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A day-trading and securities scam that surfaced during the past four months on Oahu has brought a warning from police and the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Smooth-talking crook
scams isle residentsA smooth-talking man meets potential clients at various social settings such as restaurants and night clubs and presents himself as a millionaire. His pitch is he day trades for a living and appears quite knowledgeable about stocks.
This suspect is believed to have bilked more than $50,000 from several victims here.
Citizens are advised to check and see if such an individual is registered to sell securities in Hawaii. They may call the Office of the Commissioner of Securities at 586-2740. A "red flag" should be raised when off-shore accounts and avoiding taxes are mentioned.
In any case, investors are advised always to keep copies of investment checks and receipts and to make checks payable to a company, not an individual dealer or sales representative.
The police CrimeStoppers program will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a wanted person. Call the hot line at 955-8300.
Parks department rejects plan to kill pigeons
Oahu's pigeons have been given a reprieve.A plan to eradicate pigeons from city parks -- by capturing, then killing them -- was put in a cage yesterday by the City Council's Parks Committee.
The deferral was requested by Parks Director Bill Balfour, who said the city now wants to explore other ways of reducing the population.
City officials previously said the pigeon population needs to be reduced because the birds carry infectious diseases that could be passed onto humans and are the targets of continuing nuisance complaints.
The plan called for the city to sign a $42,500 contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services to bait, net and gas pigeons over a year's time.
A number of animal-rights representatives and bird lovers described the eradication plan as unnecessary and inhumane. Some called for the city to feed the pigeons birth control seeds, a suggestion some eradication proponents believe is too costly and unworkable.
Surfers blame mayor for lack of Pipeline access
The city is denying any favoritism in the issuance of permits for surfing events following complaints raised by organizers of the Back Door Shoot Out.Leaders of Hui O He'e Nalu, the group which organizes the event, were joined by Hawaii professional surfers yesterday in making the claims against Mayor Jeremy Harris at City Hall yesterday.
Hui leader Eddie Rothman said the Shoot Out is one of the richest surfing competitions in the world and that the city erred in denying it access to North Shore's Pipeline in late January/early February. Instead, access went to promoters of the Women's Amateur Body Boarding contest.
The Back Door Shoot Out pays between $150,000 and $156,000, Rothman said. The group is threatening to take money it has been giving to local charity and use it to defeat any future political campaigns of Harris, who is believed to be contemplating a run for governor in 2002.
Parks Director Bill Balfour said intricate criteria are used to determine use of a surf site when more than one event organizer wants specific dates at a beach.
The hui's competition won the rights to use the beach during the specified period based on those criteria.
The hui has twice sued the city over the criteria and been unsuccessful each time, Balfour said.
Haleiwa Mc-drive-through gets tentative approval
An effort to legalize a drive-through window at the Haleiwa McDonald's is moving forward.The City Council's Zoning Committee, by a 3-2 vote, moved a resolution urging the Planning and Permitting Department to process an amendment allowing drive-through facilities in the Haleiwa special district.
A number of Haleiwa residents testified against the resolution, arguing that it flies against the notion of having a special design district and warning that it would set a bad precedent. There was also testimony backing the drive-through from those who believe the community has benefitted.
This is the second time the city is visiting the issue.
The city Zoning Board of Appeals issued a variance for the window in 1997 but that decision was overturned last year after a lawsuit filed by area residents and the environment group Life of the Land.
The owner of the restaurant is appealing the court decision.
Order filed declaring insurer insolvent
Hawaii Healthcare Alliance was legally insolvent when it was shut down by state regulators in October, according to an order filed yesterday by Circuit Judge Sabrina S. McKenna.The ruling follows months of confidential proceedings, and clears the way for Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf to take control of HHA's remaining assets and proceed with the process of liquidation.
The company began offering low-cost health coverage early last year to individuals, small businesses and self-employed professionals, but failed to meet state requirements and was ordered to cease operations.
"HHA lacked the financial resources and ability to meet its obligations and was using premium payments from new members to pay off old bills," Metcalf said yesterday in a written statement.
HHA founder Darren Larson's insurance agent license has been suspended pending revocation proceedings.
