said a 30-year-old man was eating in his car on the side of a road at about 6:45 p.m. when a male appeared and put what appeared to be the muzzle of a handgun against his head and demanded his wallet.
The victim handed over the wallet, and the suspect fled.
The suspect was described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a heavy build, a dark complexion, a mustache and a beard.
He was wearing a black T-shirt with cutoff sleeves and black shorts.
Father is arrested in alleged break-in
Police arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly tried to break into his ex-girlfriend's house as he tried to return their children.
Police said the man arrived at the ex-girlfriend's home at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday to drop off their children.
The suspect tried to contact the 23-year-old ex-girlfriend but got no response because she was sleeping. The suspect then forced open a window at the ex-girlfriend's home and went inside, apparently in violation of a court order, police said.
Police arrested the man for investigation of unauthorized entry into a dwelling and violating a temporary restraining order.