Millennium Moments
HOW far we've come in 120 years, cell phone users. Phones come a long way
The telephone came to Hawaii in 1878, just two years after Alexander Graham Bell unveiled his invention to the world. It was on Maui, where phones connected shopkeeper C.H. Dickey's store with his home.
Mutual Telephone, which became the sole phone provider after buying out Hawaiian Bell in 1894, changed its name to Hawaiian Telephone in 1954. A merger with GTE in 1967 spawned the current GTE Hawaiian Telephone Co.
Cellular phone service here began in 1986, three years after the first licenses were granted on the mainland. Today, some 62 percent of Oahu adults have a cell phone, according to a 1997 Gallup Poll.
More than 100 doctors and health-care providers received diplomas recently at Tripler Army Medical Center's Command Retreat and Graduation Ceremony. Tripler graduates saluted
"Take care of those who work with you and for you," Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, U.S. Army surgeon general and commander, advised the graduates. "Set the standard as role models and mentors."
The graduates included Army and Navy officers and one civilian health-care provider in the Clinical Psychology Residency Program.
Maj. Gen. Nancy R. Adams, commander of Tripler Army Medical Center and Pacific Regional Medical Command, said, "The essence of a medical center is our teaching role.
"The excellence provided by the faculty, which is instilled in the students, and the in-house availability of the interns and residents allows us to provide a wide range of services around the clock," she said.
The graduating class presented Maj. Michael Miller with an Outstanding Staff Teacher Award and Capt. Rajeev Narayan with the Outstanding Teaching Resident Award. Both are doctors.
For helping murderer, man to serve 10 years
WAILUKU -- A Maui man who helped in the kidnapping of a murder witness was sentenced to 10 years in prison today.Anthony Carvalho, 23, will have to serve a minimum of three years and four months of the 10-year term, under a sentence imposed by Maui Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto.
"I hope one day I'll get a second chance for a life," Carvalho said.
Carvalho pleaded no contest to the second-degree robbery of bar owner Jasmine Kahn Tilu on Aug. 9, 1997, and to the second-degree kidnapping of Abra Pearsall five days later.
Carvalho helped convicted murderer Daniel Kosi abduct Pearsall, the key witness in the killing of Maui kickboxer Eric Vinge near his Paukukalo home.
Kosi fatally shot Vinge on Aug. 3, 1997, and kidnapped Pearsall with help from Carvalho about 11 days later.
Pearsall escaped from a car trunk in a south Maui condominium parking lot and called police, who arrested Carvalho outside a condominium unit.
Kosi refused to leave the unit and stabbed to death hostage Aisha Tolentino during a police standoff.
Carvalho's attorney, Hayden Aluli, said he was disappointed with the sentencing because he felt his client should have received probation, like co-defendant Jennifer Kong.
Aluli said that, like Kong, his client was under the influence of drugs and was afraid of retaliation if he did not help Kosi.
Oahu woman indicted in welfare fraud case
An Oahu grand jury has indicted a woman for fraudulently obtaining welfare benefits, the state attorney general's office said.Roxanne Y.K. Koanui-White was charged with three counts of second-degree theft, after she reportedly obtained checks totaling more than $300, acting attorney general Thomas Keller said in a press release.
If convicted, Koanui-White could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Haleakala officials want New Year limits
WAILUKU -- Federal officials are proposing restrictions on the number of vehicles that will be able to visit Haleakala National Park for several days before and after the New Year.Park superintendent Donald Reeser said that under the proposed rules, the number of commercial vehicles will be limited from Dec. 29 through Jan. 3, and the number of noncommercial vehicles will be limited to available parking.
Reeser said the proposed restriction is being considered because of the potential for much greater than average numbers of visitors.
He said park officials also plan to prohibit bike trailers and the launching of bike tours within the park, and that camping at a number of sites will be by permit only.
Comments about the proposed rules may be sent to Superintendent, Haleakala National Park, P.O. Box 369, Ma-kawao, Hawaii 96768, or by telephone at (808) 572-4401, no later than July 26, 1999.
Hirono signs measure adding hospice options
Health insurers that offer hospice coverage also will be required to cover the cost of hospice room and board, starting Jan. 1, 2000.Acting Gov. Mazie Hirono, signing a bill into law passed by the last Legislature, said Hawaii is the first state to take such action to provide greater access to hospice care.
The law also will provide for education on hospice care.
Insurers that offer hospice coverage must notify policyholders that hospice care is available and cover costs of a referral visit, even if the patient doesn't enter a hospice.
"We hope that patients and families will learn about hospice in a more timely manner and that the access to receiving hospice care is improved," Hirono said.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffWoman arrested after hit-and-run victim dies
A 48-year-old Haleiwa woman was arrested at her home last night following a hit-and-run that killed an elderly man in Waialua, police said.The woman was driving north on Goodale Avenue near the Waialua Recreation Center when she hit the 72-year-old Haleiwa man crossing the street at 7:55 p.m., police said.
Witnesses said the woman got out of the car, approached the injured man lying on the road, then retreated to her Toyota and drove away.
The man was airlifted to Queen's Hospital in critical condition. He died just after midnight this morning.
Traffic investigators said alcohol is a possible factor.
Robbers come through roof of Laie Foodland
Police are searching for three masked men who robbed the Laie Foodland last night.The men, wearing ski masks, entered through the roof after the store was closed about 11:35 p.m., police said.
The men confronted Foodland workers and ordered them to lie down while they robbed the store.
One woman was kicked in the head when she kept looking up, police said.
The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
In other news...
Police are searching for a man who robbed the Chinatown branch of American Savings Bank yesterday.
The robber passed the teller a demand note and fled with an undisclosed amount of money at 4 p.m., police said.
The suspect is described as 5 feet 1 inch tall, 120 pounds, with black hair.
He was last seen wearing a light blue jacket, and a pink and orange T-shirt.
The suspect struck his brother and threatened to stab him with a knife during an argument Wednesday at their Pili-laau Avenue home, police said.
"It could be the extension of the same fire. We don't know," said Assistant Fire Chief Richard Fernandez.
Fernandez said a fire apparently started yesterday at noon and was put out at close to 10 last night.
He said there was no major damage from the fire and no injuries.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