Company says oil spill moving away from isles
Oil spilled off Barbers Point Sunday is dissipating, and only streaks of sheen remain, says Tesoro Hawaii.About 630 gallons of crude oil spilled into ocean waters at Tesoro's mooring point, about a mile off Kalaeloa.
Streaks of sheen were most recently reported 17 miles southwest of Kalaeloa (Barbers Point) and were projected to continue to the southwest and away from Oahu and Kauai.
Second defendant files guilty plea in rape case
A second defendant has pleaded guilty to breaking into a Waikiki hotel room and robbing and sexually assaulting two female Japanese tourists in April.Chris Linville, 26, pleaded guilty yesterday to 12 counts, including first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree robbery, five counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree sexual assault and two counts of kidnapping.
He faces 15 years' imprisonment when sentenced April 6.
Another defendant, Joshua Fields, 21, pleaded guilty earlier to similar charges in connection with the April 7 attack. He faces 10 years.
Blackout in Kaneohe cuts power to 1,500
A power outage left about 1,500 customers in the dark for about 55 minutes in the Kapunahala area of Kaneohe last night."We started getting calls at 9:30 this evening," said Hawaiian Electric spokesman Fred Kobashikawa. "We were able to restore power at 10:25 this evening, and the problem was isolated to an underground cable," he said.
Repairs were to be made this morning, Kobashikawa said.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest7 p.m., McCully-Moiliili Public Library: McCully/Moiliili No. 8 Neighborhood Board meeting, 2211 S. King St. For information, call 527-5749.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Chinatown drug ring broken; 5 arrested
Federal agents say they have crippled a large-scale heroin distribution ring operating in Chinatown.Five people were arrested and arraigned in federal court after an investigation by both federal and local law enforcement.
Myron Fuller, special agent in charge of the local FBI office, named the suspects: David Enriquez Pelen, John J. Klaverweiden, Marian Sung Soon Sutton, Sio Masitalo Ioane and Michael E. Cabanlet.
The FBI said most of the drug transactions took place in the College Walk area of Chinatown.
Searches were conducted at the Nuuanu YMCA at 1441 Pali Highway; 1220 Aala St.; 1762 Maiha Place, Pearl City; the Town Inn at 250 N. Beretania St.; 1321 Aala St.; 1717 Kaluhikai Lane, and Honolulu Park Place at 1212 Nuuanu Ave.
Big Isle teacher accused of sex with underage boy
KAILUA-KONA -- Police are investigating a Big Island woman accused of having sexual relations with a boy under the age of 14 while she was a teacher at Honaunau School in 1996, they confirmed.The sexual relations may have gone on longer, they said.
The 35-year-old suspect was arrested Friday in Waimea on suspicion of first degree sexual assault. She was released without charges pending further investigation.
The woman now teaches at Kalanianaole School in Papaikou just north of Hilo. District school superintendent Dan Sakai said he learned about the case on Monday and directed Department of Education staff to gather information
Sakai said the woman would be put on leave as soon as proper procedures allow. Whether she will receive pay during the leave will depend on the department's findings, he said.
Police hunt two suspects in Ewa Beach robbery
Two suspects who allegedly kidnapped and robbed a 25-year old Ewa Beach man .remains at large.On Monday at about 7 a.m., the two men visited the victim's home at 91-802 Kauwili Street. The victim had known one of the suspects for approximately three weeks, police said.
When the man asked the resident if he could use the bathroom, both men entered the home, physically confronted the victim and tied up his hands and feet, police said.
The 29-year-old allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim.
A television, videocassette recorder and the victim's vehicle were taken by the suspects, police said.
The victim's vehicle, a red Toyota Corolla was located in Waianae yesterday morning.
Woman's escape foils would-be robbers
A robbery attempt failed in Mililani Town Center yesterday when the intended woman victim ran screaming out the door, police said.The two would-be holdup men fled empty-handed and escaped in a white four-door Honda Civic.
The two suspects entered Young Dry Cleaners at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway at about 11:20 a.m.
One man went behind a counter and told a 27-year-old female employee that he had a gun. The second suspect grabbed the woman, but she broke free and ran outside screaming, police said.
