StarBulletin.com

Hiker hurt in fall on Manoa Falls Trail


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POSTED: Monday, June 07, 2010

 

A female hiker in her 40s hurt her head and leg in a fall today on Manoa Falls Trail, the Honolulu Fire Department says.

Firefighters responded to the call about 4 p.m.

Crewmembers from the Manoa Station hiked up the trail and reached the woman at 4:34 p.m., the department said. Her injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

She was lifted off the trail by helicopter at about 5:20 p.m. and transferred to an ambulance at Noelani Elementary School.

 

Rainbows season ends with loss to Arizona State


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POSTED: Monday, June 07, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. >> The Hawaii baseball team saw its season come to an end tonight, bowing out of the NCAA tournament with an 8-4 loss to No. 1 Arizona State in the Tempe regional at Packard Stadium.

The Rainbows (35-28) staved off elimination once, beating second seed San Diego 12-9 earlier in the day. Hawaii finished 2-2 in the regional after losing to the Sun Devils (50-8) for the second straight night.

Sean Montplaisir hit a two-run homer and Kolten Wong singled and scored twice.

Kole Calhoun and Deven Marrero homered for the Sun Devils, who will host a super regional next week against either Arkansas or Washington State.

Connor Little (2-3) allowed seven runs in 5 2/3 innings and Lenny Linsky held ASU to one run over the final 2 1/3 innings.

Jake Borup (11-1) allowed four runs on six hits in six innings to earn the win.

Hawaii finished 14-7 over its final 21 games of the season and played seven straight against ranked teams to end the 2010 campaign.

UH went 4-3 in those games, including 2-1 against Fresno State to claim its first Western Athletic Conference tournament championship in 18 years.

Left-hander Sam Spangler didn’t pitch in the regional after he was scratched from today’s scheduled start against San Diego. His shoulder had been tender since he came back on two days’ rest to pitch against the Bulldogs last Sunday, and felt too much pain in warm-ups to pitch.

Senior Kevin Macdonald hit a solo home run against the Toreros to finish his career with 24 home runs, tying Greg Oniate for the second-most in school history.

David Freitas hit his 10th home run of the season against USD, becoming the 13th Rainbow to reach double digits in a single season. He’s the fifth UH player to do so in the last two years.

Hawaii won 35 games under head coach Mike Trapasso for just the second time in his nine-year tenure. Athletic director Jim Donovan said Trapasso would be offered a new contract.

Rainbows keep season alive ... for now


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POSTED: Monday, June 07, 2010

TEMPE, Ariz. >> David Freitas and Kevin Macdonald hit home runs and Hawaii overcame the loss of expected starter Sam Spangler to keep its season alive with a 12-9 win over San Diego this afternoon at Packard Stadium.

The Rainbows (35-27) will play No. 1 Arizona State (49-8) at 3 p.m. Hawaii time to try and force a winner-take-all game tomorrow in the Tempe regional of the NCAA tournament.

Spangler was a late scratch after feeling tightness in his shoulder. He pitched on two days rest last Sunday in Hawaii’s 9-6 win over Fresno State to clinch a postseason berth.

Macdonald hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give him 24 for his career, tying him with Greg Oniate for the second most in school history.

Freitas added a three-run homer in the same inning to give him 10 this season. He’s the 13th Rainbow to reach double digits in homers in a season and fifth to do it in the last two years.

Zach Gallagher filled in for Spangler and allowed one run through the first five innings.

UH imploded in the sixth, giving up five runs on only two hits. Two errors and three walks led to the Toreros (37-22) taking a 6-4 lead.

UH quickly regained the lead with four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to go up 12-6.

Gallagher allowed five runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Blair Walters (2-1) got the win in relief, giving up three runs in 3 1/3 innings.

USD scored three times in the ninth inning to cut the lead in half. Tony Strazzara hit an RBI single and an error by Collin Bennett in center allowed a second runner to score and Strazzara to take third. Zach Kometani brought Strazzara in to score on a groundout.

Greg Garcia finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs and Freitas had three hits, drove in four runs and scored twice.

Matt Hauser (4-3) was credited with the loss, giving up five hits and five runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Teen arrested for allegedly using bad check to buy used car


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POSTED: Monday, June 07, 2010

Police arrested an 18-year-old man today for allegedly using a bad check to purchase a used car.

Last month, a 34-year-old Kalihi man posted an advertisement selling his vehicle on Craigslist, an online classified ad site. 

The teenager contacted the seller and they arranged to meet last month. The victim gave the vehicle, keys and a temporary vehicle registration to the suspect, who paid with a check. When the victim tried to cash the check, it bounced. 

