Public relations seek award nominations
The Hawaii chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is currently soliciting entries for its 2001 Koa Anvil Awards, which honor the state's outstanding public relations achievements.The awards include: "Koa Anvils," which recognize outstanding public relations programs incorporating research, planning, execution and evaluation; "Koa Hammers," which recognize public relations tactics implemented in communication campaigns: the "Gregg W. Perry Award," which recognizes Hawaii's public relations practitioner, and the "Hokupaa Award," a new award recognizing a young public relations professional.
Information and forms are available online at http://www.prsawest.org/koa.html. All entries are due by May 25. For more information, contact awards coordinator Amy Hennessey at 539-3439 or e-mail to amy@mcneilwilson.com
Waikiki walkers raise $812,000 for charity
The annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk raised $812,000 for local charities yesterday.More than 12,700 walkers participated in the seven-mile trek through Waikiki, Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana Beach Park.
Checkpoints along the way provided food and entertainment, with this year's theme being "Pictures in Paradise."
The event, in its 23rd year, is sponsored by the Hawaii Hotel Association and provides an opportunity for the visitor industry to give back to the community.
Heroic pilot: Michael Lauro, Mokulele Flight Service pilot, crash landed his Cessna 337 off the Big Island and made sure his four passengers got out safely. [WINNERS & LOSERS]
[WINNERS]
<< Celebrated police officer: Detective Earl Koanui, who posed as a crooked cop last year in a gambling investigation, was named HPD's Police Officer of the Year.
Grads: UH seniors endured the strike, donned caps and gowns and received their degrees.
>> Fugitives: It was a tough week for fugitives. Leonard Moore, a two-time State Hospital escapee, was caught after a massive search in Kahala, and crime spree suspect Arthur Birano was caught and arrested for a parole violation. [LOSERS]
Postal customers: Residents of Lehua Nani, a Pearl City apartment building, have been without mail for about two weeks after one of the residents had a confrontation with the mail carrier.
Mansho's woes: HPD is investigating whether to file charges against City Councilwoman Rene Mansho for campaign finance violations.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Republicans last controlled the state House in 1954, the state Senate in 1958 and the governorship in 1962. A story Friday mistakenly said all three were lost in 1959.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Vietnamese turn in Oahu gambling suspect
The last suspect wanted in a major organized-gambling bust on Oahu a year ago has been expelled from Vietnam and turned over to the FBI, Special Agent Myron Fuller announced.Hung Chi Ho, 40, was recently picked up by Vietnamese police, who turned him over to agents from the FBI's liaison office in Bangkok, Thailand, Fuller said.
Ho, who also goes by the name Small David, was one of 32 people indicted in May of last year, charged with gambling and money laundering in connection with six gambling dens on Oahu.
Fuller said Ho has been returned to Honolulu and will appear before a federal magistrate tomorrow.
Last year's raids and arrests resulted from a nearly three-year undercover operation by vice squad officer Earl Koanui, who posed as a dirty cop taking $325,000 in cash bribes from the gambling operators.
Man with shotgun robs Keeaumoku bar
Police are looking for an unidentified man who robbed a bar on Keeaumoku Street early yesterday morning.The suspect walked into the bar at 2:18 a.m. brandishing a sawed-off shotgun. He confronted the bartender and demanded money from the register. After taking the money, he fired one round into the ceiling and robbed several customers, striking one with his weapon before fleeing on foot, police said.
There was an earlier report of the same suspect trying to enter a nearby amusement center, which was locked.
The suspect is described as in his late 20s, 6 feet to 6-feet-1-inch tall and 220 to 240 pounds.
Kalihi man robbed during morning walk
An elderly man was robbed during an early morning walk near his Kalihi home.About 5:10 a.m. yesterday, a man approached the victim in the area of North School Street and Lanakila Avenue. The suspect asked for money, punched the man in the face and took his belongings, police said. Another male suspect acted as lookout. Both suspects are described as being in their early 20s.
Coast Guard accuses boat captain of assault
LIHUE >> The Coast Guard filed assault charges against the captain of a tour boat after he allegedly steered toward a family aboard a kayak on Kauai's Wailua River.On Dec. 21, 2000, the Coast Guard said, Donald Nihipali of Anahola turned his 49-foot, 15-ton powerboat around and headed directly at a kayak paddled by a California couple and their 3-year-old son.
Nihipali must appear at a formal hearing May 31 before an administrative law judge. Sanctions range from verbal admonishment to complete revocation of his license.
