Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, June 23, 1997

IHS opens shelter
for single homeless men

The Institute for Human Services marks a milestone today when it serves the first meals in an Iwilei emergency shelter for single homeless men.

The structure on Sumner Street had been operated by the institute since 1986, but was shut down two years ago when the agency opened a new facility nearby.

Now, after $1.5 million in renovations, it is ready to open again, fulfilling a wish of the institutes's founder, the late Rev. Claude Du Teil, to have one shelter for families with children and single women, and another for single men.

"This will be the first time in years that we'll be able to focus on service, and not be divided between focusing on service and preparing for expansion," said Operations Director Bill Hummel. "We're kind of looking forward to that."

The building -- with more space, new paint and an overall cleaning -- was finished about eight months ago, but the institute board was "extremely responsible" and wanted two years of operating funds in hand before opening, said Katie Doyle, director of volunteer services.

Driver to be arraigned
in death of bicyclist

Luther Niheu Jr., indicted in the Nov. 3 death of Honolulu Advertiser photographer Carl Viti, will be arraigned in Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Niheu was arrested at 12:05 a.m Saturday in the District Court cellblock and was released after posting $50,000 bail. He was indicted last week on charges of felony failure to render assistance, and two misdemeanors: third-degree negligent homicide and driving without a license.

Viti was fatally hit by a car while bicycling on Kamehameha Highway near Wheeler Army Air Field.

Kauai volunteers tackle
harmful ivy gourd weed

State, county and business volunteers will be combing through Kauai's Anahola Valley beginning at 8:45 a.m. tomorrow, as part of "Operation Sweep" -- an attempt to stop the spread of ivy gourd.

Ivy gourd, a weed with white, star-shaped flowers and small, green pickle-sized fruit that turns scarlet, creates a vine that forms a thick canopy that blocks out sunlight, killing underlying plants and causing erosion.

"If we allow it to spread, it would severly damage the Garden Isle's forestry, smother utility lines and cover fences," Gov. Ben Cayetano said.

The infestation on Kauai is relatively new, so there is a chance to eliminate the weed, he added.

Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said shoots of the weed have been sold in some county markets, but she will end the practice.

"Although parts of this vine are food sources for some ethnic groups in Southeast Asia, it is illegal to grow this plant on Kauai," Kusaka said.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Police looking into
five weekend robberies

Police investigated five armed robberies over the weekend, including four cases Saturday within a seven-hour period.

"That's an unusually high number for a weekend," Lt. Robert Naylor of the Criminal Investigation Division said.

"The suspect descriptions are not similar enough to say for sure that one guy is responsible (for some of the robberies)."

The rash of robberies started at 1:20 p.m. Saturday when a man robbed a front-desk clerk at Marc Suites Waikiki Royal hotel at 255 Beach Walk.

A demand note was passed to the clerk indicating the suspect, with one hand hidden in a jacket pocket, was armed.

He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect fits the description of a homeless man being sought by the FBI for a recent series of bank robberies.

At 3:45 p.m., two clerks in the women's wear department of Sears Ala Moana were confronted by a man armed with a handgun who demanded money from two cash registers. When the two women refused to comply, the robber fled the store.

At 4:02 p.m., a husky man wearing sunglasses robbed Kokua Mart at 2543 S. King St. at gunpoint. The suspect fled in a maroon Dodge van.

At 8:30 p.m., a man concealing his face with a black shirt and his left hand with a rubber glove robbed the Waialae Chevron Mini Mart of an undisclosed amount of cash. Police said the suspect is 5 feet 4 inches and 130 pounds.

At 1:45 a.m. yesterday, a male suspect punched a 76-year-old man in the face at Richard Lane in Kalihi and robbed him of $3.

The victim was walking home along North King Street when he was confronted by the man who demanded money, police said. The elderly man refused and was punched in the face.

While the victim was on the ground, the suspect robbed him at knifepoint.

The victim was treated for a bruised right eye. The suspect is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall and 140 pounds, wearing a white jersey and brown pants.

In other news:

Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:

• Woman, 25, attacked while walking in Makiki
• Man in rubber raft rescued off Kaena Point
• Pair saved off Kahuku after fishing boat sinks

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.