Millennium Moments
THE manhunt for the ailing Koolau provided drama and rebellion of another kind in 1893, the year of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Legend of Koolau
Koolau, a cowboy at Kauai's Gay & Robinson Ranch, helped to round up fellow people with leprosy, who were to be shipped to Molokai, according to "History Makers of Hawaii" by A. Grove Day. But when his wife was kept behind when the ship set sail for the quarantine settlement, Koolau jumped and swam ashore.
With his wife, son and other fugitives, Koolau fled to remote Kalalau Valley. During one capture attempt, Koolau shot and killed a deputy sheriff. After soldiers bombarded Koolau's ledge, they left, convinced no one could have survived. But Koolau did, and lived three years under harsh conditions and during which time his son contracted leprosy and died. When Koolau died two months after his son, his wife Piilani emerged from hiding.
"Attack of the Cookie Monster" played at the Blaisdell Arena on May 2. Help sought in
Blaisdell assaultNow, the city prosecutor's office is looking for witnesses to what wasn't a showing of the latest "Sesame Street" movie, but a real-life attack on the blue-costumed character and his pals, Bert and Ernie, in front of hundreds of children.
The suspect will be charged with third-degree assault within the next week, said deputy prosecutor Laura Kim. The maximum penalty for that charge, a full misdemeanor, is one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
The prosecutor believes there is enough evidence to bring forth the charge, but wants to bolster its case with witnesses, photographs and videotapes, Kim said.
Of the three characters who were involved, "Ernie got hurt pretty bad" after being flipped over, while "Cookie Monster and Bert got pushed around," Kim said. The man also tried to pull off Cookie Monster's head.
The unidentified man was called out of the audience during the 1 p.m. "Sesame Street Live" performance at the Blaisdell to dance with the children's show characters.
The one witness who has so far called Kim said she initially wasn't sure if the man was planted. He was reluctant to go on stage but did so, Kim said. It was when the characters put a large hat on his head, then tried to put an apron around him, that he apparently went into a rage.
It became very clear then that the scene wasn't choreographed.
"He was getting booed and booed," Kim said the witness told her. "She couldn't figure out why he just didn't get off the stage." Finally, he sat down, next to a woman and two children, and the group left shortly afterward.
Call Kim at 523-4511 if you have any information.
Gov names retired prof to Board of Regents
Walter Nunokawa, a retired University of Hawaii professor of psychology, has been appointed to the UH Board of Regents.Gov. Ben Cayetano appointed him to fill the seat vacated by Joseph Blanco, effective immediately but subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
"During his tenure at the University of Hawaii, Professor Nunokawa distinguished himself as an excellent teacher and administrator," Cayetano said.
Isle church starts fund for Greek quake aid
Greek Orthodox church members are funding a relief effort to help Greek earthquake victims.All funds collected will be sent directly to the Archdiocese of Athens, said an announcement of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Pacific.
The church at 930 Lunalilo St. belongs to the Greek Orthodox Diocese of San Francisco, which includes 65 churches and three monasteries in California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Those interested in contributing to the Diocese of San Francisco Earthquake Relief Fund may call (415) 753-3075.
Lauryn Hill tickets at Blaisdell box office
Gates will open at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office for those wanting to purchase tickets to the Lauryn Hill concert Oct. 13.Tokens will be passed out at 8 a.m., and the box office will open at 9 a.m.
Customers are limited to four tickets each in the first 16 rows, with a 20-ticket limit elsewhere. All tickets are $45 and also are available at Tickets Plus outlets, or by calling 526-4400.
Money for isle projects moving in Congress
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Appropriations Committee this week approved spending $2.5 million for the Bishop Museum's Mauna Kea Astronomy Education Center and $1.5 million for wastewater treatment on Kauai.The projects were included in the spending bill approved for the Veterans Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development and independent agencies.
The bill also included $500,000 for the Ala Wai Canal Watershed Improvement Project, $500,000 to improve water quality at native Hawaiian fishponds and $1 million for Honolulu's Kahuku drainage plan.
The spending bill still needs the approval of the full Senate, and must then be reconciled with the House bill.
Health Briefs
Health plan offers break on services
Kapiolani HealthHawaii members now can receive a 15 percent discount on acupuncture and chiropractic services, the health plan has announced.It is offering the discounts through Landmark Healthcare, a national complementary health care company.
Members also can receive 20 percent to 70 percent discounts on vitamins, minerals, herbs and herbal extracts through an arrangement with Bio Balance, manufacturer of nutritional supplements.
More than 175 vitamins, minerals and herbs are available for selection, as well as natural body-care products and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, said Kapiolani HealthHawaii, a subsidiary of Kapiolani Health.
Women sought to test breast cancer drugs
Volunteers are sought by Tripler Army Medical Center and the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii to test two drugs intended to fight breast cancer.The national Study of Taloxifen and Raloxifene, known as STAR, will measure effectiveness of those drugs in reducing breast cancer in postmenopausal women age 35 or older.
Taloxifen, studied for more than 20 years, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for reducing chances of breast cancer.
Raloxifine is an FDA-approved drug used for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It's also believed to prevent breast cancer without some of the side effects that may result from Taloxifen.
Nationally, 22,000 women in the trial will be given either drug and monitored closely. Health professionals hope regularly scheduled health examinations will reveal fewer cases of breast cancer in high-risk women.
The study is being conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Projects and supported by the National Cancer Institute. Results from previous clinical research trials have changed the way breast cancer is treated.
Interested participants should contact Karen Sommers at Tripler, 433-3033, or Ann Keiminski at the Cancer Research Center, 586-2979.
Cancer patients invited to Kohala healing retreat
A healing retreat for cancer patients will be held Oct. 16-22 in the newly refurbished Jacaranda Inn in Kohala on the Big Island.The retreat has been held annually since 1994 by a group of North Hawaii Hospice staff and volunteers, who initiated the program to help people with cancer make more informed quality-of-life choices.
Participants in the October retreat will be the first to meet at Jacaranda Inn, formerly Hale Kea, a 100-year-old historic Waimea home that sits on 11 acres. It has eight luxury guest suites.
A daily routine will be followed during the seven-day "O Ka Mana ka Ho'ola" retreat to reduce stress and provide mutual support for participants. Activities will be explored to promote physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental and spiritual health and well-being.
The area is believed to have had sacred healing sites, including a wahine healing heiau.
The nonprofit O Ka Mana ka Ho'ola program is sponsored through North Hawaii Hospice, Friends of the Future/Turu's House and the Bakken Foundation.
It is modeled after the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas, Calif. It is not a treatment program.
The cost is $1,000 for the week, including room and board and professional services.
For more information or to make reservations, call Noni Kuhns at 885-6777 or Nancy Bouvet at 885-7547 in Kamuela.
Lung association to hold indoor air quality classes
Classes on indoor air quality management will be held by the American Lung Association of Hawaii for building owners and managers on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.The classes will provide an overview of indoor air quality issues, including standards and guidelines, indoor contaminants and potential health effects.
More information and registration forms may be obtained by calling 537-5966, Ext. 300 or 307.
Flu vaccinations available at center
Kuakini Medical Center is offering flu vaccinations until Oct. 27 to help prepare the community for the flu season.No appointments are necessary. People may obtain vaccinations on a walk-in basis every Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. during the period.
Vaccinations will be given at the Kuakini Outpatient Support Center on the eighth floor of Hale Pulama Mau. Medicare will cover the flu shots. The fee for those without Medicare is $10.
The vaccinations are encouraged for people 50 and older, who have chronic medical conditions or asthma, diabetes and renal dysfunction, or disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems.
Health care workers and household members of people with chronic medical conditions also should be vaccinated.
People allergic to eggs should not be vaccinated.
For more information, call 547-9153.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Attempted taxi-jacking leads to boy's arrest
A boy was arrested this morning in Waikiki for allegedly carjacking a cabbie with a pellet handgun.The driver picked up the boy in Waikiki, and he asked to be taken to Ala Moana Center, police said. While on Ala Wai Boulevard, the driver told him the shopping center was closed.
The boy, whose age was not disclosed, reportedly pulled a handgun and ordered the driver to take him home, police said. The driver turned onto Kuhio Avenue, ran out of his cab and flagged down an officer.
When the officer spotted the boy with the handgun, he drew his weapon and ordered the boy to the ground.
He was arrested at about 4 a.m. for first-degree terroristic threatening and kidnapping.
Police said the gun was a replica of a 9 mm handgun.
Cops nab pot suspect, seize four vehicles
KAILUA-KONA -- Police have arrested a South Kohala man on an Illinois warrant and seized four vehicles for possible forfeiture in connection with a mainland marijuana distribution operation.Stanley Forbes, 39, of Waikoloa is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Police said they seized a Dodge luxury van, two Mercedes-Benz cars and a Lincoln stretch limousine.
Authorities in Illinois told police here that they stopped a rental car driven by David Clark, 36, of Honolulu, for speeding 90 miles outside Chicago in August.
After they found 59.2 pounds of marijuana in his trunk, Clark -- charged with marijuana trafficking -- identified others in the operation, they said.
Police identified William Duffy, 31, of Pennsylvania at the site in Ohio where Clark was supposed to deliver the marijuana.
On Sept. 1, Duffy and Forbes were indicted in Illinois. Duffy was arrested the next day while police sought Forbes.
Telephone scam preys on Big Island elderly
HILO -- Police are warning Big Island residents about a telephone scam in which an elderly resident was bilked of $1,635.The person sent the money to Canada in four payments but never received the $18,000 in prize money that was promised in return.
Lt. Francis Rodillas urged families with elderly members to warn them about such scams.
Boy faces burglary charge after hiding in Costco
A 15-year-old Pearl City boy who hid inside the Salt Lake Costco after the store had closed was arrested for burglary last night.Officers responded to the Costco at 11:05 p.m. after a Sonitrol motion alarm was tripped, police said. After searching the store, they found the boy hiding in the bakery.
Police this morning scoured the store with K-9 units for any other suspects.
The boy was booked for second-degree burglary.
