Family could use morale
boost amid hard luckLast summer, James was two yards from making a touchdown when he was tackled and knocked out from a blow to his head.
That was only the beginning of a nightmare that has not quite ended. James needed surgery to remove a tumor the size of a tennis ball. He nearly lost his life, but survived with partial losses in vision, hearing and memory. He had to relearn how to do the most basic things, like brushing his teeth, eating and bathing.
His mom, Laura, had to give up her career so she could be available when he suddenly becomes ill.
Because she is single, raising four children and out of work, Laura could not keep up with the household expenses. Eventually, they lost their home. When they moved in with a relative, it also meant changing neighborhoods and schools -- major emotional adjustments for all.
This family needs a morale boost after all they've been through. To make this Christmas a happy one, James would enjoy some Nintendo 64 games, and his sister would like some Rollerblades and a Barbie doll. They all could use new clothes, and Laura, some toiletry items.
If you can help, send a check to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund, P.O. Box 2019, Aiea 96701. Or you can donate items to the Community Clearing House in Building 914 at the Kapalama Military Reservation on the left of Sand Island Access Road, about a half-mile beyond Kilgo's. Call 845-1669 for information.
Four more chances to get your flu shot
Oahu residents who haven't had a flu shot have four more opportunities to get one.Castle Medical Centers recently finished a series of clinics at Safeway Stores to give influenza and pneumonia vaccinations.
But Castle has decided to hold more clinics because of a large demand for the shots and an intermittent shortage of vaccine here and on the mainland, said Judy Strait-Jones, public health educator at the state Health Department.
She said influenza vaccine is in short supply because of a production problem, but Castle Medical Centers ordered early.
"These are wonderful clinics they're putting on," Strait-Jones said.
Those getting shots are asked to take their immunization record cards. Most seniors can get shots free with Medicare cards.
The clinics will be at Safeway Stores at:
Today, 2 to 6 p.m., Mililani.
Banana bonanza will restart Kauai industry
KILAUEA, Kauai -- Kilauea town residents are getting 500 free keiki banana plants today, after state agriculture officials gave the all-clear for bananas to be planted there again.Three commercial farmers and 400 residents sacrificed more than 25,000 banana trees to stop the spread of the deadly banana bunchy-top virus found in the area earlier this year.
Once every banana plant in the 25-acre area was destroyed, residents had to wait three months before planting new trees.
Although most residents cooperated with the eradication effort, the state had to get a court order to destroy one farmer's banana plants.
Agriculture officials believe the virus, the world's leading killer of banana trees, appeared on Kauai about two years ago on a Kilauea banana farm.
The virus plagues banana farmers on Oahu and the Big Island, but Guy Nagai, a state noxious-weed specialist, says he's confident the disease has been eradicated from Kauai.
The keiki banana plants were donated by the Hawaii Banana Growers Association and are being distributed by the Kauai County Farm Bureau.
Bishop Estate master's bill wins court approval
A Circuit Court judge yesterday approved payment of a $338,251 bill submitted by Bishop Estate's court-appointed master Colbert Matsumoto.Matsumoto petitioned the probate court, asking that he be paid for his review of the estate's operations for the 1994-96 fiscal years.
The charges, which will be billed to the estate, include $256,328 for Matsumoto's fees, taxes and expenses and $4,200 in fees to former Boalt Law School Dean Edward Halback, who assisted Matsumoto in his review.
Local accountant Steven Sakamaki charged $77,723 for aiding Matsumoto's review of estate finances.
Circuit Judge Colleen Hirai granted the request despite objections by trustees Henry Peters, Richard Wong and Lokelani Lindsey.
Peters' lawyer, Renee Yuen, argued that Matsumoto's fees should not be paid until a judge rules next month on allegations they raised that Matsumoto has several conflicts of interest.
New Punchbowl pattern delayed for one week
The city will delay two-way traffic on Punchbowl Street until next Saturday to allow motorists and pedestrians more time to get used to new traffic patterns there.The changes were supposed to begin on Monday.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa yesterday said the start date was pushed back so people could get accustomed to two-way traffic on Punchbowl between South Beretania and South King streets.
Until then, affected traffic signals will be flashing to remind motorists and pedestrians of the changes, which are designed to create an expressway for those traveling on King Street to the H-1 freeway.
The changes are part of a $3.5 million, four-phase project to clear up during afternoon hours downtown traffic arteries that head toward freeway on-ramps. Mayor Jeremy Harris has said the concept is to eventually have two mauka-bound lanes between Ala Moana and the freeway.
Olelo to air governor's inaugural on Monday
Festivities for the second inaugural of Gov. Ben Cayetano will be cablecast live on Olelo on Monday, starting at 9:30 a.m.VIEWS Channel 54 will carry the inaugural prelude featuring performances by the Royal Hawaiian Band and Kamehameha Schools' Concert Glee Club.
The inauguration ceremony on the grounds of Iolani Palace begins at 11:50 a.m. with the inaugural party processional. A 19-gun salute will follow the taking of oaths of office. The governor will then deliver his inaugural address.
A story on rural Hawaii hospitals Thursday incorrectly gave the location where patient Israel Gorali lay in a coma for six hours. The correct location was his home. CORRECTION
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHome robbery similar to one earlier in week
Police early today responded to the second home-invasion robbery reported this week.At 12:15 a.m. today, two men broke into a Hanauna Street home in Village Park, police said. The resident surrendered two boxes containing valuables, and the men fled after wiping their fingerprints from the scene, police said.
The first such robbery was in Pearl City late Thursday night.
Both involved two male suspects robbing female residents and ordering them to the floor, and both took place near midnight. Police are investigating whether they are connected.
Haleiwa man dies as car hits boulder near Sunset
A 26-year-old Haleiwa man was killed when his car slammed into a boulder near Sunset Beach this morning.The man was seen driving erratically northbound on Kamehameha Highway at about 1:20 a.m., police said. The man, in a 1986 Mazda 626, lost control and slammed into a large boulder on the shoulder.
He was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene with multiple injuries at 1:58 a.m.
Police said speed was apparently a factor. The fatal accident is Oahu's 59th of the year compared with 71 for the same time last year.
Waianae 'ice' raid nets lab, gear, cash, weapons
Two people were arrested yesterday and more than $250,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine was seized by police during a raid on a Waianae home.Police seized between two and three pounds of crystal meth, along with a half-pound of marijuana, $6,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, nearly two dozen weapons and goods believed to have been traded in for drugs.
They also found an in-house lab to manufacture the crystal meth in what police are calling one of their biggest drug busts of the year.
Police raided the Waianae Valley home at dawn, following an investigation started when neighbors complained about ongoing drug dealing at the residence.
Officers say buyers could read prices for drugs and other related supplies from a menu, as well as a "walk-up window" that advertised hours of operation.
Police are looking for other suspects.
Purse snatchers try to run over witnesses
Police yesterday arrested three men in connection with stealing a woman's purse and attempting to run over witnesses during the getaway.The suspects drove up to the woman at a parking lot on Iwilei Road at 2:43 p.m., police said. One man got out and allegedly grabbed her purse.
The suspect then ran to the car waiting on King Street. When witnesses attempted to stop it, the driver reportedly drove toward them, police said.
The men -- 18, 19, 20 -- were booked for second-degree robbery and second-degree attempted murder.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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