On June 3, the victim tried to contact the suspect but was not successful and reported the incident to police as an auto theft.

At about 1:30 this morning, police saw a vehicle enter the Keehi Lagoon Boat Harbor without its lights on. An officer ran a license plate check, and found that it was the vehicle that has been reported stolen.

Police arrested the teenager on suspicion of auto theft. 

US, Japan navy officers attend alliance symposium


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POSTED: Sunday, June 06, 2010


Junior officers in the Japanese and U.S. navies are due to participate in a symposium at Pearl Harbor on the U.S.-Japan security treaty this week.


U.S. Pacific Fleet said the symposium is being held to “;infuse junior officers with a deeper sense of the importance of the relationship between the two navies and how this relationship contributes to maritime security in Northeast Asia.”;


Senior navy officials from both nations will be on hand, including U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and the chief of staff of Japan's navy, Adm. Keiji Akahoshi.


U.S. and Japanese service members are also due to lay wreaths on Wednesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Firefighters rescue man who fell asleep on a Pearl City trail


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POSTED: Sunday, June 06, 2010

A man who passed on a trail above Waimano Home Road called 9-1-1 for help when he woke up after dark last night, a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said.


The man said he took the bus to the top of Waimano Home Road and hiked in earlier in the day and it was dark when he woke up, fire department spokesman Capt. Earle Kealoha said.


The fire department received the call just after 11 p.m. The fire department helicopter and a fire rescue team were dispatched to the trailhead. Firefighters reached the man about a half-hour later and escorted him back to the trailhead.

Arizona State pounds Hawaii 12-1 in Tempe regional


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POSTED: Sunday, June 06, 2010

TEMPE, Ariz. >> Kyle Blair allowed three hits in seven innings and No. 1 Arizona State hit four home runs to beat Hawaii 12-1 this evening at Packard Stadium.

The Sun Devils (49-8) are the only undefeated team left in the Tempe regional and can clinch a berth in the NCAA super regionals with a win Sunday.

Hawaii (34-27) will face San Diego (37-21) in the first game Sunday at 10 a.m. Hawaii time. The winner will turn around and play the Sun Devils at 3 p.m.

The Toreros defeated Wisconsin-Milwaukee 22-1 earlier today to eliminate the Panthers.

Hawaii junior Josh Slaats (5-4) allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Johnny Ruettiger hit a two-run triple as part of a four-run first inning for ASU.

Slaats’ day ended after allowing a two-run homer to Zack MacPhee in the second.

Alex Capaul finished the game, pitching admirably in relief. He lasted seven innings, giving up 10 hits and six runs with three strikeouts and one walk. Raoul Torrez hit a home run off Capaul in the third, but the Rainbows junior settled down and retired nine of 10 batters at one point.

ASU added to its lead with home runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

Jeff Van Doornum took Blair deep in the seventh for his 14th home run of the season, tying him with teammate Kevin Macdonald for the third most in UH history.

Blair (12-0) remained undefeated this season, striking out eight and walking none.

Ka Iwi shoreline reclassified as conservation land


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POSTED: Saturday, June 05, 2010

The state Land Use Commission has voted to designate part of the last undeveloped stretch of coastline on Oahu's south shore as conservation land.

The move to reclassify the Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline between Queen's Beach and Makapuu Lighthouse as conservation land from urban land should help ensure it remains undeveloped.

The state Office of Planning and Gov. Linda Lingle's administration had asked for the change.

The reclassification only affects the 215 acres of state land that's closest to the ocean in the area.

Lingle said Friday she'll continue to work to preserve the mountain side of the property, which is also state land.


Police officer had census worker arrested for trespassing


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POSTED: Saturday, June 05, 2010

 

 

Eds: APNewsNow.

HILO>> The Hawaii County Police Department has confirmed it was a police officer who had a census worker arrested for trespassing.

But Maj. Sam Thomas has declined to name the officer, saying he can't discuss the case because it's ongoing.

Census worker Russell Haas has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing. A pretrial hearing is set for June 17.

Haas has the support of federal prosecutors, who want the case moved to U.S. District Court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Butrick says Haas is a federal employee and the March 10 incident occurred while he was performing his duties. Butrick says he would act as Haas' defense attorney.

County Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Bridges says he'll try to keep the case in state court.

 

Hawaii beats San Diego 4-3 in NCAA tourney opener


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POSTED: Saturday, June 05, 2010

TEMPE, Ariz. >> Pi‘ikea Kitamura was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and Hawaii held off San Diego 4-3 this afternoon in the opening game of the Tempe regional of the NCAA tournament at Packard Stadium.

