Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
City Councilman John Henry Felix, 69, was admitted to the Queen's Medical Center late Monday, the Star-Bulletin learned today. Councilman Felix
having hospital testsFelix aide Bob McEldowney confirmed a report that Felix is in the hospital. He said the councilman is undergoing tests.
"I'm not sure what triggered it," he said.
Felix, a Republican representing District 3, has figured in a controversy in recent months over weddings conducted in his Aina Haina home.
Police seeking suspect in assault of 3 females
Police are looking for a man they believe has attacked two women and a teen-age girl since Monday in what could be an escalating series of sexual assaults.The latest attack was reported yesterday at a Seaside Avenue store in Waikiki, police said.
The suspect approached a clerk inside the store at 10:45 a.m., police said. He allegedly threatened the 30-year-old woman with a letter opener.
When she handed him a $100 bill, he attempted to sexually assault her, police said. He struggled with the woman before running away.
"He appears to have no concern for his safety or public safety.
"He's dangerous, and based on his actions, we can only anticipate this to escalate," said Adult Sex Crimes detective Dennis Kim.
Previous attacks took place Monday night at a building on Fort Street Mall and a Kapiolani Boulevard restaurant.
A 32-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl reported they were sexually assaulted in the women's restroom.
The suspect is described as about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 150 to 170 pounds, with dark hair and complexion.
He was seen wearing a T-shirt and jeans.
If anyone has any information about the suspect, call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Iolani Palace lease to be considered
The Friends of Iolani Palace will come before its landlord Friday to seek renewal of the lease under which the private organization operates the historic site.The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will take up the palace lease at its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. at the Kalanimoku Building.
The application to extend the lease, which expires June 30, includes a provision to add the Kanaina Building to the area managed by the Friends of Iolani Palace.
The building, near the Hawaii State Library, contains the organization's offices.
Other issues on the Land Board's agenda include an application from Zond Pacific to build and operate a 20-megawatt wind farm on 8.7 acres in Wailuku.
Free legal help made available for needy
People involved in a divorce, child custody, child support or alimony case and who cannot afford an attorney can now get free legal help thanks to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and Family Court.The Courthouse Assistance Pilot Project provides attorneys and legal assistants at Family Court every Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m.
A family of two is eligible for Legal Aid services if its gross monthly income is less than $1,350.
For more information on the CAPP program, call 536-4302.
Volcanoes campground wheelchair-accessible
HILO -- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will dedicate a new wheelchair-accessible campground built with entrance fee money at 9 a.m. March 31 at the campground site off Chain of Craters Road.The new campground on Hilina Pali Road replaces the one farther along the road at Kipuka Nene which was permanently closed last year because of adverse affects of camping on endangered nene geese in the area.
The campground is one of 33 projects built with fee money since Congress in 1997 began allowing Hawaii Volcanoes and other parks to retain 80 percent of the fees they collect.
In the courts
Dana Ireland killer pleads guilty in sex-assault case
HILO -- Dana Ireland murder case convict Frank Pauline Jr. has pleaded guilty to two crimes not related to Ireland.Pauline, 26, was charged with sexual assault in the first degree and the third degree for sexual offenses with a 12-year-old girl in 1993.
On Monday, he pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the case and was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Riki May Amano.
Pauline was also charged with first-degree terroristic threatening for an alleged threat to a jail guard last year.
On Monday he pleaded guilty to second degree terroristic threatening and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Both of the sentences will run at the same time as the minimum 180 years he is now serving for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Ireland, a 23-year-old Big Island newcomer killed on Christmas Eve, 1991.
‘Olelo TV offers advice on small-claims cases
Looking to file a small-claims case or got questions about a traffic ticket?Olelo, Oahu's community-access television station, is now airing informational videos that give step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a small-claims case or deal with a traffic citation.
The videos will be aired on Oceanic and TCI Channel 56 until June 30.
