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Hawaii-based military specialists have begun a 30-day investigation in Laos seeking the remains of American servicemen listed as missing in action since the Vietnam War. Specialists from Hawaii
looking for MIAs in LaosA 53-member team left Tuesday to join technical representatives from the Laos People's Democratic Republic in the recovery operation.
The people from the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, the Joint Field Operating Base, Hawaii, and Joint Task Force-Full Accounting will visit 11 sites of aircraft or ground attacks.
The remains of 596 Americans have been identified and returned since 1973.
Four hundred eighteen American servicemen are still counted as missing in Laos and a total of 1,987 are unaccounted for from the war in Southeast Asia.
Space travel included in auto show April 5-8
There will be 200 new vehicles to see, but that's not all.The Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association is adding new elements to the annual First Hawaiian International Auto Show that will provide browsers information about new standards in public schools and a glimpse into the benefits of space travel.
The state Department of Education will join in sponsoring the Education Standards Exhibit at the auto show April 5-8 at Hawaii Convention Center, according to auto association executive Dave Rolf.
The view into space will come in a National Aeronautics and Space Administration exhibit brought to Hawaii for the show.
The dealers association is sponsoring an advance discount ticket program through March 22.
Public school students may earn free entry to the auto show and gift certificates for Ala Moana Center stores by selling tickets.
Teachers also earn certificates based on sales by their students.
The auto show also sponsors seven cars for use by the teachers selected as district teachers of the year.
New turtle-take rules will be released here
A top official from Washington, D.C., will unveil new turtle-take reduction rules next week for Hawaii longline vessels.William Hogarth, acting assistant administrator for fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, will speak Tuesday at a noon-6 p.m. meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council at Ala Moana Hotel.
He will discuss an updated biological opinion to reduce interaction between fishing interests and sea turtles.
On March 15, about 115 federally permitted Hawaii longline vessels will be shut down while the biological opinion is incorporated into an environmental impact statement.
Last August, U.S. District Judge David Ezra ordered the fishery to be shut down from March 15 through May 31 unless the EIS is completed or until the judge lifts the closure order.
At the Tuesday meeting, the Council also will take final action on its Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishery Management Plan and draft EIS and consider long-term closure of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands lobster fishery.
Fume tests continue at Maui building
WAILUKU -- Testing is taking longer than expected to find out the source of fumes that have resulted in the relocation of more than 80 Maui County employees from a building.County spokesperson Karlynn Kawahara said the person conducting the tests on Oahu was unable to finish as planned yesterday.
Kawahara said that, meanwhile, the county is continuing to use charcoal filters in the air-conditioning system to clean the air in the building.
Free workshop on special ed
A free special education workshop takes place at 5 p.m. Monday at Hale Naau Pono, the Old Kaiser Building, at 87-217 St. John's Road, Maili.The A.W.A.R.E. Parent Training and Information Center and AmeriCorps "Parent Support Project" of the Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii and Waianae Community Children's Council will co-sponsor the Free Appropriate Public Education for Students with Disabilities presentation, which will explain:
Finding one's way through the "Special Education Maze"
For workshop registration, call 536-9684, extension 21, or 696-2371.
Free seminar on colorectal cancer
Information on colorectal cancer and ways to prevent it through diet will be presented at a screening and seminar from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Ala Moana Park's McCoy Pavilion.Dr. Ronald Pang, gastroenterologist at St. Francis Medical Center, will discuss the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and procedures to test for the disease. He said all people over age 50 should have their colon checked for cancer.
Caroline Hamatake, dietitian at St. Francis, will provide some recipes and samples of foods for a healthy colon. Of all cancers, she said, colorectal cancer "is the one which you can really make a difference by what you eat."
The seminar is free to the public. For people age 50 and above who register, free screening kits will be provided to perform at-home fecal occult blood tests.
The event is sponsored by the Cancer Screening and Education Department of the Institute of Cancer at St. Francis Medical Center in recognition of March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
For more information, call 547-6798.
The Courts
Softball player's family sues golf ball suspect
The family of 17-year-old Iolani softball player Amy Taniguchi, who was struck in the mouth by a golf ball during a state softball tournament last month, is suing the University of Hawaii student suspected of hitting the ball.The family is seeking an unspecified damages from Daniel Copperud, 19, a student from Minnesota, whom they contend acted negligently and with reckless disregard for the safety of others.