Punahou graduate Zach Kometani nearly tied the game in the ninth, flying out to the base of the wall in right field. Sophomore Lenny Linsky (4-0) got Kamehameha alumnus Kalei Hanawahine to fly out to left to end the game.

”;It was a well-pitched game,”; Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said. “;Matt Sisto kept us in the game and once (David) Freitas hit the home run, our kids loosened up.”;

Sean Montplaisir hit a one-out double in the ninth to put a man in scoring position. Kevin Macdonald was hit by a pitch and pinch hitter Christian Johnson grounded out to first to move the runners over. Kolten Wong was intentionally walked and Kitamura was hit by a 1-2 pitch to bring in Montplaisir with the game-winning run.

Hawaii   (34-26) led 3-2 in the eighth when Linsky hit two batters to put runners at the corners with two outs. Zach Walters hit a chopper to second that Wong bobbled, allowing Kevin Muno to score from third to tie the game.

Freitas hit a two-run homer and Jeff Van Doornum hit a solo homer for his 13th this season.

Matt Sisto allowed a two-run home run to Mike Ferraro in the second inning, but settled down and retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. He allowed eight hits in seven innings without a walk, throwing only 88 pitches.

“It was the first time I threw a slider in about two weeks,” Sisto said. “Coach Trap asked me in the fifth if I wanted to throw it and I felt good in warmup so we went with it and it worked.”

Montplaisir, Kevin Macdonald and Greg Garcia each had two hits apiece for UH. Hawaii's only other hits were the two home runs.

Kyle Blair allowed one earned run in eight innings with no walks and eight strikeouts. Matt Thomson (1-3) gave up the run in the ninth to take the loss.

“Coach Trapasso really deserves a lot of credit for starting (Sisto) in this game,” San Diego coach Rich Hill said.

Hawaii will play Arizona State (48-8), which beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee 6-2 tonight, Saturday at 4 p.m. Hawaii time.

The radio broadcast will be on 1080-AM.

Teen dies in golf cart crash on the Big Island


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POSTED: Friday, June 04, 2010

 

A 14-year-old Kamuela boy died yesterday from injuries sustained in a golf cart crash on Mana Road in Waimea on Monday, police said. 

Police said Broson D. Derego was a passenger in a golf cart driven by a 15-year-old girl.

The cart made a sharp left turn into a driveway and Derego, who was riding in the back, fell off and struck the pavement, police said.

Derego was flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu and was listed in critical condition.

He died at 4:43 p.m. yesterday, police said.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the 17th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 11 at the same time last year.

Victim in Big Island mo-ped crash identified


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POSTED: Friday, June 04, 2010

Big Island police identified a 57-year-old Mountain View man who died Wednesday from injuries he sustained in a mo-ped crash as Joel L. Brooks.

According to witnesses, Brooks was headed north on the shoulder of Highway 11 near Psyzk Road when he suddenly pulled out onto the highway and was struck by a 2005 Ford Sport Trac, police said.

Brooks died at the scene of the accident, which occurred at about 2:45 p.m., police said. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:55 p.m., police said.

The 59-year-old man driving the pickup truck was not injured, police said.

McDonald's recalls "Shrek" drinking glasses


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POSTED: Friday, June 04, 2010

LOS ANGELES >> Cadmium has been discovered in the painted design on “;Shrek”;-themed drinking glasses being sold nationwide at McDonald's, forcing the burger giant to recall 12 million of the cheap U.S.-made collectibles while dramatically expanding contamination concerns about the toxic metal beyond imported children's jewelry.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced the voluntary recall early today, warned consumers to immediately stop using the glasses; McDonald's said it would post instructions on its website next week regarding refunds.

The 16-ounce glasses, being sold for about $2 each as part of a promotional campaign for the movie “;Shrek Forever After,”; were available in four designs depicting the characters Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey.

In the animated comedy, which debuted May 21 as the latest installment of the successful DreamWorks Animation franchise, the voice of Shrek is performed by Mike Myers of “;Austin Powers”; fame, Cameron Diaz performs as Princess Fiona, Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots and Eddie Murphy voices Donkey. The movie has been No. 1 at the box office since its release.

The CPSC noted in its recall notice that “;long-term exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects.”; Cadmium is a known carcinogen that research shows also can cause bone softening and severe kidney problems.

In the case of the Shrek-themed glassware, the potential danger would be long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium, which could leach from the paint onto a child's hand, then enter the body if the child puts that unwashed hand to his or her mouth.

