Plants along bike path on North Shore stolen
Several hundred dollars worth of plants that the North Shore Outdoor Circle planted and maintained along a bike path from Sunset Beach to Waimea Bay were dug up last night, Rex Dubiel, first vice president, said today.Dubiel said some of the plantings, including 4-foot-high mock orange, had been in for two years at the end of Ke Iki Road, near Shark's Cove.
"Everybody's kind of adopted areas," said Dubiel, who coordinates the 3-mile bike-path planting project.
The member who waters the area by Ke Iki Road went out this morning and found a 100-foot section dug up, she said.
"For somebody to come in and steal plants and take them and plant them somewhere, you've got to be pretty low. These guys aren't gardeners -- they're just thieves," she said.
Anyone who has knowledge ofthe theft is asked to call the police, Dubiel said. To donate plants or money to replace those that were stolen, call her at 638-7075.
Big Isle banker named Parker Ranch trustee
Tom Whittemore, a First Hawaiian Bank senior vice president on the Big Island, has become a Parker Ranch trustee.He succeeds Warren Gunderson, who is retiring. The other trustees are Mel Hewitt and Carl Carlson.
Whittemore graduated from Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea, the University of the Pacific and the University of Washington's Pacific Coast Banking School.
Whittemore has been with First Hawaiian Bank for 28 years.
Waihee, Madden will lead Y2K party plans
Gov. Ben Cayetano has named former Gov. John Waihee and Lynne Madden, executive vice president of Island Heritage, to head a group to plan the state's celebration of the new millennium.The Hawaii Millennium Commission will plan a wide range of cultural, musical and sporting events throughout the year 2000. It will include developingnew events, such as a Dec. 31 celebration at Diamond Head Crater, and enhancing existing activities, like the Honolulu Marathon.
A "Come Home Hawaii" effort to encourage former islanders to return will be part of the strategy to increase the annual visitor count by 500,000 next year.
The 17-member commission is seeking ideas and suggestions from the public. Its office, at Ward Warehouse, can be contacted at 550-2000.
Helping kids get well is theme of conference
A holistic approach to treating ill children will be discussed April 13 at the annual conference of the Hawaii affiliate of the Association for the Care of Children's Health.The theme of the conference, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, is "Kids Need More than Medicine to Get Well." Speaking will be:
Dr. Chris Derauf, who will discuss treatment of the whole child, with consideration of psychosocial and developmental factors and the child's family.
Kealakekua Library to be closed next week
Kealakekua Library on the Big Island will be closed Monday through Friday to renovate its air-conditioning system.Books may be borrowed or returned to Kailua-Kona or Holualoa libraries. Patrons may renew books by calling toll-free 1-800-820-RENU (7368). Kealakekua Library is scheduled to reopen April 10.
Lupus Foundation recommends screenings
The National Lupus Foundation and the Hawaii affiliate are encouraging everyone, especially women from ages 15 to 44, to take a self-screening test.Lupus is a chronic disease where the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue.
Untreated, it can cause irreversible damage to organs. But patients, family members, doctors and researchers often are fooled because symptoms mimic other less serious illnesses.
About 1.4 million Americans, mostly women, are believed to have the disease.
A person with three or more of the following symptoms should contact their doctor for an examination:
For more information, call the Lupus Foundation of America's hotline, (888) 38-LUPUS, or the Hawaii Lupus Foundation, 538-1522.
Oahu charities eligible for proceeds from walk
Applications are now available for Oahu charities interested in receiving funds from the upcoming Hawaii Hotel Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk on May 15.Last year's charity walk raised more than $740,000 statewide and benefited more than 170 charities.
The deadline for completed forms is 4 p.m. May 28.
To request an application, send a letter or fax to: Tina Yamaki, Hawaii Hotel Association, 2250 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 404-4, Honolulu, HI 96815; fax: 924-3873.
Program to recognize Hawaii's first ladies
Bishop Museum was to honor Hawaii's first ladies at a 6 p.m. benefit today at the Coral Ballroom of Hilton Hawaiian Village.Former first ladies Nancy Quinn, the late Beatrice Burns, represented by her son, James, Jean Ariyoshi, Lynne Waihee and current first lady Vicky Cayetano will receive a special tribute.
Proceeds will benefit Bishop Museum and its efforts to preserve, document and interpret the history of Hawaii as told through first ladies and other important women of Hawaii.
"Women of the 20th century have been leaders of change in education, social services, health and cultural revival," said Donald Duckworth, Bishop Museum president. "And first ladies are in a unique position to procure change.
"Not only did our first ladies accomplish many things during their husbands' terms of office but they have continued their work and commitment to the people of Hawaii."
The program will feature gowns and accessories donated by each of the first ladies to the Bishop Museum collection.
Key sponsors are Albert C. Kobayashi Inc./Kobayashi Development Group LLC, Bank of Hawaii, the Cincinnati Bengals football club and the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
Call the Bishop Museum Development Office at 848-4170 for more information.