The complaint said Copperud hit the golf ball from the rear of the Johnson Hall dormitory, striking Taniguchi, who was in the dugout at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Besides a tooth that was knocked out, Taniguchi suffered injuries to her face and head that caused her much pain and permanent injury, the suit said.
Because of her injuries, Taniguchi, who was the third batter, was unable to finish playing in the semi-final game which was tied in the last regulation inning, resulting in Iolani's loss, the suit said.
Parents of man killed in wreck sue truck driver
The parents of a Waipahu man killed when a tree-trimming truck rear-ended his car on the H-1 freeway last November, causing a 10-car pileup, have sued the driver.Doris M. and Edward M. Manabe filed the complaint in Circuit Court yesterday against truck driver Robert Cabatic and the company he worked for, Trees of Hawaii, Inc.
Edward R. Manabe, 43, was crushed and pinned in his truck when the two-ton tree-trimming truck struck him from behind, pushing his vehicle into another ahead of him, which had stopped for traffic.
He died instantly of head injuries, medical examiners said.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Maui entertainer dies after highway collision
WAILUKU -- A Maui entertainer died at Maui Memorial Medical Center after a two-vehicle crash at Olowalu last night.John C. Barbier, 48, who entertained at hotels and nightclubs on Maui, tried to pass another car on Honoapiilani Highway about 8 p.m., police traffic investigator Ricky Uedoi said.
Barbier's vehicle collided sideways with a multi-purpose vehicle carrying a California couple traveling in the opposite direction, nearly two miles south of Olowalu Village Road, Uedoi said.
The La Jolla couple, both wearing seat belts, were treated for minor injuries.
Barbier was not wearing a seat belt, Uedoi said.
The cause of the crash was under investigation, including whether speed, alcohol or drugs were a factor.
Barbier's death was the fifth traffic fatality on Maui this year, compared to three for the same period last year.
Hit-run injuries fatal to Ewa Beach bike rider
A 21-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a van in a hit-and-run accident yesterday died early this morning at Queen's Medical Center. Medical examiners identified him as Theron Keoki Nicodemus of Ewa Beach.Police said Nicodemus was traveling toward Ewa on the right shoulder of Fort Weaver Road, near the intersection of Old Fort Weaver Road, about 12:45 a.m. yesterday when the van struck him from behind.
Nicodemus suffered major injuries to his lower body and head. The driver fled the scene.
A witness described the van as a blue or dark blue Ford, similar to an Aerostar. Police believe the van had damages to the front grill.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Accident Investigation Section at 529-3499 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Witness tip led police to church fire suspect
A witness who saw a man leave a Kailua church just before a Feb. 6 fire led police to 37-year-old Adam Michael Albert, police said.Albert was charged Tuesday with second-degree criminal property damage for setting the fire that caused $2,000 damage to St. Christopher's Church.
A Kainalu Drive resident called police to report seeing a man resembling the suspect in the fire.
A fingerprint check matched Albert to fingerprints found on a glass oil lamp in the church, according to police documents filed in District Court.
Albert, who had no local address, was confined to Tripler Army Medical Center before his arrest. The court ordered that Albert remain at Tripler under "extended restraint of liberty."
Man, 37, is arrested in kidnapping incident
A 37-year-old man was arrested after allegedly kidnapping an acquaintance in Honolulu yesterday morning.About 5 a.m., he and a 32-year-old woman got into an argument in a parking lot at 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., police said.
He grabbed her arm and forced her into his car.
He allegedly choked the woman, telling her to let him do what he wanted and he would let her go.
Her friend discovered her being choked and was able to pull the suspect's arm away.
The suspect fled, but was arrested after being identified by the victim.
Police seeking suspect who robbed cab driver
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are asking the public for help in identifying a male suspect who robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint Monday.About 7:30 a.m., a man called a taxi company and asked to be picked up at the Makiki Times Supermarket on Beretania Street.
He then asked to be dropped off on Likini Street, police said.
As the taxi approached Keaka Street, the suspect pulled out a silver-gray handgun.
He took the driver's money and car keys, then fled on foot.
Police described the robber as being in his early 20s, 5-foot-6, 140 pounds with a slim build.
He has dirty blonde hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.
He was wearing a beige short-sleeve T-shirt and khaki pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