Cadmium can be used to create reds and yellows in paint. McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman said a pigment in paint on the glasses contained cadmium.

“;A very small amount of cadmium can come to the surface of the glass, and in order to be as protective as possible of children, CPSC and McDonald's worked together on this recall,”; said CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson. He would not specify the amounts of cadmium that leached from the paint in tests, but said the amounts were “;slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency.”;

Wolfson said the glasses have “;far less cadmium than the children's metal jewelry that CPSC has previously recalled.”;

Concerns about cadmium exposure emerged in January, when The Associated Press reported that some items of children's jewelry sold at major national chains contained up to 91 percent of the metal. Federal regulators worry that kids could ingest cadmium by biting, sucking or even swallowing contaminated pendants and bracelets.

The consumer protection agency has issued three recalls this spring for jewelry highlighted in the AP stories, including products sold at Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer; at Claire's, a major jewelry and accessories chain in North America and Europe; and at discount and dollar stores.

Those recalls all involved children's metal jewelry—and all of that jewelry was made in China.

Manufactured by ARC International of Millville, N.J., the glasses were to be sold from May 21 into June. Roughly seven million of the glasses had been sold; another approximately five million are in stores or have not yet been shipped, said Whitman.

Associated Press reporters tried unsuccessfully to buy the glasses late Thursday at McDonald's in New York, Los Angeles and northern New Jersey but were alternately told the merchandise was sold out, no longer available or “;there'll be more tomorrow.”;

The company that makes the drinking glasses said it only learned of the problem late Thursday and will look into it. Tom Reed, vice president of human resources at Arc International's plant in Millville, N.J., said the company received a copy of a McDonald's memo on the recall but has not heard anything else.

Reed would not say where the paint was made or whether it's used in Arc's other products. Arc is based in France and owns the Pyrex brand of cookware in Europe.

McDonald's said it was asking customers to stop using the glasses “;out of an abundance of caution.”;

“;We believe the Shrek glassware is safe for consumer use,”; Whitman said. “;However, again to ensure that our customers receive safe products from us, we made the decision to stop selling them and voluntarily recall these products effective immediately.”;

Whitman said that as the CPSC develops new protocols and standards for cadmium in consumer products, “;we adjust as necessary to ensure that our customers can continue to trust what they receive from McDonald's.”;

Federal scrutiny of the glasses began last week. The Washington office of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who has proposed strictly limiting cadmium in jewelry, received what a spokesman described as an anonymous tip that testing with an X-ray gun that estimates how much cadmium an item contains indicated the metal was present in the glass paint. Speier's office requested samples of the glasses from the tipster, and upon receiving them May 27 sent them to the CPSC for further investigation.

“;Our children's health should not depend on the consciences of anonymous sources,”; Speier said in a statement. “;Although McDonald's did the right thing by recalling these products, we need stronger testing standards to ensure that all children's products are proven safe before they hit the shelves.”;

 

Jonathan Lai is nominated to fill Djou's City Council seat


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POSTED: Friday, June 04, 2010

Honolulu attorney Jonathan Lai was selected as the nominee to fill the vacancy on the City Council created by the election of Charles Djou to Congress.

Council members selected Lai at a special committee hearing today. 

Members will vote on the nomination at their regular meeting Wednesday. If approved by five members of the Council, Lai would be able to participate in the meeting and cast votes on several important measures, including the city's $1.8 billion operating budget.

Five other candidates will be listed on floor drafts as potential nominees if Lai does not win approval.

Twenty-seven candidates were seeking to fill the remainder of Djou's term, which expires on Jan. 2.

Lai, a partner in the firm of Watanabe Ing, has pledged to not seek re-election to the seat this fall.

The term ends Jan. 2, and Apo had said he hoped the Council would follow past practice and select a candidate who pledges to not seek election, although there is no legal requirement to do so.

Because Djou vacated the seat with less than a year left on his term, it is up to the Council to appoint a successor. If the Council cannot agree to a successor in 30 days, the appointment would fall to the mayor.

Mixed martial artist pleads guilty to lesser charges


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POSTED: Thursday, June 03, 2010

LIHUE>> A mixed martial arts fighter and construction worker accused of threatening to kill or harm several Kauai police officers has pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Le Beau Lagmay initially faced 18 charges, including 11 counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.

But on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree terroristic threatening and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant.

Officer Eric Caspillo has said he had to use his Taser on Lagmay three times during Lagmay's arrest in November in a parking lot of Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Lagmay is slated to be sentenced Aug. 19.