Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Kearns will take VP post at HPU

A playwright and classics scholar will become the new vice president of academic affairs at Hawaii Pacific University.

John Kearns, 46, succeeds John Fleckles, senior vice president of academic affairs, who will retire on July 1.

Kearns is a graduate of Kaiser High School and earned a doctorate in classics from UCLA. He joined the HPU faculty as a professor of history and classical studies.

Kearns has served in a number of administrative posts and currently is associate vice president for academic programs.

Kearns also is an award-winning playwright. His works include "Pidg Latin," "How Kitty Got Her Pidgin Back," "Dis/Troy," "Choice" and "Maui vs. Hercules."

College to get IBM supercomputer

IBM is giving a new P6 supercomputer valued at more than $400,000 to Maui Community College for use in its electronics and computer engineering technology program.

"The objective of the grant is to use the system for advanced analytics and allow projects between Maui Community College, IBM and the Maui High Performance Computing Center to further technology knowledge within the technical program at Maui Community College," Mark Ramsey of the Center for Business Optimization at IBM Global Business Services said in a university news release.

The grant of the supercomputer is part of a Shared University Research awards program, which brings technology to academia to explore research in areas essential to innovation.

The new supercomputer will be used by students to install and run programs related to image processing and performance testing and prepare them for jobs in the technology field, according to Maui Community College program coordinator Mark Hoffman.

Walgreens gives cash to UH-Hilo

HILO » The College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo has received a $50,000 grant from Walgreens drugstores, the university announced.

The use of the grant was not restricted, and Pharmacy College Dean John Pezzuto said the money will help with student activities and faculty development. The UH-Hilo School of Pharmacy admitted its first class of 90 students last August. The class members are expected to receive their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in 2011.

The college has received 1,200 applications from which the next class of 90 will be selected, the university said.

Ewa Beach school wins $10,000

Ewa Beach Elementary has won a $10,000 grant from the Love Your Veggies Nationwide School Lunch Campaign.

The money will pay for a variety of produce during lunch and weekly tasting sessions for students, food demonstrations and activities like poster contests and public service announcements to highlight the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

The initiative is sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings, which is giving $10,000 grants to 51 elementary schools nationwide.

Cancer awareness classes set

Workshops to train women interested in teaching other women about breast cancer awareness and screening will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and June 7 at the Honolulu Country Club.

The Health Advisory Training Workshops for faith-based organizations are sponsored by the Hawaii Medical Service Association, St. Francis Parish and the American Cancer Society.

They point out that mammography can reduce deaths from breast cancer by more than 20 percent. However, a recent study indicates a decline in screening mammography, which could result in increased breast cancer mortality.

Hospital presents art exhibit

A "Then and Now" exhibit by artists from the Louis Vuitton Creative Art Program at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific will be on display free to the public in June and July.

The gallery is on the hospital's lobby level, 226 N. Kuakini St. Participating artists are Dennis Okada of Waipahu, Rose Chin of Kaneohe, Hermine Vasconcellos of Nuuanu, Toni Turner and Uilani Correa from Ewa Beach, Pearl Iwaida of Manoa, Amy Oda and Bradley Morisugi of Kalihi, Rory Tani from the North Shore and Glen Yamate from Waikiki.

The current exhibit, "The Big Picture," is on display through Saturday.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Fugitive captured camping at beach

WAILUKU » Maui authorities captured prison escapee Gary S. Arroyo, who apparently was camping on the beach in Waiehu, several miles from Maui Community Correctional Center.

Arroyo was captured at about 3:20 p.m. yesterday after sheriff's deputies spotted him on the beach and requested backup from police, state public safety spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy said.

McCoy said charges are pending against a man and woman who apparently were helping to hide Arroyo. Sheriff's deputies had arrested the man and woman, and the man led authorities to Arroyo's camp, McCoy said.

Arroyo, awaiting trial on a felony shoplifting theft charge, escaped by using the roof of a building to leap over an inner fence, then crawled under the perimeter fence, McCoy said.

Bank heist suspect turns himself in

HANALEI, Kauai » The suspect in a weekend bank robbery turned himself in to police, Kauai officials said yesterday.

Mark Chambers, 50, of Hanalei turned himself in to police last night, and is being held at the Kauai Police Department cellblock in lieu of $20,000 bail.

After speaking to Kauai Detective Trent Shimabukuro last night, Chambers was arrested for first-degree robbery in connection with Saturday's robbery of First Hawaiian Bank at Kukui Grove Center.

Chambers allegedly entered the bank at around 11:40 a.m. and demanded money from a bank teller. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, county officials said.

HONOLULU

DUI suspect tries to flee police

A 44-year-old man arrested for drunken driving yesterday tried to flee from police after seeking medical attention.

About 1 p.m., the suspect was arrested for driving under the influence at the intersection of Kalihi and King streets.

Before being transferred to the Honolulu Police Department's Central Receiving Division, the suspect was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment.

At the hospital, the suspect allegedly fled from the officer, but was apprehended a short distance away. He was booked an additional charge of second-degree escape.

Date might have led to sex assault

Police have opened a first-degree sexual assault case after a 27-year-old woman reported she woke up naked in a hotel room yesterday morning after going on a date with a male acquaintance, police said.

The woman said this occurred sometime between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 4:49 a.m. yesterday in the Kalihi commercial district.

She said she does not remember anything else and does not recall consenting to sexual intercourse, police said.

The case is pending investigation.

WEST OAHU

5 teens held after crash of stolen car

Five teenagers in a stolen vehicle rear-ended a rubbish truck at 1:27 p.m. Tuesday in Ewa and were arrested, police said.

The five were taken to St. Francis West for treatment, where they also were arrested. The 16-year-old male driver was arrested on auto theft charges. Police also arrested another 16-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy. They were released pending investigation.

Man accused of stabbing neighbor

A 36-year-old man is hospitalized in guarded condition after allegedly being stabbed by his neighbor yesterday.

About 6:40 p.m., the victim and his neighbor, another 36-year-old man, argued outside their Ewa Beach homes on Niulelo Place.

Police said the suspect allegedly stabbed the victim with a knife. The victim was hospitalized initially in serious condition, but was upgraded to guarded.

Police located the suspect near his home and arrested him on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder.

Boy, 12, arrested in theft of gun, car

Police arrested a 12-year-old boy for allegedly stealing a handgun and a car from his grandfather.

Early yesterday, a 63-year-old man reported a burglary, saying that his vehicle and a handgun from a safe were stolen. At 2:50 p.m., a patrol officer spotted the car being driven on Makakilo Drive. The boy, who was driving, was booked on suspicion of auto theft, driving without a license and first-degree theft. The gun was recovered.