Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, December 3, 1999

Millennium Moments

Countless lives have
been saved by transplants

Since Hawaii's first organ transplant occurred some 30 years ago, hundreds of lives have been saved or prolonged via such procedures.

In August 1969, doctors at St. Francis Hospital performed Hawaii's first successful human kidney transplant, says "Firsts and Almost Firsts in Hawai'i" by Robert C. Schmitt.

On March 31, 1978, Hawaii's first bone-marrow transplant was performed on an 11-year-old child. As with the kidney operation, this transplant was performed at St. Francis and was led by surgeon Dr. Livingston Wong, according to Schmitt.

Hawaii's first successful heart transplant was in March 1987 at St. Francis Hospital. It was performed by a 22-member team led by Dr. Ricardo Moreno.

St. Francis Hospital also was the site of the state's first successful liver transplant -- in May 1993. Dr. Linda Wong led the team that performed the liver transplant. By that time, Schmitt notes, St. Francis had performed more than 400 kidney transplants, 80 bone-marrow transplants and 20 heart transplants.

Maui watershed
protection group awarded

The Nature Conservancy has given its 1999 President's Conservation Achievement Award to the East Maui Watershed Partnership.

The award, considered one of the conservancy's highest honors, is given for partnership work with the conservancy to advance biodiversity protection.

"The Nature Conservancy recognizes that the partnership has pioneered a model for protecting large landscapes quickly and efficiently," said John Sawhill, conservancy president and chief executive officer.

"Before this partnership, the conservancy had helped protect 50,000 acres in Hawaii. This one project alone brings active management to more than 100,000 acres of critical watershed and native forest habitat," he said.

The East Maui Watershed Partnership was formed in 1991 through the joint initiative of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, the Maui County Board of Water Supply, Haleakala Ranch, East Maui Irrigation, Haleakala National Park and Hana Ranch.

Tickets for third show by Elton to go on sale

Tickets for the third Elton John concert go on sale tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office. People wishing to buy tickets for the Jan. 9 concert can line up at 6:30 a.m.

Random tokens will be passed out at 7:30 a.m.

When the numbers are called just after 9 a.m., those people can buy tickets.

The maximum number of tickets per person is six. Tickets are $45 and $65.

For information call the Blaisdell box office: 591-2211.

Sewer clog causes 4,800-gallon spill

A wastewater spill estimated at 4,800 gallons occurred when roots and debris clogged a sewer line yesterday near 2293 Liliha St.

City crews responded at 10:10 a.m. and reported the spill stopped at 2:05 p.m. The spill flowed into Waolani Stream, which feeds into Nuuanu Stream and eventually to Honolulu Harbor.

Warning signs were posted, and affected waters will be tested for possible contamination.

Express bus hours expanded for holidays

Hours for CityExpress! buses are being expanded to reflect the later closing hours of businesses during the holidays.

The buses provide express service between the Pearlridge and Ala Moana shopping centers.

Through Thursday, the last buses will leave the malls at 9:15 p.m.; from Dec. 10-16, at 10:15 p.m., and from Dec. 17-23, at 11:15 p.m.

Work on gas line to affect traffic

Underground utility work will affect traffic through Wednesday where Hotel and King streets come together near Aala Park.

The Gas Co. is performing maintenance on its pipeline and needs the right Ewa-bound lane along Hotel Street between River Street and Iwilei Road closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Hotel Street's second Ewa-bound lane will also be closed at times.

These lanes are used exclusively by city buses.

Maintenance will continue this weekend weekend during these hours.

---

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Youth investigated in choking of nurse

A 16-year-old boy is being investigated for choking a nurse at Queen's Hospital yesterday.

The boy was at the hospital's Family Treatment Center when he reportedly choked the 25-year-old nurse with a bed sheet at 4:40 a.m., police said.

He was subdued by hospital staff.

The boy, who was not arrested, is in court-ordered custody at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility until 2001. Police have classified the case as an attempted murder.

Police hunt for suspect in pepper-spray robbery

Police were searching for man who pepper-sprayed a woman at her Pearl City home and took her purse yesterday.

The man went to the Piki Place home asking for the woman's son at 10:30 a.m., police said. He entered the home and refused to leave. He then pepper-sprayed the woman and took her purse before driving away in a green import sedan, possibly a Volkswagen Jetta or a Honda Accord.

Officers seek clues in blast at Farrington

Police yesterday investigated an another explosion at Farrington High School.

The blast was reported at 12:50 p.m., police said. No damage or injuries were reported.

It was the second prohibited explosion this week at the school. Earlier, altered fireworks were ignited on the campus.

Maui school beating to go to prosecutor

WAILUKU -- Maui police and state school officials say they have completed separate investigations in the alleged assault of 13-year-old Cody Tavares at the Kalama Intermediate campus.

Tavares remains at Kapiolani Hospital in guarded condition with a swollen pancreas following the alleged assault by four boys during lunch recess on Nov. 17.

Maui District School Superintendent Paul Brown said he'll receive results of the investigation and recommendations from Kalama Principal Stephen Yamada today.

Police Sgt. Robert Fernandez said detectives, who interviewed witnesses, will forward their investigation to the prosecutor's office on Monday.

Surf, lack of experience cited in Kauai drowning

LARSON'S BEACH, Kauai -- Kauai fire officials said high winds, strong surf and lack of ocean-swimming experience were the likely causes of the island's 12th drowning of the year yesterday.

The body of Larry Graffius, 45, of Bridgetown, N.J., was discovered washed ashore shortly after 1 p.m. He had been dropped off to snorkel at the beach by his wife about an hour before.

Fire officials said the victim had cuts and bruises on his head and body, indicating he had been slammed up against the reef in the rough water.