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Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, February 9, 2000

Pearl-based ships make port call in Hong Kong

Three Pearl Harbor-based ships -- destroyer USS Russell, cruiser USS Port Royal and the nuclear submarine USS Asheville -- were among nine U.S. warships that anchored in Hong Kong yesterday. They were part of the largest American port call in the Chinese territory since the accidental NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia last May.

The warships and 8,300 sailors -- all part of the USS John Stennis aircraft carrier battle group -- will be in Hong Kong for five days.

The visit is significant because it marks another step towards easing diplomatic and military relationships. Later this year, top Pentagon officials, including Secretary of Defense William Cohen and Pacific commander-in-chief Dennis Blair, will make trips to Beijing.

Johnston Isle disposal reaches final stretch

The U.S. Army Chemical Demilitarization program has begun disposing of the last nerve agent stockpiled at the Johnston Atoll Agent Disposal System. The final chemical weapons incineration is scheduled for February 2001.

Hirono will speak at retired teachers' convention

Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will be a guest speaker at the Hawaii State Retired Teachers Association's 41st annual convention, March 7 and 8 at the Pagoda Hotel.

Other speakers will include public schools superintendent Paul LeMahieu; Lowell Kalapa, of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii; Annette Norsman, director of the National Retired Teachers Association; Mike McCartney, director of the state Department of Human Resources Development; and Greg Sato, chairman of the Hawaii Public Employees Health Fund.

For information, call Su Chon Kim at 737-8443.

Two students named top youth volunteers

Leanne Nakamura of Kaneohe and Aubrie Weedling of Honolulu have been named Hawaii's top two youth volunteers for the year 2000 in the Prudential Spirit of the Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Nakamura, 17, a senior at Castle High School, co-created "S.A.V.E. Kualoa Beach," an effort to remove marine debris and educate her community about environmental issues.

Aubrie, 13, an eighth-grader at Moanalua Middle School, volunteers weekly at a local food bank and once a month at the Institute for Human Services Center serving, organizing and preparing food.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Prudential Insurance Company of America and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Both will receive $1,000, a silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in May to Washington, D.C., where they will join other honorees from each state.

Two other finalists to receive bronze medallions were Keila Ching, 18, of Honolulu, and Todd Nishida, 17, of Aiea.

Ching, a Punahou School senior, designed and installed a vegetable, herb and flower garden at the Shriners Hospital.

Nishida, a Pearl City High School senior, designed and supervised the development of an amphitheater at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center.

Immigration info handy by phone, Internet

Hawaii residents can learn about immigration benefits and services by calling a toll-free number or tapping into a new federal Internet source.

The national telephone line, (800) 375-5283, provides live assistance from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hawaii time, and self-service access in English or Spanish around the clock.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service Web site, www.ins.usdoj.gov, provides information on department services, procedures and activities, and access to forms.

Correction Bob Apisa was a standout football player at Michigan State. A photo caption in Monday's sports section said incorrectly that he played for Michigan. Clarification Both sides in the federal Felix consent decree have indicated that court monitoring is likely to continue past June 30 on the state's compliance effort, but any agreement on an extension would need court approval. A story Jan. 28 did not mention that court approval would be required.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Man rings door bell, shoots resident in leg

Police are searching for a gunman who shot and wounded a man at a Pearl City home last night.

The suspect rang the door bell at a home on Kaumahana Place at 9:24 p.m., police said. When the resident, a 53-year-old man, came to the door, the suspect barged into the home.

Armed with a rifle, the suspect ordered the man to the floor.

While the resident was on the floor, the suspect shot him in the upper left thigh, police said. The bullet exited through the man's lower abdominal area.

The suspect ran away after seeing other people inside the home, according to a detective's report

Police would not comment on a motive this morning.

The injured resident was taken to Queen's Hospital where he was in guarded condition this morning.

Police say the suspect is in his 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 to 170 pounds with clean-cut hair. He was wearing dark pants and a dark-blue, denim long-sleeve shirt.

Police said four men were seen fleeing the scene.

Two men are sought in taxi driver robbery

Police are searching for two men who allegedly robbed a taxi driver by knifepoint last night near Kapolei.

The two men approached the cab driver on Kamokila Boulevard and Farrington Highway at 10:07 p.m. and requested a ride "two miles down the road," police said. While driving, one suspect put a knife to the cab driver's throat and demanded money, police said.

The driver jumped out of the cab and ran to a pay phone. The suspect then climbed into the front seat and took off with the taxi, according to a detective's report.

A tow-truck driver witnessed the incident and pursued the taxi onto a dirt road. He lost sight of the suspects when they abandoned the car and ran away.

Maui police searching for suspect in fight death

WAILUKU -- Police are continuing to search for a Maui man as a suspect in the death of a man who tried to break up a fight in Kihei on Jan. 28.

Kamuela A. Sanchez, 22, was indicted Friday on a charge of manslaughter in the death of 32-year-old Nathan Ilar.

Maui Police Lt. Milton Matsuoka said Ilar tried to break up a fight at Cove Park at about 9:30 p.m. and suffered head injuries after being struck by a man. He died two days later. Matsuoka said police were not sure if the head injuries resulted from the punch or fall or both.