Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, September 12, 1997

Flags to be at half-staff
in honor of Rev. Akaka

State flags will fly at half-staff on the day the Rev. Abraham Akaka will be buried, according to the governor's office.

"Today we mourn the loss of one of Hawaii's most respected and loved religious leaders." Gov. Ben Cayetano said. "His faith, devotion and humble demeanor endeared him to all the people of Hawaii.

"Rev. Akaka was a true servant of God," Cayetano added.

"He will be remembered in our hearts and minds as a man of immense kindness and goodness. He will be sorely missed."

The passing of Akaka marks the end of era in modern Hawaiian history, says Mayor Jeremy Harris.

"Kahu touched many people beyond his Kawaiaha'o congregation, officiating at hundreds of blessings, weddings, funerals, and special events," Harris said.

"He was working up until the last day of his life -- still full of the aloha spirit and faith in God."

Hunter found dead
likely killed himself

Police last night found the body of a missing 22-year-old Whitmore Village hunter, who died in an apparent suicide.

Police found the body of Jacques Ellefsen in the bushes of the Poamoho Gulch Pineapple Field 2, in the Dole Pineapple Plantation where Ellefsen worked.

Police said Ellefsen died of a gunshot wound to the head inflicted with the rifle he was carrying on his hunting trip.

Ellefsen's father, Robert Ellefsen, said on Sunday morning, his son folded his clothes for the next work day, made his bed, made his parents' bed and then left to go hunting.

He wasn't seen again until yesterday when police found his body at 3:50 p.m., moments before they called off a three-day search.

Since Tuesday evening, when Ellefsen's parents reported him missing, police conducted a massive search involving helicopters, search dogs and rescue workers on foot who searched miles of pineapple fields in Whitmore Village and the Ewa Forest Reserve.

Slain Whitmore Village man's
last hours a mystery

Virgelio P. Gonzales left his Whitmore Village home about 5 p.m. last Friday to buy cigarettes.

His body was found Wednesday near a cane haul road a mile from Whitmore Avenue north of Wahiawa, during an unrelated search for missing hunter Jacques Ellefsen. Police said Gonzales may have died from puncture wounds to his back.

Son Jonal Gonzales, 15, a freshman at Leilehua High School, said his father had been giving a friend a haircut in the garage of their home Friday afternoon. His father ate some food and left with a friend, Jonal said.

Gonzales had been employed as a maintenance worker at First Maintenance Service for about a week. "This was a new job for him," said niece Violet Lameg.

He came to Whitmore Village from the Philippines more than five years ago.

Lameg said: "He was a good father. He was here trying to provide for his family.

"The reason my grandparents petitioned for my uncle to come was that he could provide a better life for his family."

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

---

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Japan visitor drowns
at Kauai's Kee Beach

HANALEI, Kauai -- A 61-year-old man drowned yesterday at Kauai's Kee Beach, despite resuscitation attempts by nearby tourists.

The man, a tourist from Chiba, Japan, was pulled out of the water by a companion. When a rescue team arrived at 1:25 p.m., two tourists, one a lifeguard and emergency medical technician, were "doing an excellent job" of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said Fire Capt. Jay Peters.

The victim was pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital.

Woman, 28, charged
in kidnap, burglary

Police are holding a 28-year-old Halawa woman charged with kidnapping and burglary.

Police arrested two women this week for the Sept. 5 break-in at an Aiea woman's home.

Police said the 35-year-old victim heard a knock on her door about 10 p.m. and saw two women outside whom she did not know.

The two women forced their way into the home as the victim attempted to close the door. Police said the women punched the victim, handcuffed her, and tied her up with telephone cord, then demanded money from her.

Police said the women searched through the victim's apartment taking various items and then left. When the victim freed herself, she called police.

The other suspect, a 31-year-old, is expected to be charged today.

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