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Isle doc takes medical mission to Philippines
An Aloha Medical Mission team of 36 volunteers was to leave Honolulu today to provide free medical and surgical care to people in Catarman City, Northern Samar, one of the Philippines' poorest areas.Dr. Antonio Tan, Honolulu urologist and executive vice president of the mission, is leading volunteers from Hawaii, New York, California, South Carolina and New Jersey. They include ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, general surgeons, nurses and lay volunteers.
The surgeons will operate on patients with cataracts -- the leading cause of blindness in the Philippines -- tumors and other conditions for which care is not available in the area.
The nonprofit group, founded in 1983, has sent 53 medical missions to impoverished areas in Asia, including the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, China, Vanuatu and Bangladesh.
Roadwork postponed for holiday weekend
The state Department of Transportation is suspending lane-closing roadwork through the Thanksgiving weekend.The department said it will not add to the congestion on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Work has been suspended through 9 p.m. Sunday on the three freeways and on highway projects around Oahu.
UH Korean group holds drive for food bank
The University of Hawaii Korean Student Association will be holding a food drive for the Hawaii Foodbank 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Beretania Street Safeway store. Canned food and dry packaged foods will be collected.
Marine base training may increase jet noise
A detachment of jets will arrive at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, on Monday and stay until Dec. 3.The S-3B Viking jets are regularly assigned to an anti-submarine patrol squadron in Atsugi, Japan, and will be here for training that may create more aircraft noise than usual.
Air conditioning work closes Liliha library
The Liliha Public Library will be closed through Dec. 17 while an air conditioning renovation project is under way. The book drop will remain open.Librarians advise patrons to visit the branch in Kalihi-Palama or the Hawaii State Library.
Hilo Airport noise is topic of public hearing
The impact of aircraft noise in the area of Hilo Airport will be discussed at a 7 p.m. public hearing Tuesday at Keaukaha Elementary School in Hilo. The state Department of Transportation is seeking comment on a program to address land uses that are incompatible with the noise.Copies of the federal aviation regulation Noise Compatibility Program are available at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona public libraries and state airport offices on the Big Island.
Traffic-safety campaign aims to raise awareness
The Honolulu Police Department's District 8 (Waianae-Kapolei) officers and the Leeward Coast community will kick off their 15th annual "Live and Let Live" traffic-safety campaign at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Waianae Police Station. A candlelight vigil will also take place at Maili Beach Park at 5 p.m. to remember victims who died in traffic collisions in the area.The "Live and Let Live" program was designed to educate Leeward coast motorists about traffic safety, and to minimize the number of motor-vehicle fatalities during the holiday season.
Displays of vehicles involved in collisions will be set up at Nanakuli Beach Park, Maili Point and the Waianae Boat Harbor to heighten awareness of the problems of drinking and driving, as well as speeding.
Community members and HPD officers will begin sign-waving at the display sites next month. A total of 13 people have died in traffic collisions in District 8 this year. Ten incidents occurred along the Waianae Coast. Speed was a contributing factor in most of the traffic fatalities in the district.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
7 p.m., Market City Shopping Center: Tree-lighting ceremony.
Correction
Santa's arrival at Aloha Tower Marketplace took place at 11 a.m. today. A Do It! item yesterday erroneously included other dates as well.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Ewa Beach man hunted in threats against police
Police are looking for a 27-year-old man who tried to ram police officers in their car after kidnapping his infant son and girlfriend.The Ewa Beach man initially was sought for assaulting a 22-year-old woman and ramming his vehicle into her car on Pohakupuna Road.
Police found the man at his home on Makule Road. The suspect told officers to get off his property and threatened them with pipes and plywood boards.
Police surrounded his home, and the suspect ran into the house and grabbed his 3-week-old baby and 23-year-old girlfriend. He got into his car with them, ran through a fence and headed toward a police car. The officers reversed their car to get out of the way.
Police say they did not pursue the man because they did not want to put the baby and woman in danger.
The car was found at 2 p.m. in Ewa Beach.
The man faces two counts of first-degree attempted murder against police officers, three counts of terroristic threatening against police officers, third-degree assault, one count of criminal property damage and two counts of kidnapping.
The man, who has a prior record for possession of a firearm, was on probation.
State hospital escapee picked up in Waikiki
A 47-year-old man who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital on Wednesday was arrested yesterday at 5:45 p.m. in Waikiki. He was reported missing at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday from the hospital during a headcount.A social worker, familiar with the patient, saw him in Waikiki and notified police. She remained with him until police arrived.
Hilo woman arrested in charity donation scam
A 30-year-old Hilo woman faces fraud-related charges in soliciting food and donations for the American Red Cross on the Big Island.Big Island police charged Cheryl A. Ah Sing with one count of attempted theft, two counts of theft and three counts of forgery.
Police said Ah Sing, arrested Wednesday, allegedly approached several downtown Hilo businesses asking for food and donations to help victims of flooding from heavy rains early this month.
