Dissecting
Hawaii’s fatalities
WHEN islanders say it's murder to live in Hawaii these days, they're not necessarily referring to the scandalously high cost of goods and services.
Last month was a particularly busy one for Honolulu homicide detectives. There were nine murders on Oahu in August, almost half the homicides reported thus far this year.
Five of the victims were female, while one of the males was shot to death in front of his girlfriend, reportedly by a jealous lover. The gunman was apparently trying to teach them both a chilling lesson.
Speaking of lessons, as most of us are enjoying the remnants of this lovely Labor Day holiday, could we take a few moments to memorialize three of the deceased?
Perhaps, then, we can ponder what may be learned from their tragic fates, and how we can help others possibly destined for the same:
Candace Robino, 26. Fatally shot on Aug. 3 by Lionel Ortiz, her 31-year-old estranged boyfriend, who then killed himself. Robino had gone to Ortiz's fourth-floor apartment in Salt Lake -- along with her mother, who waited outside -- to retrieve her things after a break-up.
Bianca Ward, 26. Eight months pregnant, she and her unborn child were killed in her Helemano Military Reservation apartment on Aug. 26. Her 33-year-old husband, Timothy, a sergeant assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, turned himself in to military police the same day. The woman was going through a divorce and had just been awarded temporary custody of the Wards' year-old son.
James Zoucha, 27. Fatally shot on Aug. 19 while sleeping in the Nanakuli home of his girlfriend, Tammy Aiwohi. Her former companion, 28-year-old Tyrone Galdones, was arrested and later charged with murder.
Lesson, lesson, who's got the lesson? How about the fact that:
Leaving a relationship is the most dangerous time for a victim in an abusive situation. Domestic-violence experts and/or police should be consulted when planning exit strategies.
A victim should not ask a friend or family member to accompany her to fetch personal belongings, especially if a firearm is on the premises or if there's a history of intimidation. The cops should be called.
Domestic abuse is not necessarily physical in nature. According to records filed by Bianca Ward, her husband harassed and intimidated through denying her use of the car and phone, preventing access to their bank accounts and controlling all household expenses, including the grocery shopping. Since these are clear examples of attempted domination, don't be surprised if they lead to worse consequences, according to domestic violence experts.
A gun is a highly effective killing machine that's too readily available in this community and country.
DID I mention August was an unusually deadly month? Unfortunately, September is starting to look just as ominous.
On Saturday, a 28-year-old woman died and her 27-year-old lover was critically injured in Waipahu when her husband allegedly went on a shooting spree before taking his own life.
The good news is that, according to the Sunday newspaper, many people witnessing the public drama called 911 to summon police, took down the license number of the fleeing car, attempted to help the struggling woman or tried to drive after the shooter. To them, a collective mahalo for getting involved.
The bad news is it's still murder to live in Hawaii.
Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.
