Newswatch
The car-jackings pushed the number of robberies in December to 130, one shy of the most robberies reported in a month last year.
Traditionally, there's an increase in crime during the holiday months, said Lt. Cliff Takesono, head of the robbery detail. "From Thanksgiving on - everything's up. More burgs, more shopliftings, more thefts, more robberies."
Convenience stores and gas stations - which are open late or around the clock - particularly were hit hard, he said. Robbers armed themselves with handguns and knives to rob these establishments, but used the weapons mostly to scare, not injure, clerks or attendants behind the counter.
People who deal with the public, exchange money and deliver goods and services are more likely to experience violence, according to a study on workplace violence released last July by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The study rated driving a cab as the most risky job. Eighty-six cab drivers in the United States were killed in 1994, the study said.
House Public Safety chairman Nestor Garcia (D, Waikele) is poised to move a bill that would have you reimbursing the state and county for their search and rescue costs.
After a public hearing yesterday, Garcia said he first wants to get an assessment of a draft proposed by state and county officials from House Judiciary chairman Terrance Tom (D, Kaneohe), who is also a member of Garcia's panel.
The draft appears to bring more clarity to the issue, Garcia said.
"The bottom line," Garcia added, "is that people have to be held accountable for their actions."
Still up in the air, Garcia said, is whether to move a bill that would make irresponsible people reimburse the county dollar for dollar for their rescue or whether to set a ceiling on the reimbursement.
Honolulu Fire Chief Anthony Lopez Jr. and the state's civil defense director, Maj. Gen. Edward Richardson, emphasized that a rescue reimbursement law would not apply to all who have to be aided - just to those who put themselves and their rescuers in extremely dangerous situations.
"It's the individual who gets in harm's way after being told not to go in, who persists in going in," Lopez said.
The service will begin at 7 p.m. at 544 Queen St. A church spokeswoman said it is open to the public but that photographs are not permitted during the service.
White is here to play in the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
Improvements at the hospital, once rated one of the country's worst, have drawn approval of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate the knife attack on her in a Kihei condominium in south Maui yesterday.
Her two sons, 24 and 26, who came to her aid, were also injured.
The woman was admitted to the hospital yesterday in critical condition after the attack.
Her 26-year-old son was treated and released yesterday. The 24-year-old was stable and "doing pretty good" in the hospital, a spokeswoman said.
Police Lt. Glenn Cuomo said the robber entered through a sliding glass door, while the woman was sleeping on a couch in the living room.
Cuomo said the attack took place at 3:01 a.m. in a ground-floor unit at the Maui Sunset condominium, where the family had been staying for a month.
Cuomo said police were interviewing witnesses to determine the motive for the attack.
He said police are looking for a male suspect.
The cashier became suspicious after the woman signed the credit slip and allegedly produced a drivers license with a photo that appeared to have been altered, police said.
When contacted, the true owner of the credit card said her card had been stolen.
The female suspect was held for police.
She was booked for investigation of forgery and fraudulent use of a credit card.