The videos, produced by the Hawaii Supreme Court, are 15 minutes long and run back-to-back beginning 7 a.m. every Wednesday or 10 p.m. every Sunday.
Both videos are closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and also are available in Ilocano and Korean. They also can be borrowed at no charge from any public library.
The Ilocano small-claims and traffic videos air the first Sunday of each month at 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., respectively.
The Korean versions air the second Sunday of each month at 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., respectively.
For more information, call the Judiciary's public affairs office at 539-4910.
Brown-bag seminar for consumer-scam tips
The state Judiciary is offering a free seminar next Wednesday on consumer scams and how to avoid becoming a victim.The "brown-bag" session will be held at noon in the Supreme Court courtroom at 417 S. King Street.
Attorney Jo Ann M. Uchida, complaints and enforcement officer with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, will offer valuable tips, including how to avoid common consumer mistakes and how to file a complaint.
For more information, call the Judiciary's public affairs office at 539-4910.
Free seminars offered on conflict resolution
The Judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution invites the public to free seminars held Tuesdays at the Supreme Court Building.Former state judge Thomas Kaulukukui Jr. will present "Chiefly Leadership in Modern Times" on March 28. Chris Leong will discuss "Anger and Conflict Resolution -- Do They Mix?" on April 4.
The seminars are held from noon to 1 p.m. in the second floor conference room. Everyone is welcome to bring a brown-bag lunch.
For more information, call the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at 539-4237.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Two nabbed in purse-snatching
Two 19-year-old men were arrested by police yesterday, about an hour after witnesses reported a purse-snatching that occurred at a bus stop near Alexander Street and Wilder Avenue in Makiki.One of the suspects allegedly struggled with a woman and fled with her purse into a waiting vehicle at about 8 a.m.
Witnesses called police, and the suspect vehicle was located fronting 1024 Lunalilo St.
One suspect, who has a Hawaii Kai address, was arrested at the scene at 9:10 a.m. A second suspect, who has no permanent local address, was taken into custody at Pensacola and Lunalilo streets at 9:25 a.m.
Mother charged in tot-death case
A Kaneohe Marine has been charged with making false statements in connection with the death of her 18-month-old daughter.Cpl. Tricia M. Bingham, 22, was charged Monday with conspiracy, making a false statement and obstructing justice, according to Marine officials.
Her daughter died of suffocation on the night of March 11 in Castle Hospital's emergency room.
Her husband, Cpl. James N. Bingham, 23, was charged earlier for allegedly murdering his daughter.
Police seek glass sculpture stolen in Waikiki
Police are asking for the public's assistance in locating a glass sculpture stolen from the Wyland Gallery in Waikiki earlier this month. The 20-pound sculpture is named "Large Reef Fish" and is valued at $2,450, police said.It was stolen March 2 from the Wyland Galley in the Hyatt Regency Hotel between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Anyone with information about the sculpture can call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Search resumes for lost surfer
An aerial and ground search was to resume this morning for the body of a 28-year-old surfer who apparently drowned in high surf on the North Shore Monday.Travis Musselman was surfing with his friends at the Banzai Pipeline when he wiped out at about 4 p.m. Monday and lost consciousness, fire officials said.
Fellow surfers attempted to drag him onto shore, but lost him after a big wave hit them.
Burned woman's condition critical
The 39-year-old Kauai woman who was reportedly set on fire by her husband remains in critical condition at Straub Hospital but responds to the voices of her family members, said hospital officials.Mui Lan Esposo-Aguiar underwent surgery this week, hospital officials said. But she remains on a ventilator and unable to speak.
Meanwhile, her husband, Gregory Aguiar, 49, is undergoing mental and physical examination. He is accused of pouring a flammable liquid over his wife and setting it on fire at their Eleele home on March 12.
Donations are being taken to help the family. Checks can be sent to Friends of Miu Lan Esposo-Aguiar, P.O. Box 1558, Koloa, Hawaii 96756.