Seoul to host forum on disaster preparedness
Hawaii, Washington and South Korea officials will meet in Seoul this month to discuss handling disasters.South Korea, often hit by floods and other natural disasters, has earmarked more than $100 million to develop a disaster management and prevention program. Ingredients for such a program include government and nonprofit expertise as well as commercial flood insurance, health care, mapping and other exportable products.
Janis Koh, who is spearheading exports of such Hawaii-based services and technology to South Korea, said 25 Koreans will take part in an annual state civil defense exercise here in May and will be looking at what they need for their program.
Seventy percent of the world's natural disasters hit the Asia-Pacific region, and Koh said Hawaii could easily become the regional center for developing disaster programs in other nations.
Waianae center earns health care award
Waianae's mental health center has won a national award for its programs and quality of service.Hale Na'au Pono, the Waianae Coast Community Mental Health Center, was cited for the most cost-effective services and lowest hospitalization rates in Hawaii.
Poka Laenui (Hayden F. Burgess), the center's executive director, accepted the Managed Behavioral Healthcare Leadership Award at the 1999 National Managed Health Care Congress held at the World Congress Center in Atlanta.
The congress recognized Hale Na'au Pono's development of a treatment method integrating pharmacology with family life, education, cultural appreciation, respect for the environment, history and genealogy.
Hale Na'au Pono was previously part of the state mental health system. It incorporated in 1986 as a nonprofit community-based organization with Waianae residents as directors.
It has grown from 15 to more than 140 employees offering an array of behavioral health services for children and adults.
Waianae community leaders have directed that the center take into account not only medication but cultural values and practices and social and spiritual relationships, Laenui said.
Federal judge to speak at Women's Fund event
U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway, the first Asian woman to become a federal judge, will speak at a Notable Women's Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Plaza Club.The breakfast, sponsored by the Women's Fund, is open to the public for a fee of $15.
Mollway graduated from Kalani High School, the University of Hawaii and Harvard Law School. She was sworn in as a federal judge Aug. 31, 1998.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffMililani man charged in assault on neighbor
Police yesterday charged a 27-year-old Mililani man in the sexual assault of his neighbor.Alvin Aspera Jr. was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree sexual assault, police said.
Aspera is being held on $25,000 bail.
The man allegedly broke into his neighbor's home on Kaholo Streetabout 5:45 a.m. yesterday and sexually assaulted her, police said.
Teen accused of hurting grandmother is arrested
A 13-year-old boy was arrested yesterday for allegedly assaulting his 70-year-old grandmother.The boy is reported to have pushed his grandmother, breaking her wrists, police said.
He was booked for second-degree assault.
Police investigate fires set at Molokai ranch
WAILUKU -- Maui police detectives are investigating two intentionally set fires that partially burned a house and a vehicle in east Molokai.Officials said two people, Kathy Cullen and Perry Tanaka, were asleep in the residence at Puu O Hoku ranch when flames broke out there about 4:15 a.m. yesterday.
A separate fire burned an un-occupied vehicle, police patrolman Reid Nakamura said.
Nakamura said no one was injured.
He described damage to the house as minor, but estimated damage to the vehicle at $30,000.
Copter lifts lost hiker, to pick up 2 more today
HILO -- Fire Department rescue personnel this morning were to resume airlifting hikers lost in the forest near the Puu Oo eruption area.Rescuers picked up one of the three hikers yesterday, they said.
The hikers had been on a trail leading to the eruption area.
Officials received word of the hikers at 4:38 p.m. yesterday, apparently from one carrying a cellular phone. Using a county helicopter, rescuers found the group three miles from the beginning of the four-mile trail, which starts at Captain's Drive in the Fern Forest subdivision.
A woman, 38, was removed before weather closed in. Her name was not released, but the two remaining hikers were identified as Frank Wiser, 30, and Sharon Kobayashi, 32.
Officials remained in contact with the hikers by cell phone, and rescue efforts resumed at dawn.
Sailor last seen in isles is wanted by the Navy
A Pearl Harbor sailor formerly assigned to Pacific Fleet headquarters is wanted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.Petty Officer 2nd Class Harold Russell Finberg, a Navy yeoman still believed to be in Hawaii, has been convicted of taking indecent liberties with a child and desertion.
He is described as age 32, 5 feet 6, 175 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
He sometimes wears a mustache and has been known to wear military-style glasses.
Last seen Dec. 5, 1997, at Pearl Harbor, Finberg disappeared after being placed on restriction. He was awaiting a court-martial on charges against him.
Though absent, Finberg's case was tried at Pearl Harbor, and he was convicted on three counts.
His sentence is seven years' confinement, dishonorable discharge, and forfeiture of pay and allowances for seven years.
Finberg was reported on unauthorized absence before the trial and was declared a deserter after 30 days.
Anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to call 474-1218.
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