Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
ELEELE, Kauai -- A woman was in critical condition this morning and her 49-year-old husband is in custody charged with trying to kill her after he allegedly set her on fire yesterday during a domestic dispute. Woman critical after set
on fire; husband heldKauai police said Gregory Manual Aquiar, of Eleele, is being held on a charge of attempted second degree murder.
His 39-year-old wife was flown to Straub Hospital on Oahu where she is reported in critical condition with burns over 80 to 90 percent of her body. Kauai police did not release Aquiar's wife's first name.
According to the police, Aquiar poured a flammable liquid on his wife and set her on fire at about 11 a.m. yesterday at the couple's home.
Aquiar fled but a few hours later surrendered to a police patrol in Niumila.
Bank robber hits Waikiki branch of 1st Hawaiian
First Hawaiian Bank's Waikiki branch was robbed today by a man wearing a white tank top with a fish design on the back and black shorts.It was the third robbery of a Hawaii financial institution this month and the 10th of the year. All of Hawaii's bank robberies in 2000 have occurred in January or March.
Today's robbery was reported at 8:30 a.m. No weapon was seen.
The suspect is described as a male, 5-feet-8 and about 140 pounds with a mustache.
Governor seeks tax deal with delinquent airlines
Gov. Ben Cayetano opposes legislation exempting the leasing of aircraft used in Hawaii from the state's 4 percent general excise tax."I think everyone should pay their taxes," Cayetano said last week.
The House on Tuesday approved that exemption.
A Senate bill gives the exemption and also excuses $20.5 million in back taxes allegedly owed on leased aircraft used by Hawaiian and Aloha airlines.
The Department of Taxation is negotiating with the airlines about the back taxes, which even Cayetano admits are legally contestable.
While he has not "completely closed the door" on the bills, "I think for the future they should pay for their taxes and for the past. Maybe we can negotiate a settlement that's not going to hurt either one of them," Cayetano said.
The tax on leased aircraft would cost each of the two airlines about $1 million a year, airline officials told lawmakers.
A Department of Taxation audit three years ago determined that the interisland carriers had not paid their taxes on leased aircraft over the past two decades.
Technically, the tax burden is on the mainland companies that leased aircraft to Hawaiian and Aloha, but those lease agreements contain clauses that the airlines are responsible for all local taxes.
In approving the Senate bill, lawmakers said collecting the $20.5 million on the two airlines would impose a substantial burden on the economy and drive up interisland air fares and cargo costs.
Parade, festival invite groups to participate
The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission is inviting various ethnic groups to participate in its 128th annual celebration, which includes the 84th annual floral parade.Parade applications are available for floral floats, marching units, specialty units and decorated vehicles. Booth space for ethnic craft demonstrations, food and displays also are available.
Groups representing an ethnic group are asked to dress in their native attire.
The parade is set for 9:30 a.m. June 10, followed by the Folklife Festival at Kapiolani Park. For further information, call 586-0333.
HEALTH BRIEFS
Health forum aims to link Isles, Japan
Opportunities for Hawaii health care professionals to develop partnerships with Japanese hospitals will be explored at a breakfast forum from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii."By better understanding the medical market in different counties, we can identify niche areas that have strong export potential," said Seiji Naya, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The department and the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring the Health Care Forum 2000 seminar, second in a series.
Dr. Nobuhiko Yasuda, chief of staff at Jikei University and associate professor at Jikei School of Medicine, will be the featured speaker.
The charge, including breakfast, is $14, payable to the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 587-2750.
Osteoporosis expert attends national meet
Dr. Richard D. Wasnich, president of the Hawaii Osteoporosis Center and medical director of Radiant Research Honolulu, has been chosen to participate in a national conference to review diagnosis and treatment methods for osteoporosis.The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Osteoporosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy will be held March 27-29 in Bethesda, Md.
The NIH is bringing together national experts on osteoporosis to review the latest research and make recommendations regarding the safety and effectiveness of drugs, devices and procedures.
Wasnich and his colleagues have contributed more than 200 publications on osteoporosis research to medical literature.
The Hawaii research resulted in a new approach to osteoporosis risk assessment called "Remaining Lifetime Fracture Probability," authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for use on the Internet in 1998.
For more information about the NIH program, see its Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov.
For further information about the osteoporosis risk assessment, see http://www.medsurf.com.
For more information about Radiant Research Honolulu, visit http://www.radianthonolulu.com
Queen's sets lecture on heart risk factors
Dr. Fredric Pashkow, medical director of the Queen's Heart Institute, will discuss risk factors contributing to heart problems during a public lecture at 6:30 p.m. March 29.His talk, "Understanding Risk Factors After Heart Attack, Angioplasty or Bypass," is part of the Queen's Medical Center's Speaking of Health lecture series.
Pashkow's talk will be in the hospital's Kamehameha Auditorium.
Reservations are required because of limited space. Call the Queen's Referral Line at 537-7117 for registration and information.
Abercrombie's efforts on Pap tests lauded
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie has been recognized by the College of American Pathologists for his "leadership and commitment" in protecting women's health.When low Medicare Pap test payments threatened the ability of laboratories to provide the screening service, Abercrombie spearheaded a movement in Congress that led to a law raising the payment from $7.15 to $14.60.
Women are encouraged to get an annual Pap test.
The test has reduced the U.S. death rate from cervical cancer by more than 70 percent since it was introduced after World War II, according to the College of American Pathologists.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Baseball bat attack nets 3 arrests; others sought
Police arrested three 17-year-old boys in Palolo following a bat swinging incident early yesterday at a Kapiolani Boulevard location, where one man was injured and three vehicles were damaged.The suspects were among a group of six or eight males who allegedly were at 1680 Kapiolani Blvd. at 1:20 a.m. shouting, "Palolo Boys." Witnesses told police three members of the suspect group armed with bats shattered the windows of three vehicles.
One person was struck in the back with a bat.
Police located one of two suspect vehicles in Palolo. A boy in the car later was identified by witnesses as one of those who was swinging a bat at the Kapiolani Boulevard scene, police said.
Two bats were recovered as evidence from the vehicle.
The boys were booked as juveniles for second-degree assault and first- and second-degree criminal property damage.
Police are working with information about the second suspect car but no arrests have been made.
The case is not connected to Saturday's melee at 84-759 Upena St. in Makaha, where three men, ages 41, 39 and 33, allegedly were assaulted with bats by at least five men.
Queen's Hospital is not releasing information about the victims at the request of police, since the five suspects are still at large.
The Makaha assault stemmed from an earlier traffic incident, police said.
Investigation opened in Ewa Beach stabbing
A 20-year-old man allegedly stabbed early today in Ewa Beach by an acquaintance is in stable condition at St. Francis-West Hospital.Police are investigating the case as an attempted murder. The suspect in the 3:20 a.m. incident fled the scene and is still at large.
The stabbing occurred in the victim's vehicle, police said.
Gun charges filed after dispute at Maili park
A 29-year-old man, who allegedly punched a police officer attempting to intervene in a domestic dispute at Maili Beach Park, has been arrested for firearm offenses.Police said the man was in possession of a loaded magazine when he was chased down while attempting to flee the scene by the officer he allegedly struck. The ammunition clip was for a handgun recovered at the scene.
Man faces felony count in attack on girlfriend
Felony assault charges are pending against a 28-year-old man, who allegedly beat his girlfriend yesterday at their Waipahu residence. The woman has facial fractures and lost a tooth, police said.
Big Isle police put wrap on marijuana sweep
HILO -- Big Island police seized 6,099 marijuana plants last week as part of the department's continuing Counter-Cannabis Field Operation.The marijuana eradication effort was conducted in seven locations in Puna, South Hilo and North Hilo.
On Friday, the last day of the four-day operation, officers armed with a search warrant recovered 131 marijuana plants at an Orchidland subdivision residence, police said.
Police were joined in the effort by personnel from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hawaii Air National Guard and the state Department of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
No arrests were made during the operation, and police said no unusual incidents were reported.
