Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, September 20, 1999

Millennium Moments

The Pink One had
a humble start

Driving on the H-1 Freeway around Moanalua, it's hard to miss, nestled against the green hills: the pink grandness of Tripler Army Medical Center.

But it wasn't always so. The facility, built in 1907 on North King Street, began as a humble post hospital for Fort Shafter, reports "Place Names of Hawaii."

In June 1920, the hospital was named for Maj. Gen. Charles Stuart Tripler (1806-1866), medical director during the Civil War.

A new Tripler general hospital was built on Moanalua Ridge in 1948; two years later, it became Tripler Army Hospital, serving military members and their dependents, veterans and Public Health Service members.

Novick pleads innocent to abuse, sex charges

An environmentalist accused of producing sexual videotapes of young girls telling them they would be in commercials pleaded not guilty today in Circuit Court to 59 counts on charges including first-degree child abuse and third-degree sexual assault.

Trial for Stuart Novick, 55, was set for the week of Dec. 6.

The charges against Novick, who organized the environmental group Protect the Planet, involve two girls who were then 12 and 13.

The incidents allegedly occurred between June 1995 and July 1996.

He is being held on $1 million bail. A hearing will be held tomorrow on the state's motion to have him held without bail. The state believes he poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk.

Aliamanu teacher wins Miss Chinatown title

An Aliamanu Intermediate School math teacher has been crowned Miss Chinatown Hawaii 2000.

Jennifer Lin Hong, 25, won the crown at the Hawaii Theatre on Saturday night. She is the daughter of Pak Kong and Lillian Hong.

Hong will receive an $8,640 tuition scholarship from Hawaii Pacific University and will take part in goodwill tours of Vancouver and Asia. She will also represent Hawaii in the Miss Chinatown USA pageant.

Denby Annette Kwai Foong Dung, who won the talent contest, was named first princess. Rene Bao Sim Wong was named second princess.

Airport security firm says pact has state OK

The operators of Honolulu Airport's new security contract said the state has given them the green light to go ahead with its three-year, $20 million pact.

Daya Singh Khalsa, senior vice president for Akal Security, said on Friday that airport officials indicated that they plan to sign the new contract.

Questions had been raised about Akal, which took over airport security operations Sept. 1.

Many of the company's officers have the same last name, "Khalsa," and that name was linked to a man indicted for drug, racketeering and money laundering charges on the mainland.

Marilyn Kali, state transportation department spokeswoman, said the attorney general's office investigated the allegations and found that they had no merit.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Maui diver identified as Haiku resident

WAILUKU -- The body of a Maui diver was found floating in the water off Baldwin Beach Park yesterday.

He was identified today as Clifton Pimentel, 40, of Haiku.

Fire officials said women canoe paddlers found Pimentel and called for help at about 11 a.m.

Fire Capt. Harold Goshi said attempts to revive him at the beach were unsuccessful.

Goshi said Pimentel's dive bag containing octopus was found in the water about 100 yards